What Colors Actually Look Best on Your Skin Tone?

There were mornings when I was working outside of the house when getting dressed felt like its own little job before I even left for work.

I needed an outfit.

I needed shoes.

I needed everything to match.

And I needed to look like I had my life together even on mornings when I was standing in front of the closet thinking, Why does nothing look right today?

Sometimes the outfit fits perfectly.

Nothing was too tight.

Nothing was hanging strangely.

The shoes worked.

The jewelry worked.

But something still looked off.

And every now and then, it wasn't the outfit at all.

It was the color.

I started paying more attention to which colors actually looked good against my skin and which ones seemed to drain every bit of life out of my face.

Because let's be honest, we've all bought something that looked gorgeous hanging in the store and then got home, put it on, and thought:

Well. This has betrayed me.

The color that looked rich and beautiful on somebody else suddenly made me look tired, washed out, dull, or like I hadn't slept since Tuesday.

And that was when I started understanding something.

Not every color looks the same on every woman.

That doesn't mean we can't wear whatever we want.

We absolutely can.

But if I'm spending my money on clothes, I want to know which colors make me look at myself and think, Okay, this works.

And figuring that out starts with understanding our skin a little better.

First, Skin Tone Isn't the Whole Story

When we talk about skin tone, we're usually talking about how light or deep our skin looks on the surface.

Fair.

Tan.

Olive.

Light brown.

Medium brown.

Deep brown.

But underneath that, we can also have a warm, cool, or neutral undertone.

That undertone matters because two women can have almost the same depth of skin and still look completely different in the same colored blouse.

One woman might have more golden warmth in her skin.

Another might have a cooler or rosier cast.

Another may fall somewhere in the middle.

So when I talk about the colors that tend to work with different skin tones, I look at them as a starting place.

Not a rule book.

Because if I've learned anything from standing in enough dressing rooms under lighting that should honestly be illegal, it's that there are no perfect clothing rules for every woman.

If You Have Fair or Light Skin

Fair or light skin often looks beautiful with colors that give the face a little contrast without completely taking over.

Soft pink, lavender, powder blue, burgundy, navy, deeper green, and some cooler reds can be really pretty.

Black can create a strong contrast.

White can too, although the exact shade matters more than we sometimes realize.

Bright white might look fresh on one woman while cream looks softer on another.

Some very pale beige, nude, or cream shades can blend so closely into light skin that everything starts looking like one long stretch of beige.

And I personally don't want my shirt, neck, and face all becoming one color family.

I need boundaries somewhere.

If your skin is fair and a bright color feels like it's wearing you instead of the other way around, try another version of that color.

Maybe bright electric yellow feels like too much, but mustard works.

Maybe neon pink isn't your friend, but a softer rose looks beautiful.

Sometimes it's the shade, not the color itself.

If You Have Tan Skin

Tan skin can look beautiful with warm, lively colors.

Coral, turquoise, olive green, mustard, denim blue, warm red, and white can all create beautiful contrast.

I especially love what white can do against tan skin because it can look so fresh without needing much else.

But undertone still matters here.

A woman with tan skin and golden undertones may love warm coral.

Another woman with tan skin and a cooler undertone may feel better in raspberry, blue, or cooler greens.

This is where trying clothes on near natural light can help.

Store lighting has lied to all of us.

I have absolutely looked at something in a dressing room and thought it was perfect only to get outside and discover I apparently purchased an entirely different color.

If You Have Olive Skin

Olive skin has a beautiful depth to it, but it can also be one of those skin tones that makes people wonder what category they belong in.

Olive skin can have green, golden, or neutral looking undertones.

Deep jewel colors often look especially rich against it.

Emerald green.

Teal.

Deep purple.

Burgundy.

Terracotta.

Mustard.

Navy.

These colors give enough contrast without fighting against the natural tone of the skin.

Very pale icy colors can sometimes make olive skin look a little dull or yellow, especially certain baby pinks or pale yellows.

But again, this doesn't mean an olive-skinned woman has to ban pastel pink from her closet forever.

It may just mean finding a pink with a little more depth.

Sometimes moving one shade darker changes everything.

