What colors should I wear? : 7 Factors affecting Color choices for your clothes

Choosing the best colors for you.

When there is a question of “Which color is best for me?” no single answer can say it all. There are a million colors and a million interpretations of those colors. How can you restrict yourself to a specific paradigm, when there are so many different factors affecting your choice of colors?

For individuals, a knowledge of different colors and identifying the perfect colors for them can have a lasting effect on their whole outlook  and image in the outside world – whatever be the trend /fashion of the moment.

Check out this post on the mixing and matching of colors to find the right colour mix and matching as per the color wheel. And also an overview of color theory for designers.

You may get lost in the world of color names – understandably so, because there are so many hues and shades. If you want to know the correct names of the different colors around you, this post ““Fashion Colors and their names with pictures”” with names of hundreds of colors may help you.

Factors affecting your color choices

There are some major factors that affect our color choices. But they do not work in isolation from each other; our choices are a combination of all of these. But most of the time one of these factors outweighs others in our final choice of color.

 Age and gender of the wearer – How this determines the color choices

Your 5 year old kid may not like a shirt in a color preferred by his 70 year old grandfather. When selecting a shirt for your kid you would be going for yellows, minty greens etc instead of the cream or grey or blue your dad may prefer.

Pinks, peach, lavender, soft yellows are preferred universally for kid’s clothes; but as they get older they may look for brighter purple, reds, etc. The older kids seem to prefer more mature and earthy colors like tan, terracotta, blue, etc.

As you age, changes in the skin and the color of the hair are also to be taken into consideration when selecting color.

Stereotyping color preferences based on gender will raise the hackles of my equality advocating daughter, but they do exist. I bet my husband would stare blankly if asked to prefer between teal and seafoam green, whereas I know their difference in my sleep. He probably knows plum as a fruit, not as a color.

But both men and women have their strong color preferences; sometimes on the opposite sides of the color spectrum, sometimes uncannily similar.

In a study, it was found that blue is a universally liked color, both by men and women. But have you seen a man actively choosing a candy pink purse, though I would in a jiffy? 

Men seem to prefer blue and women shades of red in a comparative study that I read recently. So there is a gender difference. And marketers seem to have studied these color preferences in detail going by their offerings.

 Physical attributes of the wearer & color choices

Factors like Size of the person, hair color, skin tone,and eye color  can also influence color selection

 Hair color

If you have blonde hair / golden hair, usually this is accompanied by fair skin and blue eyes.

Hair with blue undertones (such as platinum or ash blond, auburn red, and snow-white and jet black)- These combinations are good with cool colors like pastel pinks, beige, pale green, light blues, and purples.

Hair with golden undertones (such as honey or strawberry blond, rust red, brown or brownish black, or creamy white) – Warm colors or colors with orange or yellow undertones work well.

If you have black or brown hair go for rich and vivid colors – for example bright red, bright blue.

Grey hair looks good with cool colors like Navy blue and midnight blue.  

  Color choices according to Skin color

Generally it is said that brighter and warmer colors look better on darker skin. If you have fair skin you will look better in cool colors like blue and green; soft and pastel colors like soft yellow, peach, lavender, mint green, alabaster;  neutral colors like ivory ; jewel tones like coral, are all good with fair skin.

If you have darker skin with a warm tinge you will look better in warm colors like red, orange, and yellow; earth tones like green, orange, olive, blue, navy, emerald, burgundy, ruby; plum white and pink can also suit dark-skinned.

Warm colors have a golden / orange or yellow undertone; cool colors a blue undertone.

Light skinned people look better in silver colors and dark-skinned in gold colors; though there are exceptions to this rule.

  Color choices according to Eye color

Blue, gray or green eyes – if you have any of these eye colors you will gravitate towards cool colors. If you have brown, hazel or amber eyes you would prefer to have warm colors in your wardrobe.

