Ivory vs White: Difference and Comparison

In today’s world, colours have a huge role in people’s lives. Colours hold power to change a person’s mood.

Colours are also used to express feelings or emotions. They act as wonderful communication tools.

Some colours are also associated with improving health conditions. 

There are three common characteristics that colour is based upon. These include hue, saturation and light.

The main three colours that exist are red, green and blue. Any colour we know of is, in reality, a mixture of these three colours mixed in different proportions or quantities. 

Among the numerous colours, white is a colour that always stands out and has its importance. Within the colour white exists different shades of white.

Two of the most confusing colours are ivory and white. This confusion is one of the most common ones in the categories of colour.

For a common one, distinguishing between the two colours becomes difficult. 

Key Takeaways

1. Ivory is a creamy white color with a yellowish or brownish tinge, while white is a pure, bright color without any tint or shade.
2. Ivory is associated with elegance, luxury, and warmth, while white is associated with purity, simplicity, and cleanliness.
3. Ivory is more subdued and muted than white, while white is brighter and more striking than ivory.

Ivory vs White

Ivory is a slightly yellowish or creamy tint of white and is popular in traditional or classical styles. It also refers to the hard, white material from the tusks of elephants. White is a pure, bright colour without any hints of yellow or cream and is a popular choice in modern or minimalist design.

Comparison Table

Parameter Of Comparison	Ivory	White
Colour	The colour ivory has a little undertone of the colour yellow or cream.	White is very bright since it is not mixed with any other colour.
Preference	Ivory is the colour that is preferred in wedding gowns and dresses because it flatters a pale complexion.	In wedding gowns and dresses, white is not preferred because brides believe white could be too austere.
Shade	Ivory is one of the various shades of the colour white.	White is a very significant shade in itself.
Brightness	The colour Ivory is comparatively dull.	The colour white is the brightest colour.
Traditional theory	The traditional theory holds that Ivory is the colour for non-virgin brides.	The traditional theory holds that White is the colour for virgin brides.
Hue	Ivory has hues of yellow.	White is void of hue.
Kind	Ivory is a warm shade.	White is a bright shade.

What is Ivory?

Ivory is one of the most popular shades of the colour white. White has quite a few shades falling under it, like eggshell, off-white, cream, ecru, etc.

Among the very shades of white, ivory is another common one. The shade gets its name from the colour of the tusks and horns of animals, specifically the elephant.

The colour Ivory has slight undertones of the colour yellow or cream. The colour has gained rapid popularity because of its importance in wedding gowns.

Ivory has become one of the most common choices for all brides for wedding gowns or dresses. 

The reason behind this is that ivory looks more luxurious and flattering to any pale complexion. Moreover, any detail or embroidery is better seen in ivory than in other shades of white.

In today’s wedding industry, ivory has become so popular that most ivory dresses are wrongly characterised as “white”. This is because people don’t even realise that the options for actual “white” dresses are very few in the market. 

What is White?

Among all the colours in today’s world, the colour white is one of the most important and popular shades. It is the lightest colour on the spectrum and the brightest colour.

The colour white lacks any other hue. It does not have any other colour or shades mixed in it. 

When discussing wedding outfits, not many brides prefer the colour white. This is because they believe that the colour white enhances the paleness of their skin.

Moreover, any detailing like filigree work or embroidery does not come out well in white. 

In the olden days, it was believed that only virgin brides could wear white on their wedding day. However, as time passed, this belief held less and less importance. 

Main Differences Between  Ivory and White

1. The colour Ivory has a little tint of yellow or cream colour whereas, on the other hand, white has no mixture of any other colour. 
2. Ivory is a very warm shade, whereas, on the other hand, white is a very bright shade.
3. Ivory is the colour that is used to make wedding gowns and dresses, whereas white is not preferred in making wedding gowns and dresses.
4. Ivory has hues of yellow or cream, whereas, on the other hand, white does not have any hue.
5. Ivory is a dull shade compared to the colour white, whereas, on the other hand, white is the brightest colour known. 
6. In the olden days, it was believed that ivory was the colour used by non-virgin brides, whereas, on the other hand, it was believed that white was the colour used by virgin brides. 
7. Ivory is one of the shades of the colour white, whereas, on the other hand, White is a bright colour in itself. 
8. Ivory is more flattering to a pale complexion, whereas, on the other hand, white is not that flattering to a pale complexion.
9. Details on anything Ivory can be easily noticeable, whereas, on the other hand, details on anything White cannot be easily noticeable.

References

1. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-law-and-society-la-revue-canadienne-droit-et-societe/article/keeping-the-ivory-tower-white-discourses-of-racial-domination/277A888DCF3311CF7E7393BD88443357
2. https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=556823008503935;res=IELLCC