Ways to Determine What Colors Look Best on You
We all want to look good. But even if we love the cut and shape of a piece, the wrong color can throw the whole look off. There are many beauty experts and guides out there who say if you have a cool skin tone (fair skin with red or peach undertones), you should opt for pastels.
Of course, you don’t have to follow any rules. An easy way to tell what colors look best on you is to hold up different colored tops near your face in natural, bright light and notice how you feel next to each color.
“Think back to some of the things you’ve felt best in over the years. Perhaps it was a dress you wore to graduation or a blouse you wore for your professional headshot,” says Lillian Charles, founder of Style Therapy. “Take a look at your wardrobe and surroundings. We tend to add art and accent pillows in shades that feel harmonious to us. We are already choosing what looks best on us without even knowing it.”
Neutral
If you are somewhere in the middle, with a neutral skin tone (olive skin with brown, or dark or ash blond hair), you can wear almost any color, but jewel tones really stand out on you. See how they look on Julia Roberts and Kerry Washington.
Warm
If your skin tone is warm (yellow or olive undertones), earth tones like olive greens, dark teals and rich blues look best. See how Jessica Alba and Claire Danes embrace these hues.
Deep
Deep skin tones (mahogany or rich, dark undertones with dark hair) can also pull off just about any color, but bright colors like orange, red or bright green really pop on you. See how Jodie Turner-Smith and Lupita Nyong'o radiate.