Meet Your True Colors

April 2011

Knowing your colors is winning half the battle of dressing to look your best. One of the biggest misunderstandings most women have is that black is a universal color, but there’s more to life than black. In fact, it’s the natural colors of your complexion, hair, and eyes that determine which particular shades make you look radiant and energized. Use the following categories to decide what range of colors you should wear.

You are LIGHT if you have naturally blonde hair or white hair; have fair skin tone; and light to medium blue, green, brown eye color.

Color intensity: pale to medium hues
Accessories: silver and gold
Pop colors: turquoise, pink, lavender, sapphire blue
The truth about black: beware of black as it will overpower you; if you must wear it, keep it away from your face.

You are DEEP if you have medium to dark brown or black hair; have medium to dark skin tone; and hazel, brown or black eyes.

Color intensity: medium to deep shades, some bright ones
Accessories: silver and gold
Pop colors: purple, true red, persimmon, royal blue
The truth about black: Yes, it’s for you! Anytime, anywhere!

You are SOFT if you have light to medium brown hair; have light to medium skin tone; and medium intensity eye color, like hazel, brown, blue or green.

Color intensity: medium hues
Accessories: silver and gold
Pop colors: butter yellow, teal blue, coral, mint green
The truth about black: Never! Black ages you and drains the color from your face.

You are CLEAR if you have dark brown to black hair; have fair to light or medium skin tone; bright eye color (green, blue, or hazel) or dark brown eyes.

Color intensity: bright hues
Accessories: silver is best, shiny gold works, too
Pop colors: bright purple, clear red, sunny yellow, hot pink
The truth about black: Yes for you! It looks great especially when worn with very light or very bright colors.

You are WARM if you have red hair, golden blonde or brown hair with reddish highlights; have any skin tone, sometimes with freckles; and green, blue, brown, or hazel eyes.

Color intensity: hues with a yellow undertone, autumn-like shades
Accessories: gold or silver/gold mix
Pop colors: rust, butterscotch, copper, turquoise
The truth about black: not good on you; chocolate brown is so much better.

You are COOL if you have silver, gray or ash brown hair; have light to deep skin tone with a pink undertone; and blue, green, hazel or brown eyes.

Color intensity: light to medium, but always with a blue or pink undertone
Accessories: silver or rose gold
Pop colors: ocean blue, royal purple, blue-red, soft pink
The truth about black: definitely not for you!

Adapted from “Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Woman” by Shari Braendel, Zondervan.