https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:43:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321239 Thu, 04 May 2023 17:44:15 +0000 Angie 2321239@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Echo,</b> you wear cool colours well so it makes sense that white might look better than ivory.</p> <p>I like <b>Suz's</b> addition of wearing patterns to soften and transition of the high contrast.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321228 Thu, 04 May 2023 14:03:38 +0000 The Cat 2321228@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>To me, you look as (and your descriptions of yourself seem to be pointing in the direction of) a Dark Autumn. So I would not suggest a cold icy white for you. And while you can wear black, there are other deep colours that might suit you even better. Take a look at this:<br /> <a href="https://theconceptwardrobe.com/colour-analysis-comprehensive-guides/dark-autumn-a-comprehensive-guide" rel="nofollow">https://theconceptwardrobe.com.....sive-guide</a><br /> Be sure to scroll down and take a close look at the colour palette and do also read what is said about light colours for this particular Season of colouring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321209 Thu, 04 May 2023 10:01:11 +0000 Chiara 2321209@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’d wonder about Bright winter (1) based on colour descriptions. But the trickiness of grey and blue, and squinting at your photos, I’m putting in a vote in for deep autumn(image 3) with dark winter a maybe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321202 Thu, 04 May 2023 03:29:25 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2321202@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Echo, I've had the same experience with grays--so many of them do nothing for me. I'm pretty sure that's because so many of them are heathered shades of gray--you know, variations on gray sweatshirt colors. The ones that work best for me are not those heathered versions but the solid, light, cool ones. (Like the Finds below.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321179 Thu, 04 May 2023 00:33:42 +0000 Echo 2321179@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much for the suggestions! And I had not thought about finding a certain colour and then being unable to find it again; I imagine that would be very common with light tones. I also like <b>suntiger</b>'s suggestion of trying some slightly deeper tones instead of light-light.</p> <p><b>Jaime</b>, <b>Carla</b>, <b>indigoprint</b> and <b>Unfrumped</b>, I will try a bright white. For some reason, I had dismissed a bright white out of hand, and I am not sure why. I guess overall I am unaccustomed to wearing lighter colors at all, let alone a bright white, so it is very much foreign territory. But sometimes the simplest solution is the right one, and a bright white would certainly be easier to match than any shade of off white.</p> <p><b>Suz</b>, thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. Including a lighter color in patterns is a great idea, and can really tie things together. I agree about wearing a lighter neutral away from the face, too; I recently bought a clream colored skirt, but have struggled with it. Wearing it with black on top seemed too harsh, but combining that with a patterned scarf including the lighter color could really help.</p> <p><b>Sal</b>, that is such a great idea to do color drapes with various shades from around the house. I never thought of that, but it might really help me clarify what looks good.</p> <p><b>Helena</b>, I look fine in cobalt and deep navy, but not in muddier dark blues. But pale or pastel blue is my nemesis, regardless of whether it is clear or muted.</p> <p><b>Olive Green</b>, looking at that website, I certainly have historically dressed in cool, bright, deep winter colors. I guess I don't know for sure whether those are the most flattering, but I do gravitate toward them. I have always subscribed to the idea of dressing for one's personality, not one's coloring, but I guess one can do both. But if black is not my best dark neutral, I don't want to hear it! I wouldn't have any clothing left without it, and I depend heavily on black tights in the winter, so I'm not changing that!</p> <p>I often admire your outfits and color choices, <b>Janet</b>, and I used to think we shared coloring. But I do think you run slightly cooler, given how well you wear all shades of blue. Still, I always look forward to seeing your outfits to see what I can copy!</p> <p><b>Angie</b>, I will have to give grey antoher try. I usually avoid it, as I can sometimes look a disaster in grey, but I suppose that is because it can lean warm or cool and have all kinds of different undertones, so there probably is a shade for everyone. I will look for the shades in the swatches you posted. Thank you!</p> <p>Looking back on it, my wedding dress was white-white, but one doesn't realize until later in life that anything looks good on a young person! But maybe the optical white actually was more flattering to me than ivory.</p> <p>I think I will try some grey, optical white and then some deeper light neutrals in the brownish range. Thanks, everyone for some good advice! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321105 Wed, 03 May 2023 17:08:13 +0000 Anonymous 2321105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My best white is a very whitish dove grey (EF calls it Bone). I use it for a light neutral most of the year. I change neurtals some with seasons.. fall moves to a deeper mor beige or light camel color. Navy and a whiter white is for spring and summer, as is some shade of white for a light neutral. Good luck sorting the whites. Sometimes the easiest thing is to wear a bunch of whites mixed up. Good luck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321073 Wed, 03 May 2023 13:50:48 +0000 Angie 2321073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Echo</b>! How LOVELY to see you! You are as cute as a button :)</p> <p>If you were shopping with me, we'd try cool-toned light neutrals: <ul> <li>pearl grey, stone, optical white, bone, putty</li> <li>SILVER is your metal</li> </ul> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321064 Wed, 03 May 2023 12:49:32 +0000 Olive Green 2321064@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Some of the seasonal colour schemes have a deep version, and a muted version, and a warm version, etc. Would it be worth an online consult with a colour analyst?