Determining what clothing colors complement your natural coloring can be tricky. The right colors can make you look radiant, while the wrong shades can wash you out or even make you look tired and sick. Figuring out which hues work best for you is an important step in developing personal style. Here are some tips on how to determine what color palette flatters you most.
Determine Your Skin’s Undertone
The first step is identifying your skin’s undertones. Undertone refers to the hues that come through your skin from underneath its surface. It’s one of the key factors that will determine which colors complement you. There are three main undertone categories:
- Warm – yellow, peach or golden undertones
- Cool – pink, red or bluish undertones
- Neutral – neither warm nor cool undertones
Here are some ways to figure out your skin’s undertone:
- Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. Greenish veins indicate warm undertones, while bluish or purple veins point to cool undertones.
- Do you look better in silver or gold jewelry? Warmer complexions tend to look better in gold, while cooler complexions shine in silver.
- Think about which makeup and hair colors you get the most compliments on. Warmer tones like coral, bronze and honey? You likely have warm undertones. Cooler hues like mauve, plum and ash? Your undertones are probably cool.
Look at your eye color. Brown, hazel and amber eyes are usually warm while blue and grey eyes are typically cool. Green can go either way.
If you can’t tell if your undertones lean warm or cool, then you likely have a neutral skin tone. Focus on finding your most flattering shades rather than sticking to a temperature.
Determine Your Color Season
Next, determine your overall color season – a grouping of hues based on your hair color, eye color and skin tone. There are four main seasons:
- Spring – Warm and clear colors like coral, lemon yellow, emerald green
- Summer – Cool and delicate colors like sky blue, soft pink, lavender
- Autumn – Warm and muted colors like mustard, sage green, terracotta
- Winter – Cool and vivid colors like royal blue, magenta, jewel tones
Here are some guidelines on finding your color season:
- Springs generally have warm undertones, clear complexions and hair and eyes in warm shades like strawberry blonde, auburn, blue-green or hazel.
- Summers are cool-toned with ash blonde, silver or white hair, light blue or gray eyes and porcelain skin.
- Autumns have warm undertones with hair in shades like ginger, chestnut brown and eyes that are hazel, amber or green.
- Winters are often cool-toned brunettes, raven-haired or salt and pepper haired. They have dark brown or bright blue eyes and fair skin.
You don’t have to match a color season perfectly. Focus instead on finding the palette where a majority of the colors make your hair, skin and eyes glow.
Drape Yourself in Different Colors
For the most accurate assessment, drape yourself in various colored fabrics and observe which shades make you look lively and healthy versus washed out. To test colors:
- Get swatches of fabric in a variety of hues – bright, muted, warm, cool, light and dark.
- Pin or drape the fabric around your face and upper body against a neutral background.
- Assess each color. Does it accentuate your features and complexion or seem to clash?
- Take photos in each color. The camera often reveals things that aren’t apparent when looking in the mirror.
- Group the most flattering colors to identify your personal palette.
Pay attention to how both your skin tone and physical features like eyes and hair look against the colors. Your ideal shades will make your complexion glow and eyes and hair pop.
Consider Color Analysis Apps and Services
If draping yourself in various colors sounds like a hassle, consider using a color analysis app or professional service. For example:
- Color Wise is an app that analyzes a photo of your face and identifies custom color palettes based on your skin tone, eyes and hair.
- Various retailers like Nordstrom offer free virtual color analysis consultations online where experts assess your coloring and suggest colors.
- In-person color analysis services are also available. Color consultants will drape you in different shades and advise colors based on your unique coloring.
These services simplify the analysis process. Just be sure to take their recommendations as a starting point and try the colors they suggest to confirm the palette is truly flattering.
Test Different Color Palettes
Once you’ve identified colors that seem harmonious, test wearing them together in different combinations. Observe:
- Which color combinations give you an overall put together look?
- Do any combinations seem unbalanced or bring out flaws?
- Which palette looks best in casual vs. dressy situations?
Testing palettes will help refine the colors that work best for your day-to-day life. You may find you need different palettes for work versus weekends.
Consider Seasonal Color Changes
Your ideal colors may also change slightly with the seasons. Hair lightened from the summer sun and darker winter skin can subtly affect which colors are most flattering.
Notice if the colors you shine in seem to shift in warmer or cooler months. You make need a summer and winter color palette.
Don’t Be Afraid to Break the “Rules”
While seasonal color analysis can provide useful guidance, don’t be afraid to break the “rules”.
If you find yourself drawn to shades outside your recommended palette that you think look great, wear them! The guidelines are just a starting point to help you identify colors that work. But no system is one size fits all.
Focus on Color Harmony
Rather than rigidly sticking to a palette, focus on wearing colors that create visual harmony. Some tips for harmony:
- Choose a color story for your outfit – monochromatic, analogous, contrasting colors.
- Use colors from the same family – all warm tones or cool tones.
- Make sure tones and intensities are cohesive – soft hues with other soft hues or all bold brights.
- Consider context. Colors that pop against a neutral coat may look jarring together.
Harmony and balance create a polished, pulled together look.
Observe How Colors Make You Feel
Pay attention to how wearing different colors makes you feel emotionally. Bright, warm hues tend to be energizing while soft, cool colors are soothing. Darker shades can be powerful and moody. Wear colors that align with how you want to feel.
Get a Second Opinion
Our eyes play tricks on us when analyzing our own coloring. Enlist friends or style consultants and ask which shades they think make you glow. A second opinion helps reveal colors you may overlook or incorrectly assume are unflattering.
Don’t Be Afraid to Evolve Your Palette
Colors that perfectly suited you in your twenties may not be as harmonious in your forties. Your coloring changes over time. Re-evaluate your palette every few years and tweak as needed.
Trust Your Instincts
There are no universally flattering colors that work for everyone. The most important judge is you and how you feel in different shades. When in doubt, go with what your gut says flatters you. Don’t talk yourself into colors solely because an analysis labeled them “right” for you. Wear what makes you feel confident and beautiful.
Conclusion
Determining your color palette is a mix of objectively analyzing your features against different hues and paying attention to your subjective reactions. While color analysis tools can provide a great starting point, try on and test colors extensively. Notice which shades not only complement your skin, hair and eye color but also align with your personal taste and style personality. Go with your instincts and flatter your natural beauty by dressing in colors that make you look and feel your personal best.