If You Have Light Brown Skin

Light brown skin can work beautifully with both bright colors and warm earthy ones.

Cobalt blue, emerald green, coral, mustard, rust, warm red, bright white, camel, and rich green can all be worth trying.

This is one of those skin tones where saturated colors can really come alive.

And I think that's where knowing your own coloring gets fun.

You may put on a cobalt blue shirt and suddenly notice your face before you notice the shirt.

That's usually what I'm looking for.

I don't want people to see the blouse walking into the room five seconds before they see me.

I want the color to work with me.

Not announce itself first.

If You Have Medium Brown Skin

Medium brown skin often handles bold color beautifully.

Royal blue.

Red.

Hot pink.

Orange.

Yellow.

Emerald.

Deep purple.

Sapphire blue.

Even brighter shades that might feel overpowering against very fair skin can create a really striking contrast against medium brown skin.

But the word often matters.

We still aren't all built from the same color chart.

Warm undertones may look especially beautiful next to oranges, earthy reds, warm yellows, and rich greens.

Cooler undertones may shine more in blues, berry colors, purple, and cooler reds.

Neutral undertones may be able to bounce between both.

And sometimes the answer is much less scientific than any chart wants to admit.

Sometimes I put it on and either love it or I don't.

That counts too.

If You Have Dark Brown Skin

Deep brown skin can create gorgeous contrast with bright, rich colors.

Cobalt blue.

Bright yellow.

Red.

Hot pink.

Emerald green.

Purple.

Crisp white.

Gold and other metallic shades can also stand out beautifully.

The contrast between deep skin and saturated color can be stunning.

But even here, I wouldn't tell every woman with dark brown skin that she must love the same colors.

Some women prefer softer colors.

Some love bold ones.

Some look incredible in shades nobody would've recommended on a traditional color chart.

Fashion advice should help us understand our options.

It shouldn't become another list of rules women are expected to follow.

We've had enough lists.

The Color You Hate Might Just Be the Wrong Version

This may be the most useful thing I've learned about clothing colors.

Before deciding, I can't wear yellow, try asking:

Which yellow?

Because pale lemon, mustard, golden yellow, and bright sunflower yellow aren't doing the same job.

The same goes for pink.

Powder pink and hot pink are almost two different personalities.

Royal blue and baby blue can behave completely differently against the same skin.

Cream and bright white aren't interchangeable either.

Sometimes we write off an entire color because we tried one version of it and it wasn't flattering.

Meanwhile another shade in that exact same color family might look incredible.

That realization saved me from thinking certain colors were completely off limits.

And Sometimes the Color Isn't the Problem at All

There are other things happening when we look in the mirror.

Our hair color matters.

Our eye color matters.

Makeup can change how a color looks.

Lighting matters more than anybody warns us about.

And our personal taste matters.

I could tell you a color is technically perfect for your complexion, but if you put it on and spend the entire day tugging at the shirt because you hate how you look in it, then it isn't perfect for you.

There has to be room for preference.

Because we're getting dressed for our actual lives.

Not for somebody's chart.

I Look at Color Differently Now

When I was dressing for work every day, I wanted to look polished and put together.

Part of that was knowing which clothes fit.

Part of it was knowing which styles worked for me.

And part of it was learning that color can change the whole outfit.

I've had clothes that looked ordinary on the hanger and completely different once I put them on.

I've also had the opposite happen.

Very disappointing.

Especially when I had already mentally planned three outfits around it.

But now I don't automatically assume something is wrong with me when a color looks beautiful on another woman and strange on me.

We don't all have the same complexion.

We don't all have the same undertones.

We don't all need the same shades.

And I actually like that.

There isn't one right way for women to look good.

Sometimes finding the colors that flatter us means paying attention to what happens when we put them on.

Does my face look brighter?

Do my eyes stand out?

Do I look washed out?

Am I noticing myself first or the color first?

That's usually enough information.

Because at the end of the day, I don't want choosing clothes to become another place where women feel like we're failing some invisible test.

Wear the color you love.

Try a different shade.

Stand by the window and look again.

And if that beige blouse makes you look like you haven't slept in four days, lovingly put it back on the rack.

Some things just aren't meant to come home with us.

#EvolvingWomanhood

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