Know Your Colors
Color can be a fickle kind of thing. That lime green dress that looks fantastic on your friend Sophia might look horrible on you. But why is that? Well, maybe it's just not YOUR color.
The fourth law of the Stylish Ladies Club is: Know Your Colors. Stylish ladies know that wearing the "right" colors will enhance your skin tone, make you look younger and healthier, brighten your hair and eyes, and give you an overall style pick-me-up. Wear the "wrong" colors and your skin will appear older, unhealthy and drained; your eyes, hair and teeth will appear dull and lifeless and dark circles under your eyes will be enhanced.
Knowing what colors compliment you is actually simple to figure out. You could reference the tried and true color authority book called Color Me Beautiful but if you are like me, you might have some difficulty deciphering what "season" you are. So, I say forget about your "season" and consider this: you were born with your own perfectly customized coloring. Your natural hair color, eyes and skin tone are uniquely in color balance. As you get older you like to tinker with this natural balance when you color your hair, wear colored contacts or get a fake tan. To understand what colors are the most wearable for you it is best to reflect on your pre-teen roots. What was your coloring like then? Remember, that time in life before your hair colorist became your best friend? To get to the "root" of your clothing colors you need to understand what your real natural coloring is. So consider these 3 things:
1. What is your natural hair color? - If you don't know, review those pre-teen photos (ughhhhh), ask your mother or just peek at your roots. If you have over-processed your hair much lighter or darker than your natural hair color, consider going back to its original color. The closer you get to it, the better you will look.
2. What is your eye color? - Really examine your eyes. Notice all the colors that comprise your eye color. Enhance your eyes by wearing colors found in them. Fun side note: Most people have flecks of their natural hair color in their eyes (Yes, even blue-eyed people). Now, how about that for color coordination!
What is your skin tone? - To simplify this "season" color thing just consider if you are warm-toned or cool-toned. Understanding your tone is the most important key in deciding what colors to wear. According to Simply Karen Mineral Cosmetics undertones can be found by looking at the underside of your arm. "If your veins appear bluish you are cool-toned, if they appear greenish you are warm-toned."
· If you are cool-toned, your skin will be either:
* dark brown with reddish or blue undertones
* brown with pink undertone
* olive
* medium with no color in cheeks
* medium with faint pink cheeks
* pale with no color in cheeks
* pale with pink undertones
· If you are warm-toned, your skin will be either:
* very dark brown with golden undertones
* brown with golden undertone
* medium with golden undertones
* pale with peach or gold undertones
Now you have discerned what your natural coloring is, it is time for the fun stuff. Check out the chart to the right and see the clothing colors that would work best for you.
Other color-related clothing facts:
· As an overall rule avoid colors that are too fleshy-colored or to close to your own skin tone. Flesh-tones colors can make you appear unhealthy and from a distance, naked. Not a good combo.
· Make an impact by wearing clothes of contrasting colors. Those colors opposite off each other on the color wheel (think yellow and blue). Blend-in with complimentary colors. Those colors sitting next to each other on the color wheel (think red and orange).
About the Author
If you have any additional color questions, please email me at Katie@KatieRiceJones.com
Thanks to -
1. Simply Karen Mineral Cosmetics Please visit their site for your make-up needs.
2. Color charts and charts comments pulled directly from www.mineral-makeup-reviews.com/Cool-or-Warm-Skin-Tone
