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How to be comfortable with light neutrals and pale skin

heather.enhui

I really wanted my first post on YLF to be a WIW, but I wasn't quite ready to post a photo of my entire outfit. Instead, I'm sharing my recent shoe purchase and hoping for some styling advice.

Last night I was at my local "supermarket mall" (a huge Carrefour supermarket surrounded by various Chinese and international brand shops) where I had intended to only pick up a few grocery items, when I spotted a sale sign at an Aerosoles shop. I don't often buy international brand shoes in Beijing as the markup makes them silly expensive compared to the local brands or the items that may have fallen out the back door of a factory somewhere in Southern China, but I couldn't resist a peek.

Inspired by posts I have read here on YLF, I have been looking for nude or light color work appropriate shoes.These nubuck oxfords suit my girly tomboy style.

However, I have NEVER worn light color shoes due to a life-long aversion to white, taupe, tan, cream etc. I just always assumed with my translucent, pale skin tone I should never wear these colors. I feel so washed out when I wear them close to my face, but slowly learning there is a white that works for me and in combination with color I can tolerate some light neutral on top.

I am wearing them with black culottes and a teal top, but I don't feel entirely comfortable. Most of my wardrobe is black, navy, all shades of blue and teal with a pop of tomato red, purple, or cognac. I feel like I need some kind of taupe/cream accessory to bookend, like belt, necklace, topper, etc., although I think with my light color hair this might not be necessary (actually I just realized a better combo would have been my sole cream colored blouse with a thin cobalt short sleeve cardigan.) The more I think about it, the problem in my head seems to be with wearing these light colored shoes with my pale legs showing. I might be more comfortable wearing them with pants.

I think I just need to adjust to this new look. I can wear these shoes with anything, right?

Another question - Should I use some kind of suede spray on these shoes? I'm worried about keeping them clean.

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by heather.enhui

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by heather.enhui

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Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from heather.enhui

rabbit

Veteran

I think light skin can work really well with white or near white clothes, as long as it works with your cool or warm coloring. I have very pale skin and dark hair, cool coloring. A bright optic white looks great on me, because my skin looks alive against it. Yellowy creams/pale beiges/and brown-y blushes are colors I strongly avoid as they tend to 'blend' with my skin tone too closely or are too warm. Silver looks good as a 'light' shoe on me. Palest blue or pearl gray are other cool toned white surrogates. You might find the opposite if you are warm toned -- have you noticed a color temperature difference between the 'sickly' and 'not sickly' whites for you?

These oxfords look good, and should work in a variety of outfits. What color is your hair now? If they pick up some of that color that can work as a bookend, or even something like sunglasses with similar pale rims or a watch with a pale band can tie in, if not a bigger wardrobe item.

heather.enhui

Thank you for your comments Rabbit!

I have light red hair. Because of this, all of my life I've been told I should wear warm colors but with my blue-grey eyes I feel cool. I have discovered recently that bright white is much better for me. I've just decided to experiment more and see how I feel. These oxfords might be a little too warm toned for my liking, maybe that is why I'm not sure how I feel, but they are very comfortable and I am slowly adjusting to looking down and not seeing black shoes.

Jane

Veteran

I struggle with light coloured shoes for the same reason as you. However, when I've bought light coloured shoes, I've loved them. So hopefully this pair will work out for you too. They look great and oxfords always look cool I think.

I bought lovely lemony coloured suede trainers a couple of months back. Loved them but wore them with some newish jeans. I had some colour transfer from the jeans to the trainers. ive got some of it out but not all of it.

Staysfit

Veteran

Black and Tan/camel is a classic combination and these shoes look more tan than cream colored on my monitor. I have low contrast coloring and value contrast so I would never pair these shoes with black. Instead I would wear them with Camel, tan, khaki, pink, olive or white bottoms. I would definitely spray them with rain and stain protectant. I like Meltonian products when I can find them.

heather.enhui

@Staysfit thank you for the Meltonian suggestion - I will look for it. I do think the contrast between tan and black is a bit jarring when I look down. I have no bottoms in the colors you mentioned but maybe if I'd just try them on I would actually like them. YLF has really opened my mind on what I can wear.

