Some colors just don’t look good on you. It’s a fact of life that we all have to accept. That’s why figuring out what colors DO look good on you is so important in the fashion world.

Finding colors that suit you  is one of the simplest and most important ways to figure out what to wear. No longer will you have to wonder whether that shade of yellow makes you look washed out or if that bright pink sweater is too much. 

First, figure out your skin tone. This is pretty easy. How light or dark is your skin? Does it change between seasons?

Second, figure out your undertones. Your skin is either warm, cool, or neutral. There are a few different methods to figure out which is the best fit for your skin:

• Compare your skin to a blank, white piece of paper. Does your skin look pink-ish or blue-ish next to it? If so, you probably have cool undertones. If your skin looks yellow-ish, brown-ish, or orange-ish next to it, you probably have warm undertones. If it looks gray-ish or a sort of olive tone, you probably have more neutral undertones.

• If you can see your veins, that’s also a good way to check. If your veins look blue or purple, you have cool undertones. If they look green, you have warm undertones.

• Think about what colors you know you look good in. Has anyone ever told you that something is SO your color? If so, try wearing similar colors. For instance, if you have red hair, you probably look good in dark green. That might mean you look good in teal too.

From there, it’ll be pretty easy to decide which colors to wear. If you have warm undertones, then red, orange, and yellow tones will look best on you. If you have cool undertones, then blue, purple, and green colors will look best. 

If you have a neutral skin tone, you can discover which colors suit you best by playing around with all different colors. Try the colors you like most, or something that brings out your eyes, or something that goes well with your hair color. 

Keep in mind that you don’t have to strictly adhere to “your colors.” Don’t restrict yourself. The most important element of your personal style is that it’s personal to YOU. If you don’t like it, don’t wear it. If you really want to wear something that isn’t necessarily “your color” then who am I to stop you? At the risk of sounding like a little league baseball coach, just go out there and have fun.