Everyone has probably experienced the dread of choosing an outfit for a specific event before. Sometimes, it’s just not clear what type of clothing is acceptable. You want to look nice without being too casual or too formal.
An essential part of choosing an outfit is the color. Some colors can make outfits seem friendlier or more laid back, especially on certain occasions. So, if you can master the art of choosing the perfect color for every scenario, you can make sure you’re always dressed appropriately for any event. Let’s dive into some of the best ways to choose the right color for your outfit.
1. Is the Gathering Professional, Social, or Casual?
The biggest factor in choosing an outfit is determining how casual or formal the situation is. When you were invited, did they specify a dress code? For professional events, dark, cool colors like black and navy are the way to go. However, if it’s a professional environment where you want to stand out a bit, consider dark versions of more vibrant colors, such as burgundy or deep purple.
If the event is more social, you can dress more colorfully, even if the dress code is formal. Consider vibrant colors that add energy and excitement to the event. However, if the get-together is centered around a specific person, such as a wedding or birthday party, try not to overdo it with bold colors because you don’t want to outshine the guest of honor.
For casual hangouts, such as meeting a few friends at a restaurant, you don’t need to be as picky with outfit colors. Choose something you feel comfortable in, and don’t overthink it. If you’re worried about being overdressed, stick with neutral colors to ensure you don’t stand out too much.
2. When in Doubt, Go with Neutral Colors
Neutral colors, such as gray, brown, black, and white, are usually a good choice regardless of the outfit type. These colors are versatile and go with just about anything. They’re unlikely to make you stand out in a crowd, so they’re a safe bet when you can’t settle on what colors to wear. While not technically a neutral color, navy is also a safe choice.
The only exception to this rule is if a specific event prohibits you from wearing these colors. For example, if it’s a wedding, it’s best to avoid the color white. If certain colors are part of the event’s theme, you may not be able to go with neutral tones.
3. Choose Bold Colors When You Want to Make a Statement
If you don’t mind standing out and directing attention toward yourself, you can choose bright, vibrant colors for your outfit. This is okay, as long as you’re not overshadowing someone important, such as a bride and groom. For most social and casual events, bright colors can be fun and show off your energetic personality.
Some colors that are commonly seen as bold are red, yellow, pink, and bright blue. These colors are common for outfits associated with high-energy events, such as concerts, sporting events, and costume parties.
4. Focus on Colors That Complement Your Skin Tone
Certain colors might look better with your skin tone than others. If the color you wear complements your complexion, it may look natural on you rather than drawing attention. Yet, when it comes to choosing outfit colors, you need to focus on your skin’s undertones, not just the general color of your skin. People of all races could have warm, cool, or neutral undertones.
One way to check your skin’s undertones is to look at your veins, especially near the wrist or palm. If your veins appear more purple or blue, you have cool undertones, while if they look more greenish, you have warm undertones. This has nothing to do with warm or cool colors, as purple, blue, and green are all considered cool. If your veins look colorless, you have neutral undertones.
Another way to determine your skin’s undertones is to try on a few neutral colors and see which one looks best on you. White and black are usually best for cool undertones, while off-white and brown are best for warm undertones. Neutral undertones look great in all neutral colors.
When it comes to more vibrant colors, people with warm undertones look best in warm colors like red, orange, and yellow, while people with cool undertones look great with cool colors such as blue, green, and purple. Again, people with neutral undertones tend to look good in just about anything.
5. Your Hair Color and Eye Color Matter Too
In addition to your skin tone, your hair color and eye color may impact how certain colors look on you. If a color looks great with all your features, then you’ll likely feel more comfortable wearing it to a variety of events. In many cases, your hair color matches your undertones.
For example, people with light blonde, black, dark brown, and red hair often have cool undertones, meaning cool colors look best on them. People with yellow-blonde hair, brassy red hair, or light brown hair are more likely to have warm undertones, making warm colors look great on them. If you dye your hair a fun color, colors near that hue on the color wheel will typically go best with it.
Choosing colors that match your eye color can help your eyes pop, especially if you use that color in accessories rather than the whole outfit. However, if you want to make a bold statement, you may want to use colors that complement your eye color instead, such as violet for green eyes, copper for blue eyes, and royal blue for golden brown eyes.
6. Think About the Season
The time of year can also play a role in what outfit colors look best. For example, bright, warm colors are usually best in the spring and summer, but they may stand out too much in the fall and winter, which are more suitable for dark and neutral colors.
To get more specific, spring is the perfect time for pastel colors, such as light yellows, pinks, oranges, and blues. In the summer, bold colors are common, such as bright red, blue, and purple. Autumn is the perfect time for warm earth tones like brown, dark green, and burnt orange. Finally, winter is ideal for colors with cool undertones, such as royal blue and emerald green.
7. Consider the Venue
If the invitation doesn’t clearly state the dress code, the venue might give you some indication. For example, if it’s somewhere casual, such as at a park or campground, you can likely stick with simple colors, like neutrals or dark blue.
If the venue is fancier, like a country club or convention center, it may be okay to wear brighter colors, at least at social events.
8. Choose Accent Colors for Accessories
Regardless of the type of outfit you choose, you don’t want your whole outfit to be one color. That might make you stand out in the wrong way. If it’s a casual event, choose a few simple neutral accessories or colors that go with a primary color, such as light blue earrings with a dark blue shirt or brown shoes with an outfit of any color.
If you want to add extra style and contrast to your outfit, choose complementary colors on the color wheel to help the colors pop. For example, add an orange tie to a navy suit or a yellow belt to a purple dress. Even though those colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, they can make the colors of your outfit stand out more than usual, which is perfect for an event where you want to look confident and stylish.
9. Your Outfits Can Express Your Personality
Choosing colors that look good on you and fit the type of event and venue is excellent. However, they should also show off some of your personality. People often associate colors with feelings and meanings, so you may be drawn to specific colors because they express who you are.
For example, if you feel bold, powerful, and mysterious, you may be drawn to black outfits. If you have an optimistic, energetic personality, you might adore yellow. If you usually feel calm and responsible, maybe blue suits you. By wearing colors based on their meanings, you can also give others an idea of what you’re like.
Incorporating colors that showcase your personality into your outfits can help you feel more like yourself, which can reduce your worry about your outfit choices. However, while this is a great outfit tip, make sure your personality colors are still appropriate for the event you’re attending.
10. Try on Outfits Before Making a Decision
Some outfits may appear perfect in your head, but when you put them on, they may not give off the look you had in mind. Thus, if you have a big event coming up, it can be helpful to try a few outfits on before you have to leave rather than throwing something on at the last minute. That way, you can take some time to look at all your options in the mirror and decide which one fits the occasion best.
When looking at your outfits in the mirror, think about how you feel in them and if they look right for the upcoming event. The further you do this in advance, the less worried you’ll be the day of the get-together.
11. Ask Your Friends What They’re Wearing
When in doubt, ask your friends what they’ll wear to the occasion. That way, if the dress code is vague, you’ll have some idea how other people will be dressed.
If you choose an outfit that’s similar to your friends, you won’t run the risk of standing out. Plus, knowing what a few other people are wearing can often put you at ease and make choosing an outfit a little less stressful.