If you have beautiful eyes and you want to emphasize this, use a darker shade of the eye color near your face (as a shawl, wrap, or hat) 

 Body size

If you are on the petite side and want to look slightly larger in stature, you would prefer to wear white or light-colored clothes rather than a slimming black or navy blue.

Warm colors make the object look bigger than cool colors. Bright shades of color make you look bigger than dark deep shades of the same color. Dark and dull colors do recede the figure. So a lighter, brighter red will make you look far bigger than you will look in a darker shade of red.

Neutral colors like white, black , off-white are good at neutralizing lines and projections. So if you have anything to hide like an unsightly bulge at the lovehandles, soft lines in neutrals should be chosen than a bright red.

Wearing black is slimming. But if you are overweight covering your body in folds of black from top to toe may make you look bigger than otherwise. Check out this post on 30+ dressing tips to look slim for more details.

 Occasion & color selection

If you are going to an evening party with plenty of artificial lighting you can wear very bright colors and still not look garish. Artificial lighting at these venues can soften bright colors and make the color look glamorous.

For a business function, brown is a dependable color whereas pink may make you seem somewhat frivolous in that setting.

For afternoon functions in the broad daylight, you can opt for soft colors which are not too bright.

So choosing colors according to the occasion is important as well. Not adhering to this can land you in trouble at times. In the West, black color is worn at funerals, but white is the predominant color at funerals in the East.

For a creative pitch, a navy blue color suit may project the idea of being not creative enough ( it is the stable color and you will be considered more dependable than creative and original) whereas red can give the vibe of  creative energy

 Time of wearing the color

On sunny days you are better off wearing cool light colors to keep your cool. Black is not the best color for the sun. White is the best color for sunny summer days. But then, this is a debatable point as studies have shown that color does not correlate to not feeling the heat- it is the looseness of clothes that brings down the heat.

For winter I would say warm colors fare better. Choose browns and reds. You will feel less blue.

 Fashion trends and celebrity craze affecting colors you wear

This is more of a factor than you know.  Going after fashion trends after analyzing yourself is better than following blindly.

Find celebrities that match your body shape, skin, and other attributes, notice what they wear and follow them. They have stylists who know their job, and following them would do you more good than, say, me wearing Jennifer Lawrence’s clothes, just because I admire her.

 Visual effects of colors – How the color looks on you

Colors can have different reactions from people, depending on their associations with it. But generally, the color theory and its offshoots have categorized color and given them different attributes, which are universally agreed upon.

Basically color is divided into three categories: 

Warm, cool and neutral colors

Warm colors are red, orange, yellow and all the colors in between.

Red is the warmest color. Warm colors are high-energy colors. It is said that these colors stimulate a special chemical called dopamine in our body which makes us feel good. Warm colors are considered advancing, stimulating, and exciting. They make objects or shapes appear larger or more important.

Cool colors are blue and green violet and colors in between.

Blue is the coolest color. They are considered receding, quieting, and reserved. These colors make shapes and areas appear smaller and less important. They are considered trustworthy, dignified and confidence generating. Learn more about the cool colors here.

Neutral colors are black, white, grey and the colors in between.

Most of us prefer neutral colors for their elegance but sometimes they can be energy draining. The negative energy given by these colors have to be relieved with some splashes of color. Learn more about neutral colors here

After evaluating all these factors, if you still have a color that you like but may not be the right one, you can get away with wearing it away from your face. You can choose it for a skirt or pants.

Different colors and why you should wear them

   White

White is a classic color, favourite of one and all, the symbol of purity and innocence. Designers use white a lot because most everyone prefers this color one way or the other. Lacy sheer white to brocade white with double tones, white clothes and accessories are always in demand.

The hassle of maintaining the purity of white color wear after wear do not deter white enthusiasts from investing in more and more clothes of this color. Check out this post on  washing and caring for white clothes, so that the white color is maintained.

Because of its quality of making an object look bigger, white is not the most easiest color to work with but if played right this color can be an asset in your wardrobe.

Another disadvantage of white is that it can make you look washed out, without a relief. Pairing it right with other colors can make this color an asset to your wardrobe.

