For most of us this is an important question and for some difficult to answer. Experts say pick colors that match your skin tone but for most of us we don’t even know what that means or how to find out. There are many theories on color analysis and how to find out the right colors to wear. The bottom line is that there are certain colors that make you look great and others that do nothing for you or in fact make you look sickly. Choosing the right color to enhance your look is not the only reason to understand what color can do for you. Color is the most powerful message in your wardrobe and evokes highly physical and emotional responses from others. Peoples’ reactions to the colors you are wearing are immediate, unforgettable and inescapable. Knowing what colors to choose for which occasions will get you the response that you were hoping for, whether this is for a job interview or a social event.
Color Draping
The easiest way to determine what colors are suitable for you is to hold the garment up to your face and look in the mirror, preferably with natural lighting. Ask yourself a few questions:
1. Does the color make my skin look healthy or vibrant?
2. Does the color bring out my hair and eye color?
3. Does the color make me feel good about myself?
The answer to all three questions should be a “Yes”. If it brightens up your face then go for it, if it makes you look grey and gloomy put it back on the rack. If you have a friend to shop with this is always a good option to get their opinion. Or if you are shopping alone, one thing I like to do is to take a selfie of myself. For some reason it allows me to have a better look at the picture to see what the color does for me even better than looking in the mirror.
If you are looking for a more in-depth answer here is some more information to help you get the answers that you are looking for.
Wrist Observation
This method suggests you look at your wrist to determine if you are cool or warm or neutral toned. The idea then is to pick colors that match your warm or cool undertones.
- To determine your undertone look at the veins on your wrist.
- If your veins appear green then you are considered to have a warm undertone.
- If your veins appear purple or blue then you have a cool undertone.
- Some people are a combination of the two – Neutral.
Seasonal Color Analysis
Seasonal Color analysis takes into consideration three things: skin tone plus eye color, and hair color to determine if you are a Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn. In general it determines whether you have warm or cool undertones. Although there are variations between the four seasons and within them, you should wear cool colors if you are Winter or Summer and warm colors if you are an Autumn or Spring. Your clothing choices should be from colors that are from your “Season”. However if you don’t fall exactly into these four seasons you are one of those individuals that are a combination of both leaving you with more choices in both the warm and cool categories. Overall it is believed that virtually everyone can wear medium value and medium intensity colors. More on this later.
Winter – Cool Tone
These women look most striking in cool colors with sharp contrast. These colors are blue-based and bright.
- Hair: Light-brown, black-brown, black, silver grey
- Skin: Pink undertone, olive, deep-rose beige
- Eyes: Blue, brown, clear green, gray-green, hazel with a gray tone
Summer – Cool Tone
These women look best in the cool dusty colors of summertime. These colors are lighter and muted.
- Hair: Platinum-blonde, ash blonde to dark ash, light to dark brown, brown with auburn, blue-grey, peal white.
- Skin: Pale beige with delicate pink cheeks or no cheek color, rose-beige, very pink, gray-brown, rosy brown.
- Eyes: Blue, green, aqua or soft hazel, grey brown.
What To Wear If You Are Cool-Toned
Neutral Tones: pure white, soft white, gray-beige, rose-beige, true grays from icy to charcoal, blue-gray light to medium, no browns, no tans, black, navy,
Colors: True blue, gray-blue, sky blue, periwinkle blue, powder to medium blue, hot turquoise, Chinese blue, icy aqua, pastel aqua, light true green, emerald green, blue-greens, frosty purple and anything pastel.
Autumn – Warm Tone
These women look best in rich, warm colors of earth tones which are deep and muted.
- Hair: Red, coppery red-brown, auburn, golden brown or blonde, ash blonde, strawberry blonde, charcoal brown or black, golden grey, oyster white.
- Skin: Ivory, peach, golden beige or dark beige, golden brown.
- Eyes: Dark brown, golden brown, amber, hazel, green, teal blue.
Spring – Warm Tone
These women look best in warm and fresh colors that are light and bright.
- Hair: Flaxen blonde, yellow blonde, honey blonde, strawberry blonde, auburn, golden brown, red-black,
- Skin: Golden undertone with creamy ivory, peachy pink or beach-beige.
- Eyes: Blue, green, aqua
from Pixabay
What To Wear If You Are Warm-Toned
Neutral Tones: you look good in Oyster white or ivory but not pure white, earth beige or clear beige, warm grays or light to medium shades, dark brown, golden browns and clear tans, no black, light navy. You can get away with warmer colors of the cool palette such as orchid, moss, olive and violet-red.
Colors: Turquoise, aqua, grayed yellow-greens, earth greens, olive, moss, jade, forest, all oranges, deep peach, salmon, rust, terra-cotta, orange-red, fiery red, all golds, violet, violet-blue and all earth tones.
What To Wear If You Are Neutral Toned
You are lucky because you have a choice from the whole color wheel spectrum due to your combination or warm-cool tone. The only caution would be to avoid neon colors.
Everyone Can Wear
Believe it or not but all of us can pull off a few of these colors, teal, true red and dark purple. Also if you keep your color choices within the medium intensity and value these colors will look great on you too!
The Psychology Of Color
Now that you are aware of your ideal colors it is also a good idea to understand what each color means or represents. It is not just about looking good. Color is considered the most powerful tool you can use to express yourself and intentions. Therefore it is a good idea for you to know what message you want to send. The meaning of color can be influenced by where you live in the world so I will just focus on our views here in North America and the western culture.
- Green: Ecology and the environment, soothing, relaxing, balance
- Brown: Earth, home, reliable, simplicity and comfort
- Purple: Mystical, sensitivity, uniqueness and artistry, royalty, wealth and opulence
- White: Innocence and goodness, purity and cleanliness
- Black: Self-confidence, power, strength, sophistication
- Red: Physical courage, strength, energy
- Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, organization, creativity
- Blue: Calming, intelligence, communication, trust, efficiency
- Navy: Power and authority
- Yellow: Energized, intellect, optimism, confidence, friendliness, creativity
What Is Value and Intensity of Colors?
As I mentioned above most women can wear a medium value and medium intensity color for the basic reason that the color is not in its extreme but sits in the middle of the road in terms of the intensity and lightness vs darkness.
Value: The value of a color is the lightness or darkness of the hue (color). It is changed by adding either black or white to the color.
Intensity: the intensity is how bright the color is or its level of purity. Also referred to as saturation level and amount of grey added to the color.
How To Add Color To Your Wardrobe
Hopefully you now feel more empowered to tackle your spring wardrobe. I assume you have gone through your “Closet Cleansing” task and have thrown out clothes that you don’t need or suit you. You also have reviewed the Spring Fashion 2020 trends and color palette. Moving forward you now know what colors look good on you and you are aware of what colors can do for you in terms of the statements that you want to make to the world. So what do you need to buy to add to your existing wardrobe? I suggest stick with 2-3 neutral tones and slowly start to add your new color finds to your existing wardrobe. This means 2-3 new colors and practice making outfits with these 4-6 color choices. Your confidence will grow as you explore these choices through each of the seasons. Most of all have fun picking those colors that make you feel awesome.
Given the state of affairs across the world in my next post I will give you my opinion on how and where to shop online. Drop me a message and share with me what you have learned about your best colors!
