What's the cool-toned equivalent to beige/tan? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's the cool-toned equivalent to beige/tan?

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, quick question, especially for the cool-toned ladies - just flipping through my Pinterest board, and I realized how prominently beige and tan/camel feature - probably because they are so classic and look so great with other neutrals such as navy, white and black. However, as a cool-toned girl, neither beige nor tan do me any favors (even cool-toned taupes aren't great).

Other than gray, is there a cool-toned light neutral or nearly-neutral that has the same vibe as beige/tan in your opinion? Blush or pink maybe? Light blue? I think building a complement in whatever shade this might be will be a 2019 goal for me.

Thanks for your suggestions

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33 replies

Latest reply was from Elizabeth P

Adela

So, all the cool beiges are not working for you? What about white? Besides white and grey tones, I would suggest lavender, icy blue, icy pink...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Taupe.

Pearl Grey.

Helena

Veteran

Adela, thanks for responding! The cool beiges are not my best, but I could get past that - more importantly now that I think of it, I find them so difficult to track down! Do you have any luck with finding them?

I love white but have in mind a light neutral that could be paired with white. I love gray with white but have found gray with darker colors a bit dull on me, so looking for an alternative to that too (picky picky lol).

I love your suggestion of the icy tones ... this might be a job for pink ... thanks again

Helena

Veteran

Thanks Angie

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Try cool toned blush (not always easy to find), or a very pale pink.

If taupe doesn't work, maybe just forget the idea as clothing, and go for frankly warmer tones (cognac, tan) but as accessories only, to punch up the navy and grey. That's pretty much how I play it, although I do still wear a bit of taupe, which works on me. (Used to work better when I was blonde but is still pretty good now with judicious styling.)

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Helena

Veteran

Oh, that's a great suggestion Suz; thank you!

em

For people with our coloring, it will be invaluable to try on these colors while wearing our favorite bright/bold lipstick. It will totally revolutionize how the color looks on us.

Helena

Veteran

Yes, that's a good point Em - I usually am wearing a neutral lip ... I bet every time I shop I am as I usuall brighten up just for special occasions and evenings. I'll try this next time!

Anonymous

What sort of pieces are you looking for it for-tops, bottoms, accessories?
Are you thinking of it as like a nude to you or accent?
Depending on those it could be blush pink, rose gold, taupe, pearl grey, or even silver!

nemosmom

Veteran

My first thought was a silvery grey or really pale pink - all look nice with navy, black, white, and grey. The Banana poet shirt is pale pink and cool undertone (looks much warmer in the Find).

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Solid Poet-Sleeve Top

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Sal

Veteran

I think blush can have a different vibe to camel/beige......I like it but I see them as quite different.

For shoes, boots, bags and belt I think you could go with camel easily....
For items such as a trench or scarf or sweater, I think blush, light grey could work.

I found a soft duck egg/blue/dirty grey a really useful colour for a blazer last year - and ended up adding a more casual jacket in the same colour for summer. It has been too hot for jackets the last month but I wore it alot in October/November and expect to again in March and April.

MsMaven

Veteran

I like Em's suggestion. Since I let my hair go to it's natural mixed gray I find I do need brighter lip color. Still experimenting, but a bright color over neutral lip pencil makes it easier to find the right shade.

I don't like to wear most grays, but I get compliments with the very light gray. I'm still experimenting with color--maybe one of these days I'll have it all figured out.

I don't see much taupe around lately, but maybe because I'm not looking for it?

I used to like to wear beige and camel, but now I don't, although I'll wear beige bottoms once in a while.

Helena

Veteran

Nemosmom, I actually have that blouse I love the color! Great idea to use it as a template, as well as a piece of the complement (I'm ahead of the game already!)
Sal, thanks ... I think mixing in the warm neutrals in non-face-framing pieces is a great way to incorporate them, especially for spring and summer. Love the blue you describe also!

Gaylene

Veteran

As anyone who has ever tried to paint the walls of a room “white” can attest, there are literally hundreds of hues, tints, and shades of the so-called neutrals. It might take some time, but, if you are persistent, you can probably find YOUR tan/camel/beige. Until then, use Suz’s trick, or Em’s bright lip, or buy a scarf in your best colors to wear with those warm neutrals to tide you over.

And maybe check out Aritzia or Club Monaco since both shops seem to focus on tan/beige/camel neutrals.

Helena

Veteran

MsMaven, yes, it's a hard one to find, and a true cool taupe even harder. I too feel a bit blah in great but it's somewhat of a necessary evil in some respects! Although I haven't been replacing gray, I do have a few light gray pieces, as well as a charcoal gray coat. Mid-gray I am learning to stay far, far away from - although I love it on others, it really doesn't do anything for me at all.

Helena

Veteran

Gaylene, true that ... great idea to check those stores. Thank you!

Helena

Veteran

Suntiger, great question - I'm thinking jacket, cardi, scarf, maybe shoes ... toppers or outfit finishers, e.g. to go over a column of black or navy, or soften black & white/navy & white outfits.

Marilyn

Veteran

Another cool toned girl here. I struggle with the same thing.....love the camels/beiges but they look horrible on me. Gray works for me but I'm off that colour at the moment.

I do soft white/winter white.....just have to make sure there's no yellow in it. I'm also always on the lookout for cool taupe and soft cocoa brown....harder to find but things pop up now and again.

I have this Teddy Coat in taupe and it's a perfect neutral for pairing with denim outfits and other neutrals. Looks great with red too.

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Lesley

Veteran

Don't forget griege!

April

Veteran

TG -- Marilyn is right. That's the beige-ish shade (a sort of cool toffee, aka taupe, as our Angie has noted) that always works for us cool-toned folks.

Vildy

Veteran

pale stone gray is amazing with raspberry.

Also, there are eggshell "whites" that have a pink tinge.

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Anonymous

Other than gray, is there a cool-toned light neutral or nearly-neutral that has the same vibe as beige/tan in your opinion?

No. Beige is by definition warm.
I think you should get something beige! I might too. I would love a beige trench. Classic. Goes with navy, ha!

Helena

Veteran

Smittie, it might come to that ... Just wear it with a navy scarf lol!!

Thanks SO much everyone ... So appreciate the input! Hey, it this my first HEWI? Or HEWC? (Highly elusive wardrobe color!)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Pewter too:

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Gretchen

Veteran

Can you do ivory or cream? I can never make Khaki/Camel work - just washes me out. But a softer white works well and is almost always available to complete an outfit.

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Gallery Belted Trench Raincoat

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jackson street small octavia

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Arabella Sweatshirt

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Kate

Veteran

Haven’t read the other replies, so I apologize if I’m repeating, but I would say mushroom, a cool-toned taupe, stone (a color described thus often turns out to be cool-toned) and greige. I have warm colorling, and love the cool toned browns, even though my complextion also allows me to wear some of the warmer browns as well, like toffee. A cool taupe is my very favorite, though it can be difficult to find. Buying taupes online is a crap shoot, so you’re often better served by shopping brick & mortar stores for these colors.

Kate

Veteran

A white that has a grayish, rather than yellow, tone would be a beautiful neutral on you.

jussie

Veteran

I also like the idea of silver for this, or a very light soft blue. Although they’re not quite as neutral as beige I think they’d be ok.
Another left field idea may be a very gentle sage green. I find it surprisingly flattering, although it’s really a warm colour so not quite what you asked for.

lyn67

Veteran

Taupe, a color name in German but is kind of a greyish sand and maybe you can google image to feel it better-and I definetely love it, suits me much more than "soul sucking" beige!:-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXEPCAZXDI

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