Camel Beige Tan.... is there a difference? Do you wear them?

Sal

Beige is back - part of the 90s revival.

I see beige as cooler and lighter than camel, which is lighter than tan. I wear camel and tan - but not beige. Or I think I do?

I mix camel with black, white, denim, navy, red, and yellow/ mustard. I prefer some contrast - not monochromatic.

Here are my pieces.

How about you- do you see these as different, do you wear these colours?

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5 years ago

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Joy

Veteran

I wear a more greyed version, taupe? However I understand the color differences as you describe them...beige being the lightest shade, tan the darkest, almost caramel. Then there is toffee which I picture as not quite as yellow as camel.

5 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

An interesting question! Truth be told, I have a hard time knowing the difference between camel and tan. I think I wear tan but not camel (is tan just a little darker?). Mostly as in leather bag/footwear, like your tan boots here, but I do also like a tan sweater, because it goes with everything.

I was scarred by beige in the 80s and I am not intending to go there now, although I do think leopard and cheetah are a neutral, so maybe I am deluding myself!

5 years ago

April

Veteran

They all have warm and cool versions and the warm versions look awful on me.

5 years ago

The Cat

Veteran

Sal, I see them the same way as you do. However, the difference between them can be very small, and some people call all of them beige--beige meaning "light brown."

When my hair was dark, I wore them all, often mixed with black or other deep colours. Now that my hair is silver, I find that cool colours suit me best, so I no longer wear beige, camel, tan, etc. However, I think these shades can be beautiful and elegant on people like you who have a colouring where these soft warm tones are reflected. And they look lovely and interesting teamed with blue and aqua shades.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I think of beige as the lightest and coolest tone, camel as more yellowed, and tan as light neutral brown. I have a few things-a cardi, puffer, pants, and sandals-and use the colors like others would white.

5 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Interesting - I that beige and camel are a good way to work out if you are cool or warm coloured - as with creams and whites. Whereas often with blues you can wear both cool and warm coloured.....

I see toffee and caramel as slightly richer than camel but that could be just me.

I do think that animal print has contrast built in with blacks or dark browns.

I won't be going there with the 90s beige looks - or will I without realising...

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5 years ago

Brooklyn

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I see it exactly as suntiger said. I wear tan, mustard (a more goldish brown) and cognac (more orange/red). Also taupe (brownish grey). I do wear camel too, especially if it leans caramel. I avoid beige because it’s too pale for me. I need a warmer, more saturated colour near my face. But I’m not averse to it as part of a pattern.

I have been focussing on adding brown and golden tones this year. They feel like a nice change from the cool neutrals that have dominated for the last 10 years. I will do a post eventually. But I like them with neutrals (black, white, grey) or with my usual colours (burgundy, teal, dark green).

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5 years ago

StyleDetective

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I see it like Suntiger, as well. I do think there are warmer and cooler versions of beige (same lightness, different amount of yellow) but overall I see it as a warm colour, even though it's cooler than camel and tan.

I rarely wear these colours - I am cool toned and I don't find them very flattering on me, though I love them on others. I do like tan/cognac but I tend to only use it for bags, shoes and belts.

I really like your faux fur jacket

5 years ago

StyleDetective

Active Member

Also, Brooklyn, that is one outrageously gorgeous collection of browns and golds!

5 years ago

Bonnie

Veteran

I do have a few beige items, a vest, sandals, and a shirtdress, that I wear in summer and I'm thinking about adding a pair of pants and maybe a topper. It works well with blue, white, and black.

5 years ago

Gretchen

Veteran

Wow Brooklyn, what a great Collection!

I’m a no for beige/camel/tan - I look washed out in all three.

For me, it’s cream, conker or deep brown.

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5 years ago

Sal

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Thanks all - I forgot about taupe - that is not my shade......so classy but a quick way to make me look tired and ruddy all at once.

Brooklyn I love your pieces - especially the clutch and the wrap blouse. Gorgeous.

Gretchen - your finds are lovely too. I like that conker shade.

If I broaden camel/tan out to light- medium warm browns I have a couple more pieces too....

Thanks Bonnie and Style Detective

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5 years ago

Jenni NZ

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I wish I weren’t too lazy to put my wardrobe in Finds when I see yours and Brooklyn’s! I have one beige tunic from 2011 I think and one pair beige summer shoes. Camel I am not sure, maybe in the tunic print. Or maybe in the stripes of the layering top. Tan I have bag, boots, crochet vest and sandals. Tan suits me better I feel- warmer toned?

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5 years ago

Jessikams

(website)

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I adore brown in all shades, but the warmer mid tones look the best on me— camel, caramel, etc. Delicious.

5 years ago

texstyle

(website)

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Most "beige" colors don't work that well near my face so I go with warmer tones of camel and tan mostly but I don't have a lot of those warm shades in tops or bottoms. I would add more but they don't often come in lightweight materials/styles and in my mostly hot climate I can't use sweaters, jackets or thick materials. I have one sweater blazer that I've only been able to wear a couple of times so far (it's mostly too warm for spring/autumn). The cotton "cardi" in a cedar color is a favorite color but hard to find for warm weather wear.

I think most of my tan/cognac/caramel colored items are accessories; shoes, handbags and belts which often I wear in tan (cognac) and similar.

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5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I call beige = TAN

I call camel = TOFFEE

And rust = CINNAMON

5 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

That is so crazy, given how I totally wear tan but think that I wouldn't touch beige with a 10-foot pole! Funny to see how subjective some of this is.

5 years ago

rachylou

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I agree, but you never know what you’ll get when you see an online description!

5 years ago

RobinF

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I think of beige as the lightest, then tan then camel, all warm shades to me. I think of taupe as a cooler "beige" and camel as the warmest. I think I am lucky, I can wear them all but also cool tones like grays. Not sure why (maybe I'm fooling myself?). I don't wear a lot of beige though, now that I think of it.

Great pieces you all have!

5 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Beige makes me look like death so I avoid it. I can wear warmer, darker shades of brown but the lighter shades look terrible on me.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Tricky colours, but when the right one hits, I like it on me. My best find is an EF melton wool unlined coat in a cool beige. LOVE it. I don't even bother looking at footwear in those shades though - just too iffy.

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sal, those colours are GREAT with your hair.

5 years ago

JAileen

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Some time ago I thrifted a vintage Coach backpack in camel. I think that was what they called the color. Ordinarily I wouldn’t add things in this color, but I might have bought it before I went grey. Anyway, it looks nice with both blue and grey. I found some booties that work with it, to make it look less random. I was told this was from 1999, so it’s considered vintage now.

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5 years ago

Style Fan

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I like camel and tan when they are very warm. I am rather passionate about neutrals and anything that is related to brown. I don't wear taupe because cool tones suck the life out of me.

5 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I don’t think I wear any of these, but I might wear a light rose brown, which some may consider a dark taupe. Is taupe a beige?
Like Angie, I think of camel being the same as toffee. I think tan and beige are the same, Initially, I felt mildly perplexed by the comparison of rust and cinnamon. However, thinking of all the rusty cars I have seen, I definitely understand!

5 years ago

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