&nbsp;<br />I like the Style Yourself Confident lady’s sort-out of colour palettes, simple.&nbsp;<br />I discovered late in life I was a deep autumn, but still like the muted neutrals in that palette. So a mix in real life.&nbsp;<br />I defaulted to black for a long time. Not my best. Down to a pair of shoes and a handbag in that colour, nothing near my face.&nbsp;<br />Good luck with the experiments!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321052 Wed, 03 May 2023 12:20:03 +0000 Janet 2321052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think it’s possible to be nearly neutral on the warm-cool spectrum, so maybe that’s true for you? I share a lot of the coloring and palette you describe — I used to have some warmer tones in my hair, especially in summer, but the newly exposed greys take me firmly into cool territory. I can wear pale blue (and pale green) but the muddier the pale color, the less it does for me. Clear pastel blues and greens work better. </p> <p>I recently got a jacket I’ve admired for years from Porter Collective and it’s an off-white that I feel works for me.<br /> It’s not terribly warm-toned, but not as cool as, say, oyster. The photo below represents the shade pretty well, especially contrasted with the optic white the model is wearing with it. I think the muted silver-toned buttons help too.</p> <p>I probably wear a wider spectrum of white shades than the color experts would recommend, but somehow I feel like neutrals like creams and off-whites are easier to work with than unflattering non-neutral colors like yellow or orange, IYKWIM. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321051 Wed, 03 May 2023 12:17:23 +0000 RobinF 2321051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the black looks good on you, maybe more because of the contrast. I also have a hard time determining my cool/warm undertones but muted colors look best on me (I think?). You sound like a winter with the jewel tones. Definitely try a nice bright white. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321048 Wed, 03 May 2023 11:49:58 +0000 Helena 2321048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm you sound like a tonal "deep" to me ... Perhaps leaning a bit warm as you say light blue is you worst (does dark blue work?) ... I like Suz' suggestion if winter white, and you might also try some of the really light taupes and tans that are available right now. </p> <p>From practical experience, my own opinion is that it can be tricky to be too particular about whites though .... You may find the perfect white somewhere and never be able to match it again. So pure white I think is a good option, with flattering makeup and jewellery to balance it out as needed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321042 Wed, 03 May 2023 11:21:44 +0000 Anonymous 2321042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I found that my whites are beige and camel- anything lighter is too harsh with my deep coloring.</p> <p>Big yay to texture and shine. They seem to make colors appear darker. </p> <p>I suggest going into a consignment shop and trying on different whites and lights. Consignment is better than retail for this cause they tend to hang similar colors together so the different shades are more obvious! Plus they'll have more variety at once cause the clothes are from different years. </p> <p>One big trouble with light colors is that different lighting affects them much more than darks :/ </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321031 Wed, 03 May 2023 05:37:12 +0000 Carol 2321031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, if you always wear black, you never have to throw the clothes away from kids' barf in the classroom! (I think that's a classroom.)</p> <p>You look like you'd look good in a nutty brown, a sage, or a charcoal grey for neutrals.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321026 Wed, 03 May 2023 04:01:10 +0000 Sal 2321026@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there will be a shade of white that works on you, I would experiment with what you have at home even sheets or table cloths or husband's tees etc..&nbsp; I don't really suit a bright white (near my face) but slightly chalky whites or ecru are good (probably better than cream) and even this slightly dirty ecru or warm sand are both good.&nbsp; I attached the finds to show the light neutrals that I wear.</p> <p>I think there is a grey that can work too - try silvery grey, warmer grey.</p> <p>The other thing is that texture can help - a slight sheen for example.</p> <p>Another solution is a light neutral with a pattern on it - I find the cream floral blouse and the striped tee very easy to wear - there is some contrast in there already.&nbsp; Maybe an offwhite with a stripe.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321024 Wed, 03 May 2023 03:55:43 +0000 Suz 2321024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds tricky, for sure. I agree with the others that bright white is worth a try. Winter white (just off white, or maybe something closer to ivory or ecru --&nbsp; but not true "cream" which has more yellow undertones). That gets complicated, though -- it is usually easier to find true white than any of those.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, consider what works <b>away</b> from your face, as well. What works with the more saturated jewel tones you enjoy wearing? Because that could be a secondary light neutral, maybe.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;Also, if there's one you really love and that works with the rest of your clothes but you are not sure it flatters you near your face, you can lighten up your outfits with other components. (Bottoms, shoes, bags).