History Main / ColorCodedPatrician

*** In ''Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheEmberIslandPlayers'' also does this with Yue, but in a different direction, as she wears [[PrincessesPreferPink pink]] instead of purple.

** In fact it's because of this trope that it's easy to identify where in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church a certain prelate stands (if they are in fact abiding by the dress code of course). Black (white in tropical climates) is the standard color for the everyday attire of all ranks below ThePope, with varying colors used for the cap, sash, and "choir dress" (worn when attending liturgical functions). Black is used for priests, amaranth red (which is somewhat purplish in hue) is used for bishops and archbishops, and scarlet (known as ''sacred purple'') is used for cardinals. An all-white attire is reserved only for ThePope.

* In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2'' the Soverign are mostly gold anyway, so one way this is shown is when the High Priest visits a winter planet. Her subordinates wear [[PimpedOutCape gold capes]] lined with [[PrettyInMink white fur]], while her cape is mostly covered with white fur.

* A clear, bright, non-fading red was also rare, as it required either kermes or cochineal, once the Americas were discovered. Both of these are insects, and the dye is derived from their bodies. Given equal amounts of kermes and cochineal dye, the cochineal would dye 10 to 12 times more fabric. There were cheap red dyes, made from various plants (lichens and madder), but the colors these dyes produced tend to the orangey-red rather than a clear, bright crimson.

** Saffron, that super-expensive and delicious spice (being, no joke, the very-delicate stamens of crocus flowers), also doubled as one of the finest yellow dyes.

** Saffron, that super-expensive and delicious spice, also doubled as one of the finest yellow dyes.

** The white toga with the purple border actually has a name: it's the ''toga praetexta'', and was traditionally worn by senators. So, it kind of made sense that they would regulate its usage; letting anyone wear them would be like letting anyone buy a school uniform: it would defeat the purpose. Those running for election would wear the ''toga candida'', a toga that has be bleached to a dazzling white with chalk.

* Traditionally, the Vatican has had a strict dress code about people who met with the pope--among the rules was that women always had to wear black, except for female Catholic monarchs and the wives of male Catholic monarchs, who could wear white (a rule called ''privilège du blanc''). Following this code is no longer obligatory, though Cherie Blair (wife of former UK Prime Minister UsefulNotes/TonyBlair, noted for both being a Catholic and leftist with republican, anti-monarchy tendencies) caused some controversy when she chose to wear white (both as a possible violation of protocol--though she was Catholic, Tony wasn't yet--and a slap in the face to the [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Queen]]--as Tony wasn't head of state but rather head of government).

** In his ''Literature/{{Elenium}}'', the patriarchs of the Church (basically, the story world's version of the Pope and his cardinals) all wear black at all times -- except during state funerals, during which they dress in vibrant colors to indicate their homelands.

* In Mercedes Lackey's [[HeraldsOfValdemar Valdemar]], Heralds wear white, Bards scarlet, and Healers green; trainees wear grey, russet, and light green respectively. In one novel it is explained that this is because those three colors are very hard to duplicate and therefore makes things more difficult for imposters.

* In ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', the fringe of the Ghiscari tokars signifies the importance of the wearer (with Tyrian Purple being the color of the Grand Masters).

* In Literature/TheQuestOfTheUnaligned, the people of the Kingdom of Caederan dress according to their social and magical status. Nobles (all of whom can use magic) wear white robes, with the color of the trim indicating which of the four elemental magics they use (red for fire, blue for water, silver for air, green for earth, and gold for the unaligned royal house). Peasant mages wear a robe of their elemental color with white trim and sash, while mundane peasants just wear brown.

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* In ''[[Series/BabylonFive Babylon 5]]'', The Emperor of the Centauri Republic wears all-white. All other Centauri wear various different colors.

* Princess Yue in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. As noted, she's the only one of the water tribes to wear purple.

* [[WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs Papa Smurf]] wears red, where everybody else wears white. Grandpa Smurf - who is no longer a leader, but used to be one, and is considered a great adviser - wears yellow.

