:root {
  /* Main theme colors */
  --primary-blue: #21409A;
  /* deep professional blue */
  --accent-gold: #E4B363;
  /* elegant gold accent */
  --background-white: #FAFAFA;
  /* clean light background */
  --text-dark: #2F2F2F;
  /* readable dark text */
  --muted-gray: #CED2DB;
  /* for subtle backgrounds/borders */
  --soft-blue: #4C75AF;
  /* for links and minor highlights */
  --alert-red: #C44536;
  /* for error/warning */
}

/* Example usage */
body {
  background: var(--background-white);
  color: var(--text-dark);
}

.main-header {
  background: var(--primary-blue);
  color: white;
}

.main-header a,
.main-header a:hover,
.main-header a:focus,
.main-header a:active,
.logo {
  color: white;
}

.button,
.cta {
  background: var(--accent-gold);
  color: var(--text-dark);
}

a {
  color: var(--soft-blue);
}

.footer {
  background: var(--muted-gray);
  color: var(--text-dark);
}