Learn more about White color and the best combinations here.

   Off white, cream, beige and fawn

These belong to the natural color group, ie they are associated with the colors of natural fabrics like straw, hessian, hemp, canvas, etc. The raw look of these colors is preferred by many. Some people prefer to wear only these colors. If not careful, these colors in their entirety can make you look quite boring. But generally, these colors are becoming for most people.

   Pink

Pink is a feminine color. It can give out a feeling of cheerfulness, liveliness. One disadvantage of wearing pink is that you can be judged frivolous or at least not serious enough in a formal environment. Fuscia pink is a vibrant color giving out a lot of energy vibes. Different shades of pink color can be seen here.

   Yellow

Yellow is a cheerful, lively, and fun color, the color of sunshine. It is a good color to treat yourself out of depressing moods as it denotes optimism. The mood-elevating property of yellow is to be used cautiously, though sometimes bright yellow color can be quite jarring and overstimulating.

Yellow is thought of as a suitable color for kids. A soft yellow can be good for kids, cheering them up and stimulating their minds. It can also be good for raising self esteem in them. Different shades of yellow color can be seen here.

   Orange

This is another energizing color. It is a color that is very inviting and exudes warmth. It is also associated with joy and festivities.

   Black 

Black is a slimming color that wins it many brownie points. It is a slightly depressing color when worn on its own and can sometimes overwhelm the wearer, but black’s elegant and powerful look makes it still an all-time favorite color when done right. If you have sallow skin, avoid the black color, because it may make you look wan. Learn how to wear black here.

   Silver

This is a color that gives a feel of futuristic. Using this color singly for clothes can make you look like someone from the space, but a hint of silver can be good.

   Green

A calming color, green is used for its natural feel. Think leaves, plants, shrubs, vines etc. Everything related to the natural landscape can have that effect on you.

The bright green can give out amazing energy and make you feel young. Lime green is such a vibrant energetic color whereas a pale green is a very soothing color. Pantone.com says green is a color of harmony and balance and of well being. Do you want more recommendations?

Related Post : Green color and its different shades.

    Red

Red is the color of power. If you want to stand out in the crowd this is the color for you. Ever wondered why the speaker in the podium wearing red is quite an attention grabber. People look at you and take note of what you say, be it in a more negative or positive way – they do.

If you are an introvert, you may want to skip red because it will bring all attention to you. You will also project the idea of being an extrovert and in need of attention. Red can also be overstimulating, so if you want peace and quite, skip red.

Check out the post on more tips on getting the Red colour look right.

   Violet

Violet is a calming color.

   Blue

Blue is a universally liked color – a color that denotes honesty, calmness, trustworthiness. There are many shades of blue and they mean many different things. A light blue like sky blue is very calming and a cobalt blue very energizing and a dark midnight blue may look dull and dark in the wrong surroundings.

Navy blue is a formal color. This traditional color can make you look authoritative and trustworthy. It can also make you give an intellectual aura.

The problem with dark blue is that it can be a little boring and make you look less creative than maybe you are inside; but it is a safe color and a favorite of many

Related post : Read about the colors that go well with blue color here.

   Brown

This is a color which proclaims dependability. A chocolate brown suit can make you seem trustworthy and likable. People warm up to you more when you wear brown. Different shades of brown color can be seen here

Related posts : Colors that go well with Purple color.

Lucky colors & Star signs

Do you believe in luck? If you do, you may wish to check out colours that bring on luck according to your star signs

How Personality affects the colors we wear

The mind is a curious thing and even if brown and yellow suits me the best, I choose pink or blue every time I go to buy something. My desire triumphs over my logical brain.

Ultimately it is your personality that determines the colors you wear. Personality is the sum of everything we have described and more.

Personality overrides most of the earlier given factors and decides the color of clothes you buy. So after factoring in everything, narrow down on the colors you personally prefer to wear and do your own thing.

Book to read : Fashion Makeover, Brenda Kinsel, Chronicle books.