https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:31:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638829 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:30:03 +0000 ramya 638829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with you Fashionista... I feel the same way too :)</p> <p>Thanks GP ... I will be posting a bunch of pics soon </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638828 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:27:46 +0000 fashionista 638828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well its my gut that I find color working on me. One day I feel purple looks good on me the next day I feel it makes me look dark. So even my mood plays a role in making colors flatter my skin color. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638821 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:11:48 +0000 goldenpig 638821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I posted a thread a while ago asking other YLF'ers to advise me on what colors suited me--basically posted a bunch of pics of me in different colors.<br /> <a href="http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/post/anyone-want-to-take-a-stab-at-my-color-analysis" rel="nofollow">http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....r-analysis</a><br /> That, plus just experimenting, helped me figure out that my colors were Deep Autumn. I agree with the others that it's the shade and intensity of the color, not necessarily the color itself. For example I figured out look much better in muted warm rich saturated shates than cool jewel tones (I had always thought I looked best in bright jewel tones). Compare the pic of me in cobalt and raspberry with the pic of me in the mustard yellow blouse. Or the medium purple ruffle tank as compared to the warmer eggplant colored poncho. And I also figured out I do not do well with pastels like light blue, and camel colors that are too close to my skin color (see pics in the thread). And I look much better in black and whites than in browns (I used to wear a lot of brown pre-YLF!) I also now know that for spring/summer dressing I don't need to look for pastel colors, I can use the autumn colors that suit me but just wear them in more spring-like manner.</p> <p>Feel free to post pics--I found the advice from everyone here to be invaluable in helping me figure out my colors! Good luck with sorting your colors! It really does make a difference! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638815 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 04:56:02 +0000 ramya 638815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you gals ...</p> <p>I donot think I want to get it done professionally... I agree with Aida and Rae... I like to stick to my personality...</p> <p>I ended up with this question because, though I am pretty "fair" by Indian standard, I am not really fair(I hope that makes sense. I have natural black hair and dark brown eyes... Traditionally Asian I could say... combined with this I love all colors in the rainbow , I always picked up any color that was bright or jewel toned... Never did pastels..(Except pink.. I was a girly gal)...</p> <p>Each time I wore a cream, beige or very light blue I was asked if I was sick... Sue your comment makes perfect sense...</p> <p>So off I go for some trail and error </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638586 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:21:32 +0000 Aida 638586@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would say I have a pretty keen sense of color, so I just figured mine out based on trial and error really (and I wear both warm and cool colors). So maybe not too helpful for you I did try for a looooong time to figure out what season I was, whether my skin was warm/cool etc. And eventually did figure it out a bit, but that also ended up through trial and error. Those seasonal analysis tests were brutal for me to figure out; hair was a breeze, skin drove me crazy. Like Rae suggests, hitting up a store right now while there's lots of color options to try out is a great idea!</p> <p>Just because a color looks good on you doesn't mean you have to wear it, by the way. There are several colors that work with my skin/hair but that don't feel like "me" so I don't wear them (looking at you, pink). If you can distinctively tell whether optic or ivory better suits you, that's a good step in knowing whether to focus on warm or cool shades. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638581 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:05:02 +0000 DonnaF 638581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had my colors *done* decades ago. I ended up with 28 cards, each with four to ten swatches of fabric on them, 209 swatches in all. Most cards contain eight swatches. I was told that as I got older and greyer, the hue would change (go lighter), but not my general colors. If I were to have this done today, the colors would be slightly different simply because the available colors in fabric swatches have changed.</p> <p>My husband's coloring is significantly different from mine, and I couldn't figure out what would look good on him, so I made him have his colors done at the same place. He ended up with 19 cards, each with four to nine swatches on them for a total of 131 swatches.</p> <p>My coloring is slightly warmer than neutral and his is very warm so I think that is why I can wear a greater range of colors. I didn't get my colors done so much to learn the colors that look really good on me but to figure out which neutrals I can wear, especially which beiges. In addition to beige, I learned that a lot of colors like deep teal, forest green, and cranberry function as neutrals on me: I can wear them, but a solid outfit in that color does not provide enough energy.</p> <p>Supposedly, wearing one's eye colors (and remember that our eyes have several colors, even if only flecks!) is calming, and wearing red (which includes pinks, corals, and deep oranges) is supposed to excite others sexually. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638401 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:57:04 +0000 rae 638401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I started out reading a lot on color theory and tried to determine my "season." That was a great starting point, but actually I think it takes too much time and is really all theory in the end. </p> <p>My faster, more accurate recommendation? Go shopping, take pictures of yourself in as many different colors as possible, and then sort the pictures into the ones you like best and worst. You will be able to see a pattern emerge - soft colors? bright colors? muted? sour? </p> <p>Yes, it boils down to trial and error, but in the end, *you* get to decide if you like the effect - not a book or a third party. The main problem I have with getting colors done by someone else is that they may not take your personality into account... what if you look *great* in bright colors, but you *feel* terrible and conspicuous? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638389 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:50:00 +0000 Suz 638389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Something to keep in mind: People will often compliment you on a colour you haven't worn before or that is brighter than you usually wear, simply because it stands out. It doesn't necessarily suit you. It's just colour...and people respond to that. Know what I mean? </p> <p>I agree with what Celia said as well. There's a shade or tint of EVERY colour for everyone. It's just a question of finding the right one. Although it would be very tough to find a yellow that would actually look good on me, LOL! