Color Mistakes That Ruin Your Outfits and Make You Look Older

Color mistakes often come from not knowing your season and undertone. So let’s break that down.

In the ’70s and ’80s, color theorist and cosmetologist Bernice Kentner was among the first to mention the concept of seasonal color analysis. If one knew their seasonal colors, they could accurately create a wardrobe or a makeup collection that was perfect for them based on their natural coloring. Like the four seasons in a year, there are four color seasons, with each season being associated with specific colors. For example, if your color season is spring, you want to stick to light colors like yellows and corals, while if your color season is autumn, then deep reds, olive greens, and other rich hues will highlight your natural undertones.

“Wearing warm colors when you are actually a cool undertone or vice versa can wash you out and age you,” says Katie Schuppler. “When you wear your ‘best colors,’ they brighten you and make your eyes pop and your skin glow.” But don’t mistake the word “best” for “favorite;” your favorite color might not be the best color for you. If this all feels very foreign, you can determine your skin’s undertone by looking at your veins. “You have cool undertones if you can see blue veins in your skin,” makeup artist Daniel Martin told Byrdie. “If your veins appear green on the skin (olive), you’re warm. Neutral is a mixture of both warm and cool undertones.”

For many, black is a go-to neutral. According to a 2015 survey conducted by Buy T-Shirts Online, 56% of respondents associate the color black with confidence. “Black is modest and arrogant at the same time,” fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto told The New York Times in 2000. “Black is lazy and easy — but mysterious … You need black to have a silhouette. Black can swallow light, or make things look sharp. But above all, black says this: ‘I don’t bother you — don’t bother me!”‘

While every bit of this is true for those of us who love rocking a black monochromatic look, the problem is, contrary is popular belief, black isn’t actually for everyone. “[Black] is not the best color for anyone no matter what color season you are, because it doesn’t play up any of your features to brighten you,” Katie Schuppler exclusively tells Women, adding that, as much as people may find comfort in black, there are other dark neutrals worth trying instead like burgundy, olive green, or a deep charcoal grey.

Ultimately, color mistakes happen, and aging comes for us all. So if you’ve been wearing royal blue your entire life because it is your absolute favorite color, and now you’re 65 and it doesn’t look quite the same but makes you happy, then wear the royal blue. With the right attitude, you can rock anything.