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The cover girl is Emma Watson, only twenty-one years old, and the star of all the Harry Potter movies. [Such a slacker] She is certainly older and more sophisticated looking than twenty-one in this photograph, don't you think? Wow.That lipstick is spectacular on her.But don't worry.I am not suggesting that we all run out and buy dark red lipstick. Clearly, young Emma has been styled to look older. Dramatically dark hair and dark lipstick will do that to a person. [Hint]
The question we need to know the answer to is this. Are you a cool or a warm? Many are stumped. I see this in department stores at cosmetic counters all the time! Someone buys a few things and is delighted to discover that they receive a free gift with purchase! Then the sales person asks " Do you want the cool or the warm products?"Huh?
If your skin has red undertones (look at both face and hands) you are cool. If your skin has yellow undertones, you are warm. As a very general rule of thumb, the fair skinned among us are cool and the dark or olive skinned are warm.
Warm colors are best for warm complexions and include all shades of brown including bronze, tan, camel and khaki. Orange, rust, coral, fire engine red, ruby red, gold, ivory, forest green, olive green, teal blue, and aqua blue are all good too.
Cool colors are black and white and all shades of grey, including dove, silver, and charcoal. Add to that fuchsia pink, raspberry, wine red, ruby red, purple, sky blue, royal blue, periwinkle blue and navy blue.
When it comes to clothing, however, there are other factors to consider! Age, hair color and eye color, just to name a few. So, deciding what colors look best can be a little more challenging. Example: I have a client, let's call her Mary, who has auburn hair, blue/green eyes and a red undertone to her skin. We think cool, right? Mary looks stunning in black and white. But wait. She wears brown and rust and coral beautifully, too. Ah ha! She's a warm. Actually, Mary is either or both. Very unusual indeed. But, surprising? Not really. She, like our cover girl Emma, is young and beautiful. Ah, youth.
So, that's why I say finding one's best colors for clothing is not as easy as it sounds. We need to try different colors and see what they do for us, or in some cases, against us.
I hope this helps: ruby red and royal blue are two colors that look good on everyone . . . cool or warm, young or old, meek or bold. It's a start, right?
Now when Mary is at the cosmetic counter and the sales person asks "Cool or warm?", she can say "Either one is fine with me" and she would be exactly right.
What will you say?
Best regards,
Nancy
P.S. My summer workshops seem to be a big hit, so I am extending dates offered to include all of August and the first two weeks in September. I've also added a new topic for professional business women: What to wear and how to wear it when the dress code is business casual.
Color Consult anyone?
summer workshop information