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* The Kelloggs "Special K" breakfast food is aimed at women who want to stay healthy, regular and slim. The adverts tend to use groups of happy, shapely, unconstipated-looking women. Swimming costumes, post-bath towels or skimpy summer clothes feature a lot, just to make the point that Special K keeps you slim. Most of the women in the adverts wear white or neutral grey. But ''the'' Special K Girl, the star of the show, the one who typifies the brand to platonic perfection, the leader of the gang, the one the others follow - she, and only she, wears the corporate red.

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* Traditionally, the Vatican has had a strict dress code about people who met with the pope--among the rules was that women always had to wear black, except for female Catholic monarchs and the wives of male Catholic monarchs, who could wear white (a rule called ''privilège du blanc''). Following this code is no longer obligatory, though Cherie Blair (wife of former UK Prime Minister UsefulNotes/TonyBlair, noted for both being a Catholic and leftist with republican, anti-monarchy tendencies) caused some controversy when she chose to wear white (both as a possible violation of protocol--though she was Catholic, Tony wasn't yet--and a slap in the face to the [[UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfWindsor Queen]]--as Tony wasn't head of state but rather head of government).

* The Head Death from ''IrregularWebcomic'' wears a purple cape. His underlings wear black.

* In Creator/DavidEddings' ''[[Literature/TheBelgariad Belgariad]]'' and ''Malloreon'', only the Emperor is allowed to wear a gold toga in Tolnedra. The heir to the empire is allowed a gold border on his toga.
** And in his ''{{Elenium}}'', the patriarchs of the Church (basically, the story world's version of the Pope and his cardinals) all wear black at all times -- except during state funerals, during which they dress in vibrant colors to indicate their homelands.

Compare PrincessesPreferPink, ColorCodedCharacters, ColorCodedMultiplayer, GoldAndWhiteAreDivine.

* ''GreysAnatomy'': The senior surgeons, the chief and the attendings, wear dark royal blue scrubs. The interns and residents beneath them wear light blue scrubs.

** Many sock firms try to get away with selling socks that are merely [[FatherTed very, very, very, very, very dark blue]].

* Most of SandyMitchell's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' novel ''Scourge the Heretic'' is set on a world where only royalty wear red. An Inquisition operative raised on another world whose faith considered red a holy color and always wore it compromised by buying red underwear.

* Traditionally, the Vatican has had a strict dress code about people who met with the pope--among the rules was that women always had to wear black, except for female Catholic monarchs and the wives of male Catholic monarchs, who could wear white (a rule called ''privilège du blanc''). Following this code is no longer obligatory, though Cherie Blair (wife of former UK Prime Minister UsefulNotes/TonyBlair, noted for both being a Catholic and leftist with republican, anti-monarchy tendencies) caused some controversy when she chose to wear white (both as a possible violation of protocol--though she was Catholic, Tony wasn't yet--and a slap in the face to the [[TheHouseOfWindsor Queen]]--as Tony wasn't head of state but rather head of government).

* Chinese Emperors were the only people permitted to wear all-yellow clothes in China. The color association, and the implications of wearing yellow were so strong, that Emperors were frequently referred to as "the Yellow one" and wearing it was to imply imperial power. Occasionally he would allow close family members to wear something yellow - if you weren't given this dispensation, you could shortly expect exile or death.

Often, you can tell who is in charge by the colours they wear. This can apply to [[RoyalBlood royalty]], [[BlueBlood nobility]], [[BlingOfWar military leaders]], and even just the town mayor. Plus, this can apply to all of the clothes they wear or just a sash worn over a fancy suit (as long as they aren't the only one wearing it).

This largely started because certain colours were highly expensive and thus, only the most wealthy could afford them. Then the patrician class in Rome declared that the dye [[PurpleIsPowerful Tyrian Purple]] would be [[DressCode exclusively for them]] (at least, within Roman territory), hence the trope name. (Note that "purple" is actually kind of misleading as a translation; the actual colour was more what we'd describe as purplish-red. Don't expect to see this reflected in TV and movie depictions of Roman patricians unless they're being very, very scrupulous with their research.)

