Have you ever noticed that some items in your wardrobe seem to draw compliments, while others don’t get so much as a second look? While cut and quality play an important role in how garments flatter your figure, colour plays a much bigger role than many people realise.
But what brightens the complexion of one person can completely wash out another. That’s because your natural colouring interacts with the colours around it. By understanding your skin’s undertone, you’ll find it easier to choose colours that naturally complement your complexion, while still reflecting your personal style.
Identify Your Skin Undertone
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If the veins on the inside of your wrist appear green, you may have a warm undertone. Warm undertones are characterised by hints of yellow, peach, or golden hues and tend to suit gold jewellery.
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If your veins look blue or purple, you may have a cool undertone. Cool undertones have hints of pink, blue, or purple hues and tend to suit silver jewellery.
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If it's difficult to tell whether your veins are green or blue, or you find both gold and silver jewellery suit you equally well, Neutral undertones have a balanced mix of warm and cool tones.
If you're unsure, trust your eye. The colours that make your skin look brighter and more even are usually the best place to start.
The Best Colours for Warm, Cool & Neutral Undertones
Once you’ve identified your undertone, you can start shopping for shades that suit your colouring. We’ve provided colour guidance for each undertone below.
Warm Undertones
Best garment shades: Earthy tones like warm browns, terracotta, olive green, mustard yellow, coral, peach, and warm shades of red and orange. Rich jewel tones such as emerald green, deep turquoise, and burnt orange will look stunning against this skin tone.
Cool Undertones
Best garment shades: Cool pastel colours like soft blues, lavender, mint green, and blush pink. Jewel tones such as sapphire blue, amethyst purple, emerald green, and ruby red can also complement cool undertones. Additionally, icy shades like cool greys and icy blues can look great.
If you have a light, cool undertone, softer versions of these colours often create a particularly fresh, flattering look.
Neutral Undertones
Best garment shades: Neutral colours like beige, taupe, ivory, and grey can complement neutral undertones well. Additionally, rich jewel tones and muted shades like olive green, dusty rose, and navy can also look flattering.
Those of you with neutral undertones can enjoy the most flexibility, as you have a great range of different seasonal colours you can lean into throughout the year.
Building a Wardrobe That Works for Your Colour Palette
Finding colours for your skin tone doesn't mean having to start your wardrobe from scratch. Work with what you’ve got, and introduce new items over time.
You'll often find that colours worn closer to your face have more impact than those worn elsewhere, so a sweater, knit, blouse or top will show you the biggest difference. If you want to dip your toe in the water, you can even start with an accessory in a new colour as an initial experiment.
Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and personal preferences and style play a significant role in what colours you feel confident and comfortable wearing. Experiment with different shades to find what works best for you, and don't be afraid to mix and match to create a wardrobe that reflects your personality and style.
Whether you're drawn to soft neutrals or richer seasonal shades, building around colours you genuinely enjoy wearing usually results in a wardrobe you'll feel confident in.
Discover Your Perfect Colour with Verge
Ready to refresh your wardrobe? Shop our new arrivals to discover seasonal shades that work with the clothing you already love wearing. Or, if you’re in Auckland, be sure to pop into our St Heliers store where we can help you select colours that complement your personal style and complexion.
