https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:12:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377791 Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:15:09 +0000 Chris987 2377791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good examples <b>Firecracker</b>! Sometimes yes, sometimes no!!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377761 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:15:38 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2377761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p> <div>I feel for you, Chris. I've had it happen, too. An off-white sweater I tried on in the store turned out to be too yellow when I got it home and paired it with things I wanted to wear it with. Back it went.<br /></div><div>On the other hand, yesterday I received a t-shirt I ordered from Kit &amp; Ace, bought online, and it goes perfectly with a cardigan that I already owned (and could use a new top to go with). Very lucky, as I think this color is really an odd one.<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377682 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:18:13 +0000 Chris987 2377682@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lucky you <b>Jaime!&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></p> <p>I think my takeaways from this discussion are 1) confirming that yes this happens sometimes and 2) tan/beige colors may be particularly prone to this issue and since my own needs there are so very specific (must be warm, not cool) I need to just be very aware and careful.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377587 Sun, 05 Jan 2025 01:14:26 +0000 Jaime 2377587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not usually but probably because the thrift stores where I shop are small enough to always have a window handy. Dressing room lighting is typically atrocious. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377567 Sat, 04 Jan 2025 19:55:46 +0000 Chris987 2377567@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Suz,</b> good point about the tan/camel colors perhaps being especially prone to skewing warm/cool very much dependent on lighting. I've seen that too.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>cat2</b>, that must make it even more difficult!&nbsp;</p> <p><b>RobinF</b> it's definitely true that people see color differently, I believe it's a scientific reality.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><b>kkard</b>s ... interesting story about navy vs. black. I've always stayed away from dark navy because my eyes and brain "want it to be black". I've stopped fighting it :-)&nbsp;</p> <p><b>runcarla</b> yes bringing a garment with you to match is a great idea. I wasn't trying to match this coat with anything specific so that would not have worked.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>karen23</b>, in this particular store there wasn't anyone i could even ask for permission to take the coat outside!! I don't think I have the mental energy to play around with color settings on my phone to see a way around this. :-)&nbsp;</p> <p><b>JAileen</b> I suppose I could carry my color palette I had done last year with me, but it would not have helped in this case ... the difference was too subtle.&nbsp;</p> <p>Exactly <b>Pirouette!</b>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Lisa</b> that's a great point ... I often take photos with my phone in dressing rooms but it's more that the silhouette looks different than IRL ... I've never found it all that helpful when it comes to color.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377536 Sat, 04 Jan 2025 03:35:30 +0000 karen23 2377536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe the phone has settings that correct for the different lighting? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377528 Sat, 04 Jan 2025 01:22:28 +0000 Lisa 2377528@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I struggle with colors and online shopping the most. Too often the colors online are just not the same in person, especially the level of saturation.</p> <p>Sometimes in stores I can't tell if something looks ok or not in the dressing room mirror, so I take a photo of myself wearing the item in question. When I see the photo it helps me see if the color brightens my face or not and if the fit is ok or not. I don't know why my phone gives me a different viewpoint and it's not fool proof but sometimes that photo has been really helpful for fit and color decisions when I'm in the dressing room.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377482 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 19:50:13 +0000 pirouette 2377482@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been allowed take the shops hand held mirror outside to check the colour of a foundation the assistant had put on me. I find clothes slightly different as with security tags the assistants can’t let you take potential purchases outside.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377479 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:55:49 +0000 JAileen 2377479@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It wasn’t clothes, but I was allowed to take an expensive pair of binoculars outside before buying them. &nbsp;I needed to look at things far away to determine if they worked for me. &nbsp;We were outside for twenty or thirty minutes. &nbsp;This was at a small local hunting store. &nbsp;</p> <div><br /></div><div>Re color: I wonder if you had one of those books with colors, and could compare the garment to known colors that you liked.</div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377475 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:33:05 +0000 karen23 2377475@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>Wow.&nbsp; I can't imagine someone in a store allowing a customer to go outside with something!&nbsp; It is just not like that here.</div><div>I do find that on my phone, colors appear different than on my monitor here.&nbsp; With regard to at least one fabric store, the colors are more accurate on my phone.&nbsp; <br /></div><div>I don't know how this relates to online clothes shopping, because the in-person selection here is not good, and a lot of brands I hear about I don't see in the stores, let alone in 14 and 16.&nbsp; I want to find more good places to shop in the Chicago area &amp; make another trip down there.&nbsp; I'd like to be able to try some clothes on, find out if/how some of these brands fit. (I know, wild daydream.)&nbsp; Otherwise, there's a chance my entire wardrobe will be DIY, Kohl's, Farm &amp; Fleet &amp; occasional stuff from the Columbia outlet store.&nbsp; (Yeah, it could be worse.&nbsp; Imagine the alternative being Walmart!)<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377473 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:11:43 +0000 Carla 2377473@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’ll wear or bring a garment with me if I’m trying to match or co-ordinate with another item. &nbsp;To get a true fix on the colour, I’ll do like the folks who mention moving to a window or actually going outside of the store (after checking with an SA). &nbsp;I’ve returned items too, when a colour hasn’t been as expected. &nbsp;I’ve also been tickled to find out something brought home is a&nbsp;<i>perfect&nbsp;</i>match with something else in my closet!</p> <p> <div><br /></div><div>Like&nbsp;<b>RobinF&nbsp;</b>and her DH, my DH and I see colours differently and like&nbsp;<b>kkards</b><b>&nbsp;</b>I picked up a pair of loafers that I thought were black in the store - that turned out to be navy blue! &nbsp;I find some navy’s so dark (like my wool jacket) they are almost black!