Other expensive dyes included royal blue, vermilion (a type of bright red), or gold. And that is why, in paintings of royalty, their [[RequisiteRoyalRegalia Royal Robes]] are almost always these colours. Despite this, this does not have to be the ErmineCapeEffect; ModestRoyalty can use these colours to ensure people know who they are.

Thus, in fiction, who is in charge, or closely related to those in charge, can often be indicated by wearing colours distinct from everyone else.

* They have to wear these colours, not simply use something distinctly coloured.
* Even though most common colours are purple, blue, red, and gold, any colour will do as long as those not in charge don't wear it.

Compare PrincessesPreferPink, ColourCodedCharacters, ColourCodedMultiplayer, GoldAndWhiteAreDivine.

* In ''LightNovel/SaiunkokuMonogatari'', the main eight nobles families and the provinces they rule are named after colours. The royal house is purple and the Emperor's regalia is in the appropriate colour.

** Incidentally, this colour choice is [[ShoutOut echoed]] in the Play Within A Play of ''ShakespeareInLove.''

* Most of SandyMitchell's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' novel ''Scourge the Heretic'' is set on a world where only royalty wear red. An Inquisition operative raised on another world whose faith considered red a holy colour and always wore it compromised by buying red underwear.
* In ''TheWindSinger'', the citizens of Aramanth must wear a colour denoting their social status: grey (lowest), maroon, orange, crimson, or white (highest...until Kestrel and Bowman run into the Emperor, who wears blue).

* In the ''{{Deryni}}'' novels, Haldane rulers (Brion, Kelson, et.al.) wear red (unce Duke Alaric Morgan puts aside the black for other colours, he won't wear red because his king does). Prince Nigel Haldane, Duke of Carthmoor (Brion's brother and Kelson's uncle) wears royal blue.

* According to the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story ''The Deadly Assassin'', the majority of Gallifrey's political power is held by the Prydon Chapter, who are signified by their scarlet and orange ceremonial robes, while all the other chapters wear various other colours. This distinction seemed to be lost when the new series brought them back, although WordOfGod was that it was supposed to be unity during the time war.
* In ''[[Series/BabylonFive Babylon 5]]'', The Emperor of the Centauri Republic wears all-white. All other Centauri wear various different colours.
** Purple too has a special status, being allowed only for the clothes of nobles (that wear it alongside other colours) and [[PurpleIsPowerful for the paintjob of the second most powerful warships of the Younger Races]].

* The colour called Tyrian purple actually looks more like maroon than your typical violet; the finest-grade dye was often described as 'dried blood'. It came from the mucus of a certain kind of Mediterranean seashell, the Murex, and required so many of them to make even the smallest amount of dye that it was worth twice its weight in silver. Expensive stuff, due its high cost there were legal limits on the amount anyone could wear at one point to prevent lavish waste. Cheaper purples were possible, by overdying a blue with a red, but they tended to be muddy and not very colorfast.

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler. Although most photos are in black and white, colour ones show he normally wore a plain light brown uniform before UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. After the war broke out, he wore black trousers and a grey tunic with no rank badges. Hitler also normally only wore his Iron Cross and Wound Badge he earned in UsefulNotes/WorldWarI along with his Nazi Party Pin (in gold), while everyone around him wore multiple metals.
* Chinese Emperors were the only people permitted to wear all-yellow clothes in China. The colour association, and the implications of wearing yellow were so strong, that Emperors were frequently referred to as "the Yellow one" and wearing it was to imply imperial power. Occasionally he would allow close family members to wear something yellow - if you weren't given this dispensation, you could shortly expect exile or death.

* In PoulAnderson's Literature/TimePatrol story "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks", none of the famous purple dye is visible for sale at Tyre. Everard reflects on how its expensiveness caused that, and led to this trope.

* In JasperFforde's ''Literature/ShadesOfGrey'', the entire society is arranged according to what color a person can see - Purples form the highest class. Additionally, wealthy people can show their money and devotion to their color by wearing artificially colored clothes.