How to distinguish cool from warm tones and tips to know what suits you best

Choosing the right colours for your outfit can make a huge difference in how you look and how you feel. Cool and warm tones not only affect your appearance, but can also influence your mood and the way others perceive you. In this blog, we explain how to distinguish between cool and warm tones and give you some tips on which colours suit you best.

Cool Tones vs. Warm Tones

Cool Tones

Cool tones are characterized by evoking feelings of freshness and tranquility. These colors usually have a blue, green or purple undertone.

Blue: From sky blue to navy blue, all of these shades are considered cool. Think of the clear sky or the deep ocean.

Green: Shades like mint green or emerald green fall into this category.

Purple: Lavender, lilac, and royal purple are examples of cool colors.

Warm tones

Warm hues evoke feelings of warmth and energy. These colors have a yellow, orange or red undertone.

Red: Includes colors from tomato red to burgundy.

Orange: All shades of orange, from peach to terracotta, are warm.

Yellow: From pale yellow to mustard, these shades provide warmth.

How to identify if a color is cool or warm

Skin undertone

A good starting point for identifying whether a color is cool or warm is to know your skin undertone.

Cool Undertone: People with cool undertones often have bluish veins and look better in silver jewelry. If your skin tends to burn rather than tan, you probably have a cool undertone.

Warm Undertone: People with warm undertones often have greenish veins and look best in gold jewelry. If your skin tans easily, you likely have a warm undertone.

The white paper trick

Hold a sheet of white paper next to your face and observe the colors reflected on your skin.

Cool Colors: If you notice blue or pink tones, your skin has a cool undertone.

Warm colors: If you see golden or yellowish tones, your skin has a warm undertone.

Tips for choosing the colors that suit you best

Know your personal palette

Once you've identified your undertone, you can begin exploring your personal color palette.

Cool Undertone: Go for colors like blue, emerald green, lavender, and pale pink.

Warm Undertone: Try shades like coral, peach, mustard yellow, and tomato red.

Experiment with different shades

Not all shades of a color will work equally well for you. For example, a royal blue may look great on someone with cool undertones, while a teal blue may not be as flattering.

Trial and Error: Experiment with different shades and see how they make you feel and how they look with your skin tone.

Use accessories to play with colors

If you're not sure how a color suits you, start with accessories. A scarf, shawl or earrings can be a great way to add a new color to your outfit without making a full commitment.

Warm Accessories: Opt for gold jewelry, orange scarves or red bags.

Cool Accessories: Try silver jewelry, blue scarves, or purple bags.

Consider the season of the year

The seasons can also influence which colours suit you best. In summer, lighter, brighter shades tend to be more flattering, while in winter, darker, deeper shades may work better.

Spring/Summer: Light and bright colors such as yellow, mint green and sky blue.

Fall/Winter: Dark, rich tones such as burgundy, mustard and olive green.

Conclusion

Knowing how to distinguish between cool and warm tones is essential to choosing the colors that best suit you. By knowing your skin undertone and experimenting with different shades, you can discover a color palette that enhances your natural beauty and makes you feel more confident. Dare to play with colors and find the ones that best express your personal style!