</p> <p>&nbsp;And if you wear pattern at all, you could try including your light neutral or light neutrals&nbsp; in all your patterns. That's something I try to do, so pretty much any pattern I buy has to include a bit of white, silver, or pale grey as part of the pattern. Partly because it harmonizes with my light hair (in your case it would be with your lighter skin). But partly because it just gets me away from wearing outfits that feel too dark to me. This strategy has been really helpful for creative outfit cohesion. Having said that, I broke my own rule recently with this top. There is a very pale blue in the pattern that reads as "light" especially together with the lime green (normally a colour I can't wear.)&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321023 Wed, 03 May 2023 03:34:58 +0000 unfrumped 2321023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I actually don’t look great in any really pastels or white. Gray is great but not especially super light gray. </p> <p>I agree you should try white, and also a very pale pearl gray. </p> <p>But if that doesn’t work, consider using a “ medium- light” neutral or test out what colors work as “ near neutrals. “—colors less stark than black but which are versatile and go with many other colors. Such as a rich denim blue. </p> <p>Also, you might enjoy Imogen Lamport ‘s discussions on Value Contrast — see if some of that is going on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321019 Wed, 03 May 2023 02:26:19 +0000 Carla 2321019@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, you look beautiful in the pictures you post. &nbsp;I’m thinking you might have colouring similar to&nbsp;<b>Helena</b>. &nbsp;Give bright white a try. Can you do light blue or silver grey?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321017 Wed, 03 May 2023 01:51:35 +0000 Indigoprint 2321017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am NOT a color analyst but what I do know about it seems like even tho you have red tones in your hair, you have cool undertones. Plus you like black and jewel tones so I would think a cool bright tone as Jaime offered would be a good place to start. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321014 Wed, 03 May 2023 01:22:25 +0000 Echo 2321014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Perhaps this sounds foolish, but I guess it never occurred to me that bright white would work. I was hoping for something slightly less stark (and easier to launder!), but perhaps high contrast with the rest of my clothing might help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321011 Wed, 03 May 2023 01:19:28 +0000 Echo 2321011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My eyes are a very dark brown, almost black when I was younger, but seem to have mellowed a bit as I've gotten older. The veins in my wrist are VERY hard to see, but I have two really skinny ones that show on my left wrist - one looks purple and one looks greenish-blue. I do not have freckles, but I do have moles (flat, almost black spots) on most expanses of skin. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321010 Wed, 03 May 2023 01:19:17 +0000 Jaime 2321010@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well it does sound that you have close to neutral skin tone, and like yourself in brights, so how about bright white? Does that work on you? (I am not so good with colors but I thought I'd throw that out there.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321008 Wed, 03 May 2023 00:51:32 +0000 Indigoprint 2321008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What color are your eyes?<br /> When you look at your inner wrists what colors do you see? Do you have freckles? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321007 Wed, 03 May 2023 00:44:37 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2321007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p> <div>What a conundrum. When you said your hair has reddish undertones, I figured the warmer colors would look good on you. So I would guess cream or light khaki or light camel might work as light neutrals. <br /></div><div>But if jewel tones look good on you, I would pick bright white as your light neutral, especially since you find pastels unflattering. Also, since you like black, maybe high contrast is something to keep in mind, too--like the black and white pullover in pic 2. High contrast combos would flatter you by echoing your dark hair and light skin.<br /></div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/best-light-neutral#post-2321003 Wed, 03 May 2023 00:22:52 +0000 Echo 2321003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For outfit-building reasons, I am looking for a light neutral to be able to wear near my face. I have heard here that there is a shade of every color for every person, and yet I am struggling to find one. To make things easier, I am happy to go with a shade of white, cream, tan, pink, apricot, whatever, just as long as it reads as light.</p> <p>I have dark brown hair with reddish/orange undertones, but the front is starting to grey, so may look slightly ashy right near the scalp. I have pale skin, and I have never been able to determine whether I am warm or cool. I thought for a long time I was warm, but warm foundations are always too yellow for me (I use neutrals if I ever wear foundation at all), and I seem to look fine in either yellow or white metals.</p> <p>My best colors seem to be highly saturated, bright jewel tones - not muted. Pastels are usually a disaster on me, and my absolute worst color is pale blue - I look like death warmed over in pale blue. I'd LIKE for a pale pink of some sort to work, but those usually end up looking pretty bad on me, too. Pale grey isn't a big fan of me, either, and yellow is awful. Maybe very pale colors just don't work for me at all?</p> <p>I've attached two pictures, for all the good they'll do. Upon looking through photos I have of myself, I can look extremely pale, extremely pink or extremely yellow, depending on the lighting. I have virtually no pictures of myself wearing anything but black. It may not be the most flattering color, but it isn't awful for me, either, I don't think (?). </p>