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377471 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:05:29 +0000 kkards 2377471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Color, it’s so hard. &nbsp;&nbsp;<div>&nbsp;wondering if you have an iPhone, if the natural light setting would have worked.(Assuming android phones have something similar, but no familiarity with them). &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a similar color story as the burgundy sweater. &nbsp;The Nikes in the find are called obsidian. &nbsp;They looked navy in store, they looked navy on line, but obsidian is black. (See Pantone swatch), but nope these are navy. I guess Nike just uses their own color palette&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377468 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:16:30 +0000 RobinF 2377468@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's frustrating! Online too, I have issues with that sometimes.</p> <p>When it comes to color descriptions, I think sometimes people actually see colors differently. Back some time ago, Facebook had this quiz thing where you had to say what the color was and people had different answers. DH and I actually differ sometimes on what color things are. Weird. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377467 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:08:14 +0000 cat2 2377467@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are fortunate you have clear light at home. We have a murky tract house with a shady back yard. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377466 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:58:18 +0000 Suz 2377466@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Dee,</b> that sounds really posh! And kind of fun to play with!&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Chris</b>, I am sorry this happened. I typically do what <b>Sisi</b> has done and ask permission to go outside to assess the colour if I am unsure. </p> <p>But it's not foolproof even then because you usually don't have a mirror close enough to the window, so especially if it is a new colour for you, you can't always tell if it is going to look okay. Or work with other things in the closet. I think this is harder with some neutrals like greys, camels/beiges, etc. where they can skew warm or cool and only one of those options will suit the wearer.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377464 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:04:36 +0000 Chris987 2377464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Dee</b> that's a great idea but I can't see it happening in any of the retail stores I usually visit ... budgets too limited etc.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377463 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 16:03:43 +0000 Chris987 2377463@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks <b>Sisi.</b> In Marshall's, TJMAxx,&nbsp; and similar discount stores (here in he US)&nbsp; there are basically no SAs available to help any more. All the staff is either doing checkout/payment, or running the fitting room .... no one to ask to get closer to the door!&nbsp;</p> <p>Good point<b> Angie</b> about placement of mirrors at home. The one I use is quite close to a couple of bright windows so I get pretty close to "natural light".&nbsp;</p> <p><b>Roberta</b>, hmm had not thought of using the light on my phone. Maybe I'll try it. With online orders I EXPECT this sort of thing and am used to it but in store I have higher expectations! Maybe sill of me.&nbsp;</p> <p>On the subject of colors... there can also be a human error factor.&nbsp; A few weeks ago I ordered a sweater from Dillards in a color called "espresso".&nbsp; (Find below). Should be some sort of dark brown, right? It was burgundy, and I'm NOT color blind!! I think that must have been some sort of human error. I did not want another burgundy sweater so back it went.&nbsp; It even happens with cars ... my car is a light cool blue, but Subaru has named that color "warm khaki grey". I get a lot of complements on the color and have a good laugh explaining the name of the color to people. Another human error I think.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377462 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:56:44 +0000 Dee 2377462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not helpful for your particular situation <b>Chris987</b> but when I went to a Muji store in London, they had 3 light settings you could use in the fitting room, there was office, evening and outdoor. I thought wouldn’t it be great if other stores offered this as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377461 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:46:30 +0000 Roberta 2377461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Years ago, a work friend stood in her office and said, "I swear these pants were green in my closet!"</p> <p>I wonder if shining the flashlight from your phone on the garment would make a difference? And, to go off on a tangent, the color question is also difficult when you're buying something online. I just received a sweater from Poshmark that I thought would be a lovely acidic green, but when I opened it it was more of a mint, which I'm not crazy about. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377458 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:30:01 +0000 Angie 2377458@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, <b>Chris</b>! This happens. It's very hard to get natural light in stores. There is going to be an inaccurate colour assessment from time to time. Some stores are worse than others though. Usually, I've found, it's seldom bad enough to have to return the item because of the colour.</p> <p>I'll take it a step further. Bad light at home when you assess your outfit, colour combinations, or the colour of something new!</p> <p>Countless clients, friends, and family members have their full length mirrors is dark, dingy, or very reflective places. It's not ideal :(&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377457 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:25:06 +0000 Sisi 2377457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I understand you. I always ask the SA to go near the door or even out.<br />I have always been allowed to do so (but I am in Italy, maybe things are a little different here). You can check the fit in the mirror inside and then the color near the door.&nbsp; I also do this with&nbsp; lipsticks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/garment-color-different-in-store-lighting-vs-natural-lighting#post-2377456 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:13:22 +0000 Chris987 2377456@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I found a fabulous short puffer coat yesterday at Marshalls, super quality, synthetic fill (not a requirement but nice-to-have) and lots of great details. BCBMaxazria, on clearance for $40. Great fit. In the store it looked like a neutral camel color that looked good with my hair and skin tones.&nbsp;</p> <p>When I got it home, in natural light near a window, it turned into a slightly cool taupe, which is an awful color on me and one I never wear.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's going back.</p> <p>There was no way to go out into natural light near a mirror without paying for it first - could find some natural light near the store front door but no mirrors. The same issue would exist in a mall store. I usually do pretty well with color but this&nbsp; one was a total fail.&nbsp;I do know the lighting in stores tends to be a bit warm, but knowing that does not always help in a practical way.&nbsp; Maybe I just need to chalk this up to the occasional fail that will happen, and be happy I can return it.&nbsp;</p> <p><b><i>Has anyone found a good way of assessing garment color in stores? Would love to hear your thoughts.&nbsp;</i></b><br />&nbsp; </p>