If You’re Confused By Color Matching, Here Are 4 Colors That Will Look Gorgeous On You No Matter What
And the pieces you’ll look great in, too.
by The Candidly Team
Do you guys remember “Color Me Beautiful” from back in the 80s? And how every fashion-y thing started telling women the key to unlocking their beauty was to learn their “color season?”
Well then, you’ve probably realized that it’s back … and all over TikTok.
And people are innnnnto it.
There’s even a little Instagram filter to help you determine which season you are, and therefore which colors look best on you.
We tried to get into the weeds and write you an article about figuring out what color season you are, but let us tell you it is not straight-forward. There are skin-tones and undertones and color chromas and values and words like “warm” and “cool” and “clear” and “deep.” And look, we just couldn’t crack it. Given that we can’t even determine what color foundation we wear half the time, how the hell are we gonna parse out which shade of yellow won’t make us look like a sun-bleached carpet?
And so, we decided to take a short cut. We went all around the internet, collecting the wisdom of various color-matching experts and found 4 colors that are consistently considered “safe”. Not just safe but excellent on all skin tones, hair colors, eye colors, etc.
And here they are, along with some of the most universally flattering pieces currently being made in said colors:
1. NAVY
Navy just invokes an effortless quiet luxury that’s almost…more interesting than black? And for 99% of us, unlike black, it adds life to our cheeks instead of washing us out.
1. The Junie High-Rise Flare Pants by Maeve
First off, the navy shade of these pants somehow matches with everything. But the shape, my friends. We may have just located the most flattering, everyday, non-jean pants. Wear it with any top you own and you’re going to look good. That’s just how these pants work.
Price: $128
2. J.Crew Heritage cotton Rollneck™ sweater in stripe
This navy sweater is one of those things that instantly feels like an outfit. Wear it with any jeans or white, linen pants, and you’ll feel very coastal chic but also a wee bit French. We can’t speak for when you read this article, but it’s wildly on sale right now on J.Crew.
Price: $52.50
3. Anthropologie The Tommie Cap Sleeve Smocked Front-Zip Shirt Dress
Who among us would not want to own a wildly comfortable dress that’s smocked at the waist and the ideal hourglass shape? We can’t really think of anywhere we wouldn’t want to wear this dress. It sizes in petite and plus. Snatch it up fast though, because it’s barely staying in stock.
Price: $170
4. J.Crew Tissue crepe turtleneck
A whisper-soft turtleneck in navy instead of black or white is juuuusssst that much more “quiet luxury.” Tuck it into jeans or a long trouser, layer it under every cream and camel sweater, and you’ll have that easy layering piece you’re always on the hunt for. We love this particular one, because of the softness but also its incredible size range.
Price: $22.50
2. SOFT PINK
A soft pink is almost like wearing a neutral in that it’s classic and easy to match. But it has a little more of a romantic glow that sort of illuminates your skin and makes you look gorgeous and lit-from-within.
6. Universal Thread™ Women's Oversized Long Sleeve Collared Button-Down Shirt
A button-down is the laziest way to look chic in the vein of Katharine Hepburn. But get one in pale pink and you will have a little Grace Kelly mixed in.
Price: $25
7. Free People Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket
The color of this puffer will instantly brighten you up. Plus the shape makes us feel brilliantly free and lovely and like we couldn’t care less how much bread we just ate. So naturally, we wear it almost daily.
Price: $198
8. Negative Supreme Track Pant and Short Sleeve Shirt
Do we wear these very luxe PJs while slathering on a face mask and cleaning our house? Of course. Do we also wear the pants to the mall with a white sweater and sneaks? Also, yes. They’re so gorgeous, silky, and washable, but more importantly the perfect, perfect pink. Oh, and there’s also a matching tank if you’re a warm sleeper and prefer to go sleeveless.
Pro tip:
Price: $70
3. AUBERGINE
Some of the deeper or jewel-toned colors can actually age us. But a rich purple can make us look alluring and more vibrant, which can in fact translate to more youthful. Something about this color brings out the twinkle in our eyes. Maybe it’s just how awake we feel when wearing it.
10. Free People One More Time Wide Leg
Like your absolutely favorite sweat pants, only lighter and even lazier, and yet also much, much cuter.
Price: $108
11. Quince 100% Washable Silk Maxi Skirt
This skirt is flattering on every level. But the color makes it more of a standout piece than just your basic black skirt. Most importantly, it’a a double-take price for silk, and it’s washable!
Price: $80
12. Free People Camden Sweatshirt
Our 80s selves will never stop wearing our hair in a high, scrunchied pony, throwing on our favorite color cocooning sweatshirt, and melting into a pair of buttery leggings. Leg-warmers optional. And once you see it on, this color could quickly become your favorite.
Price: $78
4. TRUE RED
True red is like the primary color we learn to identify as the purest shade of red on a colorwheel with no added blue or yellow. Because of this, it’s apparently both warm and cool and should look good on anyone. And it really does. It doesn’t bring out the red in your skin or make you look muted. Instead, it creates a sort of energy to your overall appearance that can be spellbinding. A pop of red with a glossy lip. You’ll practically smolder.
13. J.Crew Long-sleeve dress in jersey crepe
The color will look beautiful on you, but what we really get caught up in is how the ruching makes it ultra-flattering on bellies and butts and thighs. Sizes up to 3X too!
Price: $98
14. The Meredith Mock-Neck Sweater by Maeve
Because we all want to look like Sally Albright in her red turtleneck sweater come autumn, no?
Price: $98
15. Free People High Time Velvet Kick Flare Pants
Every color in these pants will look great on you. The kickflare is just very very good on curves. But get them in red, and suddenly, you’re dressed exciting.
Price: $78
16. Free People Hailee Sweater Set
Look, some of you will hate the idea of an all-red ensemble (even if it’s gonna look remarkable on you), but this knit set is so slouchy and cozy and yet somehow also flattering. It does come on other colors but the red really lifts our spirits in winter and gives our cheeks a little rosy glow.
Price: $128
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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