Have you ever worn a dress in a color you love, but still felt like it made you look a little tired or pale? Then it might be the color rather than the dress. What color dress suits your skin tone? is determined by your undertone – and once you know which one you have, it becomes surprisingly easy to find shades that make you shine.
Undertone – the key to the right color
It’s easy to confuse skin tone and undertone, but they’re two different things. Skin tone is the surface and can become lighter in the winter and darker in the summer. Undertone is the underlying pigment that doesn’t change with the sun, and it’s divided into three categories: warm, cool, and neutral. It’s your undertone that determines which colors will harmonize with your natural appearance – the right shade will make you look more vibrant and fresh, while the wrong shade can make you look dull.
How to test your undertone at home
You don't need a stylist to get you started. Try these simple tests in daylight:
- Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they look green, you likely have a warm undertone, blue or purple indicates cool, and a mix indicates neutral.
- Gold or silver? Hold a gold and a silver piece of jewelry up to your skin. If gold suits you best, you lean towards warm, silver suits cool better, and if both work, you are probably neutral.
- How do you react in the sun? If you get a light golden brown, you are usually warm, while if you burn and turn rosy, you are usually cool.
- White or cream white? If you look best in bright white, you have a cool undertone, while cream and beige tones suit a warm one.
- The fabric test: Hold a coral-colored and a bright pink fabric to your face. If you look best in coral, you are warm, in pink, you are cool.
If you want to do a really thorough analysis, guide Femina step by step through the popular color analysis.
| Undertone | That's how it feels again | Dress colors that lift | Be a little careful with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Green veins, gold suits best, turns brown easily | Coral, hot red, orange, gold, mustard, olive, cream white | Icy tones, bright white, cold blue |
| Cold | Blue veins, silver dresses best, burns easily | Blue, emerald, purple, raspberry, ruby red, cool pink, bright white | Orange, mustard, coral, golden yellow |
| Neutral | Blue-green veins, both gold and silver work | Most colors, preferably muted – sage, dusty pink, teal | Really bright neon colors |
Do you have a warm undertone?
With a warm undertone, you shine in colors that have a golden or yellowish base. Think coral, peach, warm tomato red, orange, gold, mustard yellow, olive and warm brown shades, as well as creamy white instead of bright white. Gold jewelry will lift the look even more. A summer dress in hot red or one floral red summer dress are grateful choices.
Do you have a cool undertone?
A cool undertone looks best in clear, cool, jewel-toned colors with a blue base. Blue in all its shades, emerald green, purple, raspberry pink, ruby red, cool pink, and bright white will make you shine, and silver jewelry will suit you perfectly. A emerald green maxi dress is a beautiful example – and if you are looking for blue and berries you will find more shades among our women's dresses.
Do you have a neutral undertone?
If you have a neutral undertone, you're in luck – you can wear both warm and cool colors.The most beautiful are often slightly muted, soft shades such as sage, dusty pink, teal and taupe, but black and gray also suit you well. A classic black mini dress is an obvious basic garment for you.
Colors that suit almost everyone
Some colors are real favorites regardless of undertone. Jewel tones like bright red, emerald green, and teal flatter most people, and navy blue is a safe, elegant choice. A red maxi dress in a bright, clean red therefore works on almost everyone. When it comes to black and white, it is worth knowing that black is stylish but quite cold and stark – it suits cool undertones best, while with warm undertones you can soften it closest to the face or choose blackbird, navy blue or brown. White follows the same logic: bright white is cold, while cream white is warm. A short white dress with lace details is a summer classic.
Consider the color closest to the face
The color closest to your face makes the biggest difference, so the tone of your neckline matters more than the hem. If you're wearing a patterned or floral dress, the dominant color at the top is what you should look at. If you want to wear a color that's not really your best, you can add a scarf in the right tone closest to your face, or elevate the look with lipstick and accessories in a flattering shade. And remember: this is a guideline, not a rule. If you wear a color you love and feel good in, it's always the right choice.
Find your dress color
When you know your undertone, shopping becomes both easier and more enjoyable – you avoid buying the wrong things and find clothes that really suit you faster. Some favorites to start with:
- Red maxi dress – a bright red that suits almost everyone.
- Emerald green maxi dress – jewel color for cool and neutral undertones.
- Summer dress in warm red – perfect for warm undertones.
Explore the full range of colors among our women's dresses – with free shipping within Sweden. If you also want to find the right model for your figure, we have a guide on which dress suits your body shape.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have warm or cool undertones?
Look at the veins on your wrist in daylight – green veins indicate warm undertones, blue ones indicate cool. Gold jewelry that suits you best points to warm undertones, silver ones to cool undertones, and if you get a slight tan in the sun, you are usually warm, while slight redness indicates cool undertones.
What colors suit a warm undertone?
Coral, warm red, orange, gold, mustard, olive and warm brown shades, as well as creamy white instead of bright white. Gold jewelry complements the look nicely.
What colors suit a cool undertone?
Blue, emerald green, purple, raspberry pink, ruby red, cool pink and bright white bring out a cool undertone. Silver jewelry is best suited here.
What color of dress suits everyone?
Jewel tones like bright red, emerald green, and teal flatter almost everyone, and navy blue is a safe choice regardless of undertone.
Does black suit all skin tones?
Black is stylish but quite stark and suits cool undertones best. If you have warm undertones, you can soften black closest to your face with makeup or a scarf, or choose navy blue or brown instead.
