Beauty has no skin tone. It is very well said. Let us know about, What color suits me? It’s the fashion dilemma that never goes out of style. So we’ve turned to color analysis – the expert method of determining which colors suit your skin tone best.
If you don’t fancy handing yourself over to a fashion stylist, how on earth do you figure out what colors work for you? Finding your dream color palette needn’t be difficult, because we’re here to answer all your questions. We sought out the wisdom of personal stylists to help you find the colors that will best enhance your natural complexion and make you feel more confident.
WHAT IS COLOR ANALYSIS, AND HOW CAN IT HELP DETERMINE WHAT COLOR SUITS ME?
Color analysis is a surefire method of answering the what color suits me? question, because it determines which colors of clothing and which makeup shades harmonise with a person’s skin complexion, eye color, and hair color. It will also help you figure out the finer details, like what color of jewellery suits you.
“In a nutshell, you can use your skin tone (skin, hair and eyes) to determine whether you are warm or cool toned, and your overall coloring – so how dark your skin is and the color of your natural hair – to determine whether you are light or dark.”
WHAT SKIN TONE AM I?
If you regularly find yourself asking, ‘what colors suit me?’ you need to start with the basics. The basis of color analysis is figuring out whether your skin tone is warm or cool.
A couple of color analysis tests can help you figure your skin tone out quickly and easily. Look at the underside of your arm in natural daylight, if you have a pink or rosy undertone and blue tinted veins you have a cool skin tone,
TAKE THE FABRIC TEST
Try holding a piece of gold fabric under your chin (or trying on a gold necklace).
Now do the same with a piece of silver fabric or jewellery. Which shade lights up your complexion and makes your eyes pop? If it’s silver, you’re cool. If it’s gold, you’re warm.
COOL SKIN TONE
If you have pink or rosy undertones (like Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger, Lucy Liu or Halle Berry), your skin tone is cool, and colors with blue undertones will suit you best.
WARM SKIN TONE
If you have golden undertones your skin tone is warm, and yellow-based hues will most flatter you.
COLOR ANALYSIS BASED ON YOUR SKIN TONE
Once you’ve got your skin tone sorted, you can move on to asking, ‘what color am I?’
You might have heard friends referring to themselves as Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter types. But what does it all mean?
Well, if your skin tone is cool, you belong to the Summer or Winter family. If it’s warm, you have Spring or Autumn coloring. Some people span multiple groups, but one tends to be primary.
SUMMER COLORING
If you have a cool skin tone, naturally ash-toned blonde or light-mid brown hair (with no red or gold highlights), and pale blue, green or grey eyes, you have summer coloring.
WINTER COLORING
If you have a cool skin tone, ash-toned medium to dark brown or black hair with no red or gold highlights, and deep blue, green or brown eyes, you belong to the winter family.
SPRING COLORING
If you have a warm skin tone and golden blonde or light-medium brown hair with golden highlights, you have spring colouring. Spring types may have a mixture of warm and cool elements to their coloring.
AUTUMN COLORING
If you have a warm skin tone and red, auburn, dark brown or black hair with red, gold or chestnut highlights, you belong to the autumn color family. If you are pale, you probably have freckles.
WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU HAVE SUMMER COLORING
Summer types look best in soft pastels with blue undertones. Think light blues, pinks, yellows. Grey and blue hues (from pastel blue to navy) will also look great.
“However, yellow-based colours such as orange, tan, mustard, coral and salmon pink are less flattering, and pure white may wash you out, so opt for soft off-white tones instead.”
WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU HAVE WINTER COLORING
Winter coloring calls for the boldest and richest of blue-based hues.
Vivid, icy, cool and clear primary colors are great. Vivid blues, reds and golden yellows will complement your skin tone. Think scarlet red, fuchsia pink, royal blue, emerald green and deep purple. You can also get away with black, charcoal grey, pure white tones and deep purple.”
However, you should try to steer clear of muted pastels and yellow or orange-toned shades, including rusty browns and brick reds.
WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU HAVE SPRING COLORING
Spring types suit warm ‘true’ brights such as brick red, coral, salmon pink and true blue. Beige and ivory hues will also flatter. However, icy pastels, deep tones or muted shades may drain you.
Warm and delicate with yellow undertones are good for spring types. Dusky pinks, soft greens, neutral light greys are great. Although these types can also wear burnished oranges and deep purples and look fabulous.”
WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU HAVE AUTUMN COLORING
Rich autumnal colors flatter autumnal skin most, often with a warm/golden undertone, so think earthy reds, bronzes, rich browns, chocolate and burnished golds. Warm muted tones like olive and dark greens, terracotta red and burnt orange enhance autumnal complexions.”
However, you should be weary of insipid pastel tones and harsh brights. You can get away with navy, but other blue-toned hues might not work so well.
HOW TO IMMEDIATELY TELL IF A COLOR WORKS FOR YOU
Stranded under fluorescent changing room strip lighting with little to no idea whether that particular shade of red counts as scarlet or brick?
Don’t worry, Stand in front of the mirror wearing the item in question. Now… blink.
“When you open your eyes, if you see the colour before you see yourself, then the color is wearing you,” she says.
“If you see yourself first, then you’re wearing the color, which means it suits you.”