Color Theory

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This week’s topic:

HOW TO DETERMINE WHAT COLOR LOOKS BEST ON YOUR SKIN TONE

Color can be tricky, we all have a favorite color and may want to jump to don it, but does it work with your skin tone?  Most of us know that we could stand to win a few style points by giving hues outside our comfort zone a go, but selecting the right hues for different skin tones can be easier said than done.

Taking note of a few of the fundamental color theory rules will assist in expediting your shopping and feeling more confident with online purchases.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT SKIN TONES?

Ok, here we go, step one is deciphering which of the three skin undertone categories you fall into – ie: warm, cool, or neutral.

That takes us to step two, take a look at your arm. Determining whether your skin has a warm, cool, or a neutral undertone is crucial in identifying the best colors for your skin tone, which will form the basis of your wardrobe. If your wrist veins are bluer, you have cool-toned skin; greener suggests warm-toned skin. A neutral skin tone is likely if it is hard to tell.

It’s important to note that skin shade (i.e. pale skin, olive skin, or dark skin) don’t necessarily determine your skin’s undertones. A guy with dark skin can have a cool complexion, and a guy with pale skin can have a warm complexion. And all the vice-versa.

Ok, now let’s look at closer at each category to find the skin tone palette that will work best for your wardrobe.

COOL UNDERTONES – WHAT COLORS LOOK BEST ON COOL UNDERTONES?

If you’ve got pale skin and light features, then hues that clearly contrast with your skin tone will bring some color to your complexion. A small side note here – cool undertone folks tend to burn in the sun, so along with your stylish duds be sure you’re rocking a sunscreen with at least 30spf.

Darker colors such as grey, brown, burgundy, bottle green, navy and bolder shades of blue will all work well as these shades contrast with your skin tone. People with cool undertones generally look great in colors in the cool range of the spectrum: think purples, greens, charcoal gray and deep blues. So, for Spring that translates to ocean blues, mint or sage greens, shades of blush.

WHAT COLORS SHOULD I AVOID?

People with cool undertones to their skin will want to avoid traditional autumnal shades or bright yellows/citrons. As for neutrals; rather than white, light beige or stone which can wash you out, choose richer shades such as sand, camel, khaki and slate grey.

WARM UNDERTONES – WHAT COLORS LOOK BEST ON WARM UNDERTONES?

If you’ve got skin that tends to tan rather than toast in the sun, then you likely have what’s known as a warm complexion, which suits a much wider spectrum of colors than those with fair skin or cool complexions. If your veins have greenish tones instead of blue, and your complexion is more yellowish, you probably have warm-toned skin. Guys with an olive skin color or dark skin men tend to fall into this camp, though not always.

While most colors will work with a warm skin tone, you can ensure you look your best by opting for shades that are a little brighter or deeper – such as deep russets, reds, preppy Kelly greens.

As for neutrals, I’d recommend white. It is the obvious choice to accentuate your skin tone. A stellar combination would be to try a pair of white jeans with a dark jacket for a standout look.

WHAT COLORS SHOULD I AVOID?

Since your skin will likely have yellow or green undertones, be sure you are going with deep golden or ochre shade or bright citron.  It’s wise to avoid wearing shades of colors that are too close to your skin tone. What you’re trying to avoid here is ending up looking nude by having your skin blend in with your clothing.

NEUTRAL SKIN TONE – WHAT COLORS LOOK GOOD ON NEUTRAL-TONED SKIN?

Much like those with medium skin, when it comes to finding colors that suit you, guys with a neutral skin tone have won the genetic lottery and can try their hand at pretty much any hue without much need for trepidation. You likely have a neutral skin tone if it’s hard to tell whether your veins are blue or green, and you can see both colors in your skin’s undertone.

The world, gentlemen, truly is your oyster. The color of your skin is perfectly positioned to marry well with the majority of hues and shades, as it doesn’t run the risk of being washed out like comparatively pale skin tones. With that said, there are a couple of caveats.

In practice, that means not spinning the color wheel like a mad decorator and mixing half the color wheel in one outfit. Instead, choose a single pop of color or two that complement rather than compete. Bright red is a winning shade on men with a neutral skin tone.

WHAT COLORS SHOULD I AVOID?

Yellow is pretty much a no-go. Much like how pastel shades wash out paler skin tones, yellow won’t contrast clearly enough with your skin.

So, there you have it, until next time…