@Jane thank you, the shoes have been getting lots of compliments at work and I'm feeling better about them.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm very comfortable. I have very pale skin and wear light neutrals ALL THE TIME. From head to toe.

I don't wear nude or tan though, as I find it too dull on my low contrast complexion. I like to wear white, bone, cream and metallics instead - brightens things up.

Tanya

Veteran

I second everything Angie said. I am also very pale, with cool coloring, and love wearing white, cream, taupe,bone, and even metallics. I find them much better suited for warmer weather then darks, especially in shoes and bags. I avoid beige and tan shades, those do wash me out.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Except for sandals or work heels, I rarely buy tan/nude colored shoes for fear they will get dirty since I live in the city.

You can definitely wear those shoes with any color pant though. I do like the oxford style though.

heather.enhui

I had no internet access over the weekend so just checked back in to see your helpful replies.

I'm going to look for some silver shoes to see how those feel and reserve these tan/cream oxfords for trousers only, as I am wearing them today with burgundy trousers, cream top, navy short-sleeve cardigan and I feel so much better about them. They are just not a good choice for me combined with skirts or culottes.

Thanks everyone!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

To me there is something about oxfords that needs pants. That is just my personal opinion, I'm fussy about oxfords and don't have a fashion forward mindset towards them. I view them traditionally I think, kind of classic menswear. I know it is fashion-forward to wear oxfords with culottes though. Just saying I prefer oxfords with pants, so totally understand your decision to limit them to pants.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I would think of bookending your hair with shoes. and, I would think that lighter neutrals would actually make you stand out more, as darker colors might be too heavy and overwhelming. Have you looked into your color "season"?

heather.enhui

@CocoLion yes, totally agree now that I've worn the shoes a few times. For me, much better with pants.

@Jenava I have never had my colors formally done, but if I follow some of the online suggestions and look at my vein color, eye color, etc., I'm likely a summer. I know what you mean about darker colors probably seeming heavy and overwhelming. I have low contrast between my hair and skin, so they might very well be too heavy for me. I just feel more comfortable in both darker colors and bright colors rather than lighter neutrals. I'm going to give lighter neutrals a try, though. I really think it is a mental block I need to overcome. I'm guessing that I feel this way because in the past I wore all the wrong light neutrals for me, given that everyone told me I must be an autumn.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm a cool summer with dark blonde hair (slowly turning silver) and pale skin. It took me a while to get used to the idea of light footwear not so much because of my personal colouring but because it felt impractical (and truly *is* impractical for a large chunk of the year where I live in Canada). Also, I had some idea that I needed black footwear to "ground" my outfits -- especially if I am wearing another dark colour up top.

However, since joining YLF and taking outfit photos, I have come to see how valuable light footwear actually is! Let me count the ways:

It can bookend my hair if I am wearing a primarily dark or mid-toned outfit.
It can tie in with any light element of the outfit (top, belt, bag, pants, skirt, etc.)
It can act as a nude or nearly nude for me, extending the leg line when wearing a skirt or dress or even cropped pants.
It can freshen and brighten my overall look.

I have light footwear in taupe, bone, white, snakeskin print, pewter, silver, and gold. These all get heavy rotation in the warmer months. I do tend to revert to darker footwear in winter -- but not because I want to. More out of necessity.

I think with reddish hair you could also look into cognac footwear as a bookending colour that could be a useful neutral, even if you are a summer (i.e. cool toned.) Cognac works brilliantly with grey and blue as well as black and white.

Leopard print footwear could also be great on you. i find it works for me with my dark blonde.

heather.enhui

@Suz thank you, your insights are much appreciated.

I was a bit lost when I first posted but everyone's comments have helped me take that step towards experimenting with light neutrals.