color coordinating with skin tones

[fatherseanfan]

I have been trying rather unsuccessfully lately to find out more information on what type of clothes work to my advantage for my skin type. I have searched the archives, the web, Ask Andy and the Flusser book, but all of these offer incomplete and/or contradicatory advice. (There seems to be conflicting opinions about dark skin color and the use of gray, for example.)

Can someone please tell me what my best colors are? I have an Arab-looking complexion -- dark, swarthy skin, black hair, dark brown eyes, medium build.

Thanks.

 

[Holdfast]

While I don't hink there's any hard and fast rule, I have a dark olive complexion with black hair and find I cannot really wear mid-blues (like RAF blue). Mid-brown and Mustard colours are is also a bit tricky for me and bright yellow looks awful. Greens I can manage in moderation, esp. towards the pastel side. Everything else can work great.

I don't know how much of that is personal preference, how much is complementing my complexion and how much is just habit. But that's my experience.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

I'm of Mediterranean ancestry. But, my skin is not dark. I have lots of color in my skin. My eyes are light brown, verging on hazel. My hair is brown. As such, some of the 'winter' colors that I'm supposed to wear, like blueberry and violet, I'm not that crazy about. It's my opinion, that I can wear some autumn shades, all of which I'm supposed to avoid. I do believe that color can enhance or detract from one's appearance. Take some pictures of yourself, wearing a variety of colors. See which ones make you look more alive, and syncopated. From your description, you probably look great in jewel tones, richly saturated cool colors, and black.

 

[thinman]

Here are some resources I found useful for color coordination for different skin/hair colors:

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/S...20Articles.htm
"Color for Men" by Carole Jackson
"More Alive with Color" by Leatrice Eiseman

The last book is the least well-known, but I like it because it's the least restrictive. Eiseman includes a list of "transitional colors" that virtually anyone can wear, including navy, charcoal gray, medium gray, two dark browns, two dark reds, etc. (with the requisite cutesy names). Most of the book is written for women so the chapter on make-up, for example, is irrelevant for most men.

 

[Tck13]

Originally Posted by thinman

Here are some resources I found useful for color coordination for different skin/hair colors:

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/S...20Articles.htm
"Color for Men" by Carole Jackson
"More Alive with Color" by Leatrice Eiseman

The last book is the least well-known, but I like it because it's the least restrictive. Eiseman includes a list of "transitional colors" that virtually anyone can wear, including navy, charcoal gray, medium gray, two dark browns, two dark reds, etc. (with the requisite cutesy names). Most of the book is written for women so the chapter on make-up, for example, is irrelevant for most men.

I have "Color for Men" and it is a great book. It is out of print but you can still buy it used on Amazon.com. I strongly recommend the book. It is an eye opener!

There are also sections on accentuating one's sillouhette, shapes of eyeglasses for different head shapes, some clothing info (most of which has been covered elsewhere).

 

[thinman]

Tck13, I also like "Color for Men", but also take a look at the book by Eiseman. It gave me additional ideas about colors that work with my hair/complexion.