(Are all magazines online now?)
This article at Real Simple calls out 4 clothing colors they say flatter everyone. Their reasoning? All the colors are in the middle of the warm/cool spectrum. (Well, yes, but what about the other characteristics of color: value and clarity?)
The colors:
- eggplant,
- true red (I disprove that one myself, although if it’s mixed with something muted it’s not too bad),
- Indian teal, and
- mellow rose (which is closer to what I would call a muted coral pink, the color I think flatters most fair complexions).
In the past I have heard these colors look good on most:
- periwinkle
- coral pink
- aqua
- apple green
- sage green
You can probably tell I don’t put much stock in the theory that there are universal colors. What I suspect is really going on is that, when a certain color becomes popular, everybody wants to be told that it looks good on them. The easiest way to do that is to say it looks good on everybody! That said, some colors are more forgiving than others and any of these probably would be a decent choice for a uniform.
What are some other colors you think look good on alot of people?
Oh this one is easy. Black, brown, taupe, khaki, tan, white, indigo blue (denim), navy blue and cream.
I don’t get the list from real simple. Sure, all of these colours might look… OK… but isn’t the point of choosing colour meant to compliment the individual?
I remember back in the day our McDonald’s uniform had dark teal and an eggplanty burgundy against navy pants. And it looked AWFUL on everyone. The Tim Hortons people get to wear tan and black and they look relatively OK.
I certainly think we are more used to seeing people in the colors Danielle mentioned. But I came to say I look horrible in red. At least, the last time I tried it on. I never try it on, so maybe I’m horribly wrong!
colors have undertones of other colors…every single one. so while a red with a blue undertone might look bad on a person, a red with a yellow undertone might flatter them like gangbusters. even goes for the “neutrals” danielle mentioned.
i look downright awful in off white…i have a love affair with color in general. it moves me like good music when i see amazing colors together. but off-white is hands down my least favorite color and if i didn’t have to see it again i’d be happy.
because of undertones of colors, which is not even alluded to in the list you mentioned, i don’t think there’s any definitive list of absolutely definitive colors. or a color that is absolutely horrible for a person. one has to realize and be sensitive to the fact that there are shades, tints, and undertones to ANY color…and one should try something on anyhow, because you never know…it might look good, even if you’re the type to write off a color because you had a bad experience with one garment and it’s probably idiosyncratic hue.
oops, i guess the article did address some about undertones…but reading them as a list, obviously it wasn’t clear. 😛 heh, sorry, rebecca! 😛
I’ll have to read the article-but it seems way too simple to say that there are colors that look good on everyone-especially when you take skins from different ethinic backgrounds into account!
It also depends where you choose to wear the colour. I can wear khaki colours as bottoms, but I kind of turn khaki if I wear it near my face.
I have one book that claims that *the* universally flattering color is burgundy! And, the same book? another? that no one can wear oatmeal. I can wear oatmeal. Another expert says green is the best shade for making everyone look rosier. But I don’t find that true.
All magazines *articles* are not online.
I call this the bridesmaid dilemma…how do you pick one colour for a group of bridesmaids of all different colourings? I think shades of aqua and turquoise are usually good on most people.
Some people look good in neutrals but I find them harder to wear in some ways, because I always needs some colour near my face, or shine. And I really believe that the two most unflattering colours for most women are grey (maybe not for you Rebecca?) and khaki. They are good for bottom pieces but up against the face, generally not so good.
There may be colors that are alright on everyone (especially if you balance them out with other colors), but I don’t think there are any colors that are universally flattering. That said, like a dark emerald green on just about anyone. Jewel tones work on a lot of people from what I’ve seen.
I am a huge color person. I imagined myself as a “punk rocker’ in my teen years, so ever since then, I have worn color all the time. If I wear black (because lets face it, it is flattering!) then I always wear colorful jewelry to liven up the outfit. I think pink is universally flattering…it is so happy and cheerful. I also love light green. I have never seen anyone look bad in light green or aqua.
I wish I could wear light green, but it makes me look a bit ill (I have very pale skin with yellow undertones). Pink is also hard for me to wear, but once in a blue moon I find a combination that works. Aqua does work well for me, though.
There is a certain shade of blue… Not dark, not light. Just a medium blue. My mom and I both believe that everyone looks great in it. I call it universal blue.
I have to say a teal, mellow rose (kind of a rosy salmon pink) and burgundy are the most flattering colours.
I am awful in navy, medium/dark blues (if they don’t have green in them)… just awful. I think I look awful, and therefore I feel awful.
I tend to not wear pinks or light greens because (especially in winter) they just bring out the yellow undertones in my skin (like Meg noted above). Jaundice is just not a good look.