Color Analysis | Ask Dear Gaby

Wearing the Right Color: Are you Cool or Warm?

By DearGaby, on April 7th, 2009

People with blue undertones will have a cool look to their eyes, hair and skin. These undertones are considered “cool”. People with cool coloring will look their best when they wear cool colors. The seasons summer and winter are cool.

People with yellow or gold undertones will have a warm look to their eyes, hair and skin. These undertones are considered “warm”. People with warm coloring will look best in warm colors (think colors of a desert; yellow, gold,etc.). The seasons spring and autumn are warm.

However, we are now moving away from seasonal colors. Unfortunately, the fashion experts are either not aware of the seasonal color concept or they simply ignore it because they continue to mix cool, warm and neutral colors into a single article of clothing. Please remember everyone can wear any color. What makes the difference in how you look is the tone, hue and texture.

You can enhance your image by wearing the right colors because when you wear the right color it will make your skin glow and be radiant. It can even make you look younger. Because we all have different skin tones, not all colors look best on everyone. So how do you determine which colors are in harmony with your skin tone? You can have a honest friend drape color swatches over you and the ones that are the most flattering are often good colors for you. Otherwise you can have a professional image consultant, such as myself, perform a color analysis on you.

So now you’ve determined which colors look great on you and which are not as flattering. Let us assume that the color black makes you appear washed out. Does this mean you can no longer wear your LBD? Of course not. All you need to do is to add an accessory such as a scarf, necklace or a great pair of earrings in a color that compliments your skin tone.

By wearing the right colors, you will look and feel confident no matter what size, shape or age you are.