Warm, light neutrals: taupe vs camel vs beige

Keix

Jenanded's post on a black-free 2013 got me thinking about alternative neutrals--specifically, lighter-colored neutrals like taupe, camel, beige, and ivory. I've always struggled with wearing these neutral shades, even though recently I've gotten the itch to add more light neutrals to my dark winter wardrobe.

We all know about Soul Sucking Beige, of course. But how does one distinguish beige from a very wearable shade of taupe or camel? I've been shopping for a trench coat recently and it seems like all I can find is either black or a dark yellowish-beige that does horrid things to my complexion. (I have a common Asian coloring: MAC NC30 yellow-toned skin, black hair, brown eyes.)

How do you wear light neutrals like taupe while avoiding SSB? And what's the difference, exactly, between ivory and white?

12 years ago

Dressing

5 replies

Latest reply was from Keix

krishnidoux

Veteran

I do not have your complexion but I will try to answer some of your question.

The difference between white and ivory is that the latter is warmer, deeper, while plain white is very... white: cool, flat. Ivory will sing next to warmer colours, whereas plain white will look odd and out of place; but take fresh, perky "Summer" colour and suddenly crisp white shines, whereas ivory would look like it is yellowing.

Ivory works better mixed with neutrals such as camel and warm beige, because they have yellow in them also.

SSB is a flat colour that has grey in it, which makes it appear duller. You are right in that most trenches are that colour. Maybe because a lot of clothes worn with trenches carry grey in them; however there are camel coloured trenches that are beautiful.

Taupe is even grey-er, on those with a cool rosy tone skin it looks very good. Not so with darker olive or yellow tone skin.

I suggest putting these colours next to your bare face in the sunlight to really see which ones work with you. I am looking for another member with your colouring to share her input!

12 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

As above. Try to figure out if you're in the warm or cool color family. If warm and you wear rich reds , browns and rust, you would aim for camel and warm ivory.
Taupe is a color I like if not too pink and it can be trickier to mix with other colors but goes with both black and with cool browns, white or cool off - whites,teal, cool reds and so on.

Colors are so infinite that there are often colors called this or that , that you can or can't mix as above due to small variations. So it's best to try a lot of things on and wear some favorite Colors /items when you shop.

12 years ago

Keix

Veteran

Thanks to you both for the color wisdom! I am trying to work more brown into my wardrobe, but mostly I tend toward black and jewel tones (cobalt blue, teal, burgundy, purple, magenta...) and I think they flatter me more than oranges and yellows--does that mean I'm in the cool color family? I would describe my skin as definitely more warm than cool, though.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That means the cool colour family. There are Asian skins that are on the cooler side. My daughter (born in China) has a cool toned complexion so that surprisingly, we look good in many of the same colours -- it's just that she can take a brighter intensity of the colour than I can. (I am fair skinned Caucasian and look best in cool colours such as most blues, cranberry red, orchid, taupe.)

You will quickly get a good sense of what works best for you if you take two garments into a change room, one in camel and one in taupe. Although change room lighting is often terrible. Another option is to compare yourself in a yellow vs. a cooler colour.

12 years ago

Keix

Veteran

Thanks Suz! I was thinking of you specifically when taupe came to mind. I will try the camel/taupe comparison the next time I can--if I can figure out an accurate representation of taupe--but my instinct is that taupe is more flattering. I can hardly wear yellow at all, unless it's neon.

12 years ago

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