How to wear your tricky colors
Prior to getting our color consults done, we weren’t aware of the tricky colors in our closets.
But after learning about the undertones of our natural designs, we realized that there are definitely colors out there that don’t do us enough justice compared to our best ones!
We don’t know if you feel the same way, but Octavia and I just can’t “unsee” it - we now notice when a color washes us out or makes us look really tired. Ever since I (Kim) found out that I had neutral-cool features and undertones, a light bulb lit up in my head, and it all made sense to why pastels and warm colors like rust and coral don’t look good on me! The same happened for Octavia when she discovered that she was a Clear Spring. She couldn’t “unsee” how colors like light gray dampened her glow.
But what about my beloved rust cardigan? And what about Octavia’s cozy gray knits? What do we do with them now?
If you’re like us and you have a hard time “unseeing” how certain colors clash with your natural design, you might be wondering what to do with some of your clothes that are in your tricky colors. Today, we wanted to show you a few ideas on how to wear those colors so that you can still enjoy your favorite clothing pieces without feeling the need to get rid of them. These ideas will also help those who just received their results and are looking for a starting point, as well as those who are on tighter budgets!
Utilizing accessories like statement jewelry, scarves, hats, and bandanas in your best colors can help draw the attention back to YOU - you deserve to be noticed! Clothing styles like hoodies, button down shirts, turtlenecks, and outerwear in your flattering shades can also help bring balance to your complexion if you’re wearing one of your tricky colors. You can find some of our outfit inspo below and read our thoughts on how we like to integrate our best colors into our outfits!
Kim’s take on styling tricky colors:
Although most of the pieces that I purchase nowadays are in my color palette, I still own a few pieces that I absolutely love that are in some of my trickiest colors. The warm, marigold yellow sweatshirt above is one that brings me joy (“California Love” by Tupac always puts me in a good mood!). I love this piece, so I have no plans of getting rid of it! Instead, I like to add simple accessories when wearing this sweatshirt to bring color back to my face that the warm yellow tends to flush away. The very first accessory that I purchased in one of my best colors was a $5 bandana, and it’s been put to good use!
The color that’s closest to my face makes the greatest impact to my complexion and natural glow, so I’ve noticed that wearing a hat, beanie, or even a hooded sweatshirt helps with balance. I also love layering, and button down shirts are a great option for that!
Octavia’s take on styling tricky colors:
If you're anything like me, you probably have a special attachment to your clothes (and some might call it "unhealthy"). After learning my colors , my closet clean-out didn't necessarily go as planned- I'm sure many of you can relate. Despite having a few defining moments that showed me certain colors weren't my absolute best, I still refused to let go of a few items. And I'm not ashamed, haha!
Before I was even aware of my best colors, I gravitated toward statement jewelry pieces and layering. Statement earrings, jackets, and hoodies tend to be my go to! Reaching for these pieces when I wasn't completely satisfied with my outfit often saved the day.
Shades of olive, grays, pastels, and too much black tend to make me appear pretty dull (and in the worst case scenario- they can make me look a little sick). Integrating my knockout colors into outfits with my tricky colors and placing them closer to my face gives me my glow back instantly!
If you’ve been on the hunt for similar accessories and layering pieces that we showed in our photos, look no further! We found items for each palette for your convenience!
Browse our top picks for each color palette below. It flows from Spring, to Summer, to Autumn, to Winter.
We hope these ideas are helpful! We also hope that they will help alleviate any potential stress or anxiety you might feel if your closet is filled with tricky colors. No need to get rid of everything or do a complete closet overhaul - start slow, and play around with accessories and different layering styles! They will help redirect the focus back to you and your gorgeous natural design. You DESERVE to be celebrated like that!
Don’t know your season yet? We can help!
Take a screenshot of your faves first, so you know which color to choose!
*I receive affiliate commission for these links, at no extra cost to you! Yay!
Clear Spring:
Warm Spring:
Light Spring:
Soft Summer:
Light Summer:
Cool Summer:
Soft Autumn:
Warm Autumn:
Deep Autumn:
Clear Winter:
Cool Winter:
Deep Winter:
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