Ever Wondered What Color Jewelry You Should Wear? Here’s Your Answer.
Have you ever noticed that you really seem to shine in certain shades and colors? Turns out it’s not just the confidence boost of your favorite clothes, there’s actually a science behind discovering your ‘personal palette.’ Color science and color theory play a huge role in art and design. Now, it’s your turn to master the color wheel for yourself and apply it to your jewelry collection!
In this blog, we'll discuss how to find your ideal color palette.
I. What Are Color Palettes?
II. What Is My Color Palette: A Quiz
III. Which 4 Season Color Palette is Best for Me?
What Are Color Palettes?
Let's start by understanding what exactly your color palette is. Essentially, it's a collection of colors that complement your natural features and make you look extra fabulous. While ultimately it's up to you to decide what makes you feel confident, having a set of colors that are guaranteed to flatter your unique beauty can make styling your daily looks a breeze.
Your color palette is influenced by your natural coloring: complexion, eye color and hair color. But to figure out which colors are truly the best for you, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with your undertones. These are the hints of color within your hair, skin and eyes that give them an overall ‘cool’ or ‘warm’ look. By considering these factors, you can piece together a perfect palette that highlights your very best features.
What is My Color Palette: A Quiz
Unveiling Your Undertones
Understanding your undertones is key to finding your perfect color palette, so let’s start by breaking down this concept. Remember, undertones are different from skin tones. Undertones are the natural hues beneath the surface of your skin.
There are three categories: cool, neutral, and warm. Cool undertones feature greens, blues, and purples, while warm undertones showcase golds and reds. Here are some questions to help you determine your undertones:
Do you tend to tan or burn in the sun?
People with warm undertones tend to tan more often than they burn. On the other hand, people with cool undertones tend to have a hard time tanning–they’re prone to sunburn. If it could go either way for you, then you likely have neutral undertones.
What color are your veins?
This may sound a little weird, but bear with us. Look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. Undertones actually influence the color of your veins–if you look at your wrist and see green veins, you likely have warm undertones. If your veins look blue or purple, you have cool undertones.
What words would you (or others) use to describe your complexion?
When describing warm undertones, people frequently use words such as olive, peach, mahogany or golden. When describing cool undertones, people often use words like pink or rosy. Another helpful hint: look at your makeup collection and see if you find any helpful descriptors on your concealer or foundation. Many makeup shades use adjectives like warm, cool, and neutral to help you pick your perfect match.
If you can relate to both warm and cool undertones, you likely have neutral undertones–which mix in a little of both worlds.
What color are your eyes and hair?
Hair and eyes also have undertones. When it comes to the eyes, blues, grays and greens are cool-toned, while browns and hazels are warm.
In general, if you have hints of gold, copper or red in your hair, you probably have warm undertones. On the other hand, if your hair has any hints of gray, blue or silver, then cool undertones are at play. Here’s a handy chart to help you figure out where your features fit:
High Contrast or Low Contrast?
Now, let's determine if your features are high contrast or low contrast. Contrast refers to the variation between colors in your features; that is, your eyes, hair and complexion. Are you all warm toned, or do you have a mix of warm, neutral and cool?
If there is a lot of variation in color or tone, you are considered to have high contrast features. If your hair, eyes and complexion are all similar tones, on the other hand, you have low contrast features.
Understanding your contrast level helps in selecting colors that enhance your natural beauty.
The 4 Seasons Color Palettes
An easy way to conceptualize your color palette is by using one of the four seasons. Think about it–we typically associate certain colors with certain seasons. Spring brings pastels to mind, while winters make us think of icy blues and grays. It makes sense, and it’s also just a fun way to categorize potential palettes. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at each seasonal color palette.
Spring Season Color Palette
The light spring palette is ideal for individuals with low contrast features and warm undertones. Think Easter colors: gentle pastels and soft colors like lilacs and pinks complement these features. Light amethysts, peridots, and aquamarines make great gemstones for light springs. As a low contrast palette, choose jewelry with minimal contrasting elements.
