The sun is shining and we’ve all got the shoppies. But before you click ‘checkout’ on that new spring wardrobe, I want you to consider something that will help you shop your own closet first, and make smarter purchases moving forward. It’s old-school, but it works.
Before capsule wardrobes, women got “their colors done” to build a look around what naturally suited them. The principle is timeless, incredibly effective, and naturally, a massive trend on TikTok. Today we’re digging into:
The how, why, and where of having your ‘colors done’
How it applies to makeup
The colors that work for everyone and of course…
“Help, I hate my season”
Hi! I’m a COOL WINTER
I had my colors done a few years ago. Here’s the TLDR: you sit bare-faced in natural light while an expert drapes fabrics over your shoulders. They analyze your undertones, softness, and brightness to figure out exactly which shades enhance you. In this focused and very specific setting, it’s very clear which colors win.
Why this matters: Understanding your colors is a massive lightbulb moment. It clarifies why certain things in your closet never worked, why one lipstick pops and another washes you out, and why you keep reaching for the same few pieces.
It’s also a great ‘hand slapper’ for shopping. Lavender is a hot Pantone right now. But “Lavender” isn’t for everyone, and it can be helpful to know that at the buffet table of trends, you should skip that one, and partake in another.
Color Basics
Even without an expert, working within these guidelines gets you 90% of the way there:
Contrast: Colors that contrast with your eyes make them stand out.
Temperature: Warmer tones suit warmer skin; cooler tones for cooler skin.
Intensity: Softer coloring looks better in muted shades; high-contrast coloring handles bold, bright ones.
Unsure of your ‘tones’? Upload a pic to chat GPT.
The Universal Colors:
A few “unicorn” colors genuinely look good on almost everyone. In doubt, reach for Navy, True Red, or Eggplant. They have a perfect warm/cool balance that works with every skin tone.
Tank / Anine Bing Jacket / Amazon silk bandana / Reformation silk dress / Adidas jacket / hat
COS dress / sandals / Alex Mill jacket / Me+Em dress / anorak / earrings
Matteu dress / Striped sweater / Khaite bag / silk pants
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POV: “I hate my season”
So, you’re a ‘Soft Summer’ and your favorite shirt is mustard yellow? Some rules are meant to be broken so wear what makes you feel good and move on. But if you see that it makes your skin look dull or tired…
Keep it away from your face. If a color washes you out, don’t wear it as a shirt/jacket/turtleneck/scarf. Wear it as pants, a skirt, or shoes. As long as your “best” colors frame your face, the bottom half is fair game.
Where to get your colors done:
Los Angeles: Omyo Color Studio or Hue & Harmony LA
New York: Seklab NYC and Lily’s Color Lab
San Francisco: Lili Henry Stylist or Style Inquiry
You can also upload a makeup-free selfie taken in natural light to ChatGPT or an AI color app for a very solid starting point.
Makeup vs. Clothes
Crucial distinction: Clothes reflect onto your skin, but makeup is on your skin. Because of this, your makeup palette actually matters more. You can distract from a bad sweater with texture or neckline, but the wrong lipstick undertone can instantly wash you out. Which brings me to...
Why I Wear Red Eyeshadow Every Day There’s a basic color wheel rule: the color opposite your eye color is the one that will make your eyes pop. Green is opposite red on the color wheel and I have green eyes, so red it is, and by that I mean rust, copper, brick, rose, or cranberry. The goal is contrast. I made a video about this, which raised a lot of questions about different colored eyes, so let’s dig into that.
Your cheat sheet:
Green eyes: reds, rusts, coppers, and warm pinks.
Blue eyes: oranges, bronzes, peaches, and warm browns.
Brown eyes: almost everything works, but plums, purples, navy, and deep jewel tones especially. Have you watched a Hailey Bieber makeup video? She has brown eyes always puts a swipe of pocket blush on her eyelids
Hazel eyes: greens, golds, and warm browns pull out the iris flecks.
Charlotte Tilbury allows you to shop by eye color, and Anastasia palettes like this one are great for Hazel eyes.
My specifics:
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