Hey there, color lovers! 🌈 Have you ever knit a sweater that just felt like it didn’t quite work? It might not be the style; it could be the colors you’re wearing! The right hues can enhance your natural beauty and make you feel like a million bucks. Today, we’re diving into how to choose colors based on your skin tone, hair, and eye color. Let’s find your perfect palette!
Understanding Warm vs. Cool Tones
First things first, let’s talk about warm and cool tones. Warm tones have a golden, yellow, or peachy undertone, while cool tones lean towards blue, pink, or purple. Knowing your tone is key to picking colors that complement your features.
Identifying Your Skin Tone
Wondering how to figure out your skin tone? The easiest way find the undertone of your skin is to compare with other people. No matter the hue, your skin has either warm or cool undertones. Hold the the underside of your forearm next to your friends or family. When comparing with someone whose skin has the opposite undertone, your own undertones will jump out at you.
Another quick test is the jewelry test. Do you shine in gold or silver? Gold typically flatters warm tones, while silver tends to look best on cool tones.
Consider also your hair color. For instance, someone with warm-toned skin may have golden blonde, red or brown hair with reddish highlights, while cool-toned folks might sport ash blonde or cool brown shades. The “Color Me Beautiful” website has a quiz to help you find your best colors based on the seasons - at https://colormebeautiful.com/pages/color_quiz_signup, and it's free info. Spring and Autumn correspond to warm skin tones, and Summer/Winter are the cool skin tone seasons.
Yarn Tips for Your Skin Tone
Color is so subjective, and we often purchase yarn because it’s beautiful, without really considering whether it will flatter our features.
When this happens to you, here are a few ideas to help you work with your skin tone:
- Carry along another strand of the correct temperature: I’m currently working on a scarf made with an alpaca/wool yarn in crimson, which is a fairly pure red. But I’m pairing it with a brushed alpaca lace with pale blues and pinks. The lace yarn moves the color overall into the cool realm - like frosted cranberries.
- Change the tone with stranded colorwork: If you’re into stranded colorwork you may have noticed how the same color can change depending on the contrasting yarn. Choose more colors to match your skin tone and use the opposite temperature as a pop of accent. For example -
- Cool skin tones: true blues, charcoal and berry colors, accented with orange pops
- Warm skin tones: golden greens and yellows, accented with blue-violet.
- Stripe with a color of opposite temperature: for example, that cantaloupe colored yarn that attracted you at Rhinebeck could be striped with olive green (Autumn) or fresh pink and golden yellow (Spring) to enhance warm-temperature skin tones. Or, for cool tones, pair the same cantaloupe with a piney blue-green, or deep navy, or raspberry. For a pop you could even use fuschia as an accent stripe! A note of caution is to use one of the cooler colors at the neckline.
More Fashion Tips
Color Combinations for Warm Tones
If you’re a warm-toned beauty, you’ll want to embrace colors that reflect your natural warmth. Think earthy tones like terracotta, rich browns, and deep greens. Here are a few winning combinations:
- Outfit Idea: A terracotta blouse paired with olive green pants and gold accessories.
- Pop of Color: Try adding a warm mustard scarf to your look!
Color Combinations for Cool Tones
Cool-toned individuals can rock colors that resonate with their coolness. Shades like sapphire, emerald, and crisp pastels are your best friends. Check out these combos:
- Outfit Idea: A deep blue dress with a mint cardigan and silver jewelry.
- Fun Twist: Add a fuchsia belt to bring in a vibrant pop!
Tips for Mixing Colors
Don’t be afraid to mix warm and cool tones! Here’s how to do it seamlessly:
- Balance: If you’re wearing a warm top, try pairing it with cool-toned bottoms to create a balanced look.
- Accessories: Use accessories to blend the tones. A warm scarf can soften a cool outfit or vice versa.
Conclusion
So there you have it—choosing colors based on your skin tone, hair, and eye color doesn’t have to be daunting! Experiment with these combinations and find what makes you feel fabulous. I’d love to hear about your favorite color combos—drop them in the comments below!