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638388 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:49:52 +0000 Meredith1953 638388@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another thing to consider is how people's skin tone changes (whether through tanning or even aging) and hair color changes (dyeing a different color or going gray etc.). I used to wear all Autumn colors. I had a dark warm brown with reddish highlights and hazel eyes and freckles. Now that I am graying (my choice) I find different colors suit both my hair and my changing skin tone. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638382 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:40:15 +0000 Anonymous 638382@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just chiming back into to say, I was gravitating to the wrong colours. Even now, I love hot pink and people are attracted to it, but when I wear it and really, really look at myself, it doesn't suit me </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638270 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:15:53 +0000 Irene 638270@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just learn from experience. I have several tops I never wear because I look terrible in them due to color. I know I can't do yellows unless they go very orangey, that pastels and fluors look horrible next to my skin tone.</p> <p>I look my best in reds, hot pink, white (but not off-white), bright shades of blue and green (but not apple green or baby blue, unless they are on the brighter side). </p> <p>Browns and black are a bit meh on me, but I can do them from time to time. </p> <p>Colors like blush, beiges, creams... just not for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638250 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:51:51 +0000 Anonymous 638250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had my 'colours done'. I had read books, done all the self help tests like holding colours near me, trying gold and silver, etc</p> <p>It turns out I like summer colours, turquoise, hot pink etc but I am really an autumn, think golds, greens, orange, browns etc. I was stunned but the consultant was correct. </p> <p>Now I shop better, my clothes are instantly a capsule, they all kind of go together</p> <p>Someone at work jokingly asked if I was having an affair :)</p> <p>I would do it again, it was worth the cost </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638243 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:47:33 +0000 cheryl 638243@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You probably do gravitate to the colors that look best on you but if you want to be sure there are plenty of sites that have a quiz to narrow it down. It can be fun to see what they say but nothing is set in stone so wear what you love. Just google "what are my colors" or something along those lines and lots of sites will pop up. Have fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638192 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:04:13 +0000 Aziraphale 638192@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The above comments are excellent, but I'll just add that I don't think colour is an on/off thing. It's not that a colour either suits you or doesn't. Like many things, it's a continuum, where some colours look fabulous on a person, some are good, some are not bad, and some are dreadful. I only try to steer clear of the dreadful ones! Some of my favourite colours are not necessarily my very best ones, but they don't make me look ill, either. :-)</p> <p>One way I've come to learn my best colours is that people comment when I wear them. For example I used to have a gold (mustard) sweater, which is definitely NOT my favourite colour, but I liked the shape of it so I wore it anyway. People gushed about how great the colour looked on me.</p> <p>Also, I read somewhere that there are four universally flattering colours: pale warm pink, true red, Indian teal, and eggplant. There were pictures of models with very different skin tones wearing these colours. I think the author of that article was onto something! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638180 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:51:38 +0000 christieanne 638180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like to look at colors in natural light, sans makeup and try to notice if my face looks more "awake" or more "tired". Pretty simple. Also, indoor lighting and fluorescent lights change things so I will occasionally try things there and do the same test. If I seem more sallow then not a good color. </p> <p>Occasionally I try on things that are different (like pastels) just to check if they should stay on my "not for me" list. You do have to experiment. And if you get tons of compliments on a certain color or items, embrace that and duplicate </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638175 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:46:56 +0000 celia 638175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz mentioned having someone do your colors or judge in natural light what colors make you look brighter and overall fresher.</p> <p>I am by no means an expert but I will share my experience so far.<br /> i would say that it is not so much the color( yellow, green, blue) but the deepness and brightness of it.There are shades of pink that look good on me while others make me look downright sick, for example.</p> <p>Besides what looks good for me there is also a question of which colors resonate with me and make me happy, for example I love yellow in others but even when I find a shade of it that works with my skintone I feel uncomfortable wearing it.</p> <p>If you don't want to have your colors done by a professional ask a friend in wich judgment you trust and have fun trying different colors to see which ones look better on you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638124 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:32:31 +0000 Suz 638124@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Some people seem blessed with good colour sense. They feel, on a gut level, what works and what does not. Several of our longtime members are brilliant at choosing colours for themselves and others. </p> <p>Others have their colours "done" (or try to figure it out themselves) using one of the many systems available. That can be a helpful start, but feels too restricting for some - and of course a lot depends on the consultant. Some are much better than others. </p> <p>It helps to hold colours up to your skin with your hair pulled off your face, no makeup, in natural light. What do you see? </p> <p>Your "best" colours will make you look brighter, fresher, better rested. </p> <p>Your less good colours will seem to create shadows or make you appear a bit bleah. </p> <p>Your worst colours will make you look downright sick! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot---how-do-you-know-your-best-colors#post-638107 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:05:03 +0000 ramya 638107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am more instinctive when picking my clothes... though pink and white are my all time favorite... I see myself picking out more reds and yellows and purples...</p> <p>Each season sees me with my new favorite color :)</p> <p>How do you know which color suits you and which doesn't??? </p>