True springs, on the other hand, have vivid and bright features with warm undertones. Rich citrine is a gemstone perfect for true springs. Their features are accentuated by yellow and rose gold jewelry. As a true spring, embrace bold colors.
Clear springs exude vibrancy and warmth. Those with highly saturated green, blue, or brown eyes and vivid shades of blonde, copper, or auburn brown hair fall into this category. Bright pinks and watermelon greens are perfect for them. One more piece of advice: rely on yellow gold and rose gold for your basics to help your warm undertones glow.
Summer Season Color Palette
Light summer features cool tones and less saturated shades. Teal, turquoise, and blue-green shades work wonderfully for light summers. Silver, platinum, and white gold jewelry will showcase the beauty of a light summer’s cool undertones. Gemstones in shades of blue and green, such as turquoise and aquamarine, work wonders for them.
True summers also have cool undertones, but with medium-contrast features. Grays, mint greens, lilacs, and light blues are their go-to colors. Silver jewelry complements their features. Topaz and amethyst in cheerful colors make great gemstone choices.
Soft summers possess muted, cool-toned features with lower contrast. Opt for gentle, medium tones like moss greens and dusty reds. Yellow gold and rose gold enhance their natural beauty. Avoid very dark colors and very cool or warm tones. Lighter amethysts and peridots are a perfect gemstone choice for soft summers.
Autumn Season Color Palette
Deep autumns typically boast dark hair with warm undertones, often with hazel or brown eyes. Copper, olive, and dark green tones, along with rich, vivid purples, suit them best. Emeralds, peridots, and jades are great gemstone choices. Rose gold and yellow gold bring out the full beauty of their features.
True autumns exhibit hints of amber and red in their features. Warm colors like olive green, warm browns, and maroons are their go-to shades. Avoid pastels and go for yellow gold and rose gold. Garnets make a great gemstone choice.
Soft autumns have lower contrast features with lighter hair (think strawberry blonde or mousy brown) and neutral or slightly warm undertones. Dusty colors and cool blues suit them best. Like other warm-toned palettes, soft autumns will shine in yellow gold and rose gold. Deep green jades or maroon garnets are great gemstone choices, just as they are for true and deep autumns.
Winter Season Color Palette
Bright winters, also known as clear winters, have the most striking contrast within the winter palette. You'll often find them with dark, cool-toned hair and lighter eye colors. Bright winters look stunning in vivid, intense shades, including most gem tones. On the other hand, the natural beauty of a bright winter may not be enhanced by earthy tones, browns, or dull colors.
True winters have blue and gray undertones in their features. Like other winters, cool and neutral tones dominate their color palette. True winters can rock the spectrum of cyans, grays, and purples with style, but may prefer to avoid yellows and oranges. Silver, platinum, or white gold metals enhance the cool-toned look. As a medium-contrast color palette, subtle pieces of jewelry will amplify your natural beauty best.
Deep winters have neutral or somewhat cool tones. You'll spot them with dark brown or black hair and eyes that create a high contrast. Deep winters can pull off richer gem tones like lush green emeralds and royal purple amethysts with confidence. However, undersaturated hues are not their best friends. When it comes to jewelry, accentuate those high contrast features with bold color differences and make a statement.
Play With Color at Dean’s Jewelry!
Remember, these seasonal color palettes provide a starting point for discovering what works best for you. Ultimately, it's about finding colors that make you feel confident and reflect your personal style. Don't be afraid to experiment and mix different palettes or try out unconventional combinations. The key is to have fun and express yourself through your jewelry choices.
Whether you’re settled on a color palette you love or you’re just exploring what the world of colorful jewelry has to offer, we invite you to pay us a visit at Dean’s Jewelry in Coshocton, Ohio or Mount Vernon, Ohio. We have teams of knowledgeable staff at both locations who can help you find the jewelry that makes you look and feel your best! You can also start exploring the gemstones that best suit your 4 seasons color palette.