You’re standing in front of a mirror with swatches of fabric fanned out across your chest. You tilt your head, squint, and suddenly—there it is. One color lights up your face, while another drains it completely. It’s not magic, it’s undertone science.
Depending on your features, some colors scientifically look better on you than others. This doesn’t mean you have to stop wearing some of your favorite hues altogether, but if your wardrobe needs a shake-up, you should try swatching.
When it comes to putting together an outfit, many of us focus on what’s trending, what fits well, or what feels the most comfortable. That would describe Dustin DiSisto, a senior finance major who selects his outfits “based on mood or whatever’s clean.”
But one major factor that often gets overlooked is color, specifically how it interacts with your natural features. Wearing the right colors can bring out the brightness in your skin, highlight your eyes, and make your overall appearance more vibrant and balanced. On the other hand, wearing the wrong shades might wash you out, make your skin look dull, or clash with your hair and eyes.
Getting color right is emerging as a game changer when it comes to 21st-century fashion trends. YouTube and TikTok offer many videos with advice and guidance ranging from color theory to professional color analyses.
Even still, color considerations are not always priorities for some students.
“I just wear black,” said senior computer science major Armaan Pandher. “Sometimes red or white if I’m feeling bold, but mostly I like to keep it simple.”
DiSisto agrees. “I never really think, ‘Does this color look good on me?’”
For his part, DiSisto said he is open to leveling up his color game… “because sometimes I look a little pale in certain shirts,” he conceded.
So how do you know which colors work best for you?
According to scores of websites, blogs, and social media sources, the answer lies in understanding the basics of the color wheel, knowing your undertones, and factoring in your hair and eye color.
The color wheel is a helpful tool that artists and designers have used for centuries, and students are discovering that it can be just as useful in selecting their wardrobe. It’s a circular arrangement of colors that shows how primary colors (red, blue, yellow) combine to make secondary and tertiary shades. But more than just names of colors, the wheel helps you understand how colors relate to one another.
Some colors, such as blue and orange, are opposites on the wheel and are called complementary colors. When paired together, they create bold and high-contrast combinations. Other colors, such as green and blue or red and orange, are next to each other on the wheel. These are called analogous colors and tend to blend harmoniously, offering a more subtle and coordinated look.
A third combination, known as triadic, includes three colors that are evenly spaced around the wheel, such as red, yellow, and blue. Triadic schemes are playful, balanced, and energetic. Understanding these relationships can help you design outfits that are visually appealing, whether you’re matching separates or adding pops of color through accessories.
Knowing the theory is helpful, but your personal features—especially your skin tone—play the biggest role in determining which shades look best on you. One of the first steps is identifying your skin’s undertone.
Skin tone refers to the surface color of your skin, but undertone refers to the subtle hues underneath it. People generally fall into three categories: warm, cool, or neutral undertones.
If your skin has hints of gold, peach, or yellow, you likely have warm undertones. If it has pink, red, or blue hues, you’re cool-toned. And if your skin seems to have a mix of both, you probably have neutral undertones.
Some people use the vein test—looking at the veins on their wrist. If they appear blue or purple, that usually signals cool undertones; greenish veins often mean warm; if it’s hard to tell, you’re likely neutral. Others use the jewelry test: People with cool undertones tend to look better in silver, while gold flatters those with warm tones. Another quick check is how your skin reacts to the sun—cool undertones usually burn more easily, while warm-toned people tan more readily.
Once you’ve identified your undertone, you can begin to choose colors that enhance your natural glow. Warm undertones typically look great in earthy colors like mustard, olive green, rust, and warm reds. Cool undertones shine in jewel tones such as sapphire blue, emerald green, icy lavender, and charcoal gray. If you’re lucky enough to have neutral undertones, you can wear both warm and cool colors, giving you more flexibility.
Junior political science major Sophie Esposito said she pays attention to undertones.
“I used to wear whatever, but after I figured out I had cool undertones, I stopped wearing a lot of yellow,” Esposito said. “It made me look tired. Now I wear more lavender and navy, and I get way more compliments.”
But undertone isn’t everything. Hair and eye color also play a role in selecting flattering shades. People with blond hair often are suited for soft pastels, baby blues, and light purples, while brunettes usually pop in deep greens, rich burgundy, and navy.
Redheads can enhance their unique coloring with warm browns, peach, and olive green. Those with black hair can pull off bold colors like royal blue, crimson, and even metallics.
Eye color is another great guide. Blue eyes stand out when paired with coppers or warm orange tones. Green and hazel eyes look brighter next to purples and earthy browns. Brown eyes are the most versatile and tend to go well with nearly every color, but they especially pop against teals, golds, and vibrant greens.
words_kai yates. illustration&design_lizzie kristal.
This article was published in Distraction’s Summer 2025 print issue.
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