Colorimetry in clothing: how to choose the colors that best suit you

There are colors that you wear and, without really knowing why, you instantly look better. The skin seems brighter, the face looks more rested and the look fits almost on its own. And then there are those other shades that you love on the hanger, but when you try them they turn you off or make something not quite fit.

That's where colorimetry comes in. It's not about following strict rules or giving up the colors you like, but about understanding which tones suit you the most and how to use them to your advantage.

When you know whether warm, cold, soft or intense colors suit you better, choosing clothes becomes much easier: you buy more judiciously, combine better and build a more coherent wardrobe.

What is colorimetry

Colorimetry in clothing is, basically, understanding what colors suit you according to your natural features: the tone and undertone of your skin, the color of your eyes, your hair and the general contrast of your face.

From these features, four large groups called chromatic seasons are created: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each one has its own range of colors and can help you identify which shades brighten you the most, which soften your features, and which can make you look duller.

The key is above all in the clothes that you wear close to your face: blouses, shirts, T-shirts, dresses, sweaters, jackets or scarves. They are the ones that most influence how your skin looks, your look and the overall look.

What clothing colors suit you according to your colorimetry

Before taking the test, here is a quick guide to get you situated. It will help you see at a glance which season may suit you and which shades tend to suit each one the most.

If you still don't know what your season is, that's okay. In the next block you will identify if warm or cold tones suit you more and if your face works better with soft or intense colors.

How to know your colorimetry without complicating things

To get closer to your colorimetry, focus on three clues: whether your features are warm or cool, whether your contrast is low, medium or high, and which colors look best on your face when brought close to your face. 

Grab a pen and paper or open a note on your phone. Write down what is repeated most in each step and then compare it with the color seasons. 

1. See if your features are warm or cold

Start by observing your skin, hair, and eyes in natural light. It is not necessary for everything to fit 100%, but it is advisable to see which trend is repeated the most.

If most of your answers are in the warm column, you're probably more favored by the warm ranges. If the cold column is repeated, you may fit better with cold ranges. If you are very divided between the two, aim for “neutral” and pay more attention to the contrast and the color test.

2. Identify your contrast

Contrast is the visual difference between your skin, your hair, your eyebrows and your eyes. To see it better, take a black and white photo in natural light: this way you will notice if your features stand out a lot from each other or if they look more uniform.

If you have low contrast, soft or medium colors tend to suit you better. If you have high contrast, you can usually wear richer, cleaner or deeper tones. If you are somewhere in the middle, look for balanced colors: neither too dull nor too harsh.

3. Check which colors look best on you

The final test is to bring different colors closer to the face. You can wear t-shirts, shirts, scarves, sweaters or dresses. The important thing is that the color is close to the face.

A tone usually favors you if your skin looks brighter, your eyes stand out more, your face seems more rested and dark circles or redness are less noticeable.

Compare first a warm variant and then a cool variant of the same color family:

4. Interpret your results

You don't need to fit perfectly into a single box. Stick with the pattern that repeats the most. In the next section you will see each station in more detail to finish identifying which one is most similar to you.

Colorimetry test according to the seasons

Now that you have your notes, it's time to compare them with the four chromatic seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Look at which description most closely matches your features and which colors fit you best. It is not necessary for everything to match, stick with the pattern that is repeated the most.

Spring colorimetry: warm, clear and luminous features

you can be spring If warm, clear and luminous features predominate in your notes. It usually suits you if your undertone tends to be warm or warm-neutral, if golden, honey, hazelnut, peach or soft copper undertones appear in your hair and eyes, and if your contrast is low or medium.

Colors that suit you: ivory, cream, peach, salmon, coral, apricot, vanilla yellow, lemon green, apple green, vibrant blue, turquoise, light camel and soft gold. Warm pastel tones and bright colors also tend to favor you, as long as they are not too dark.

Colors to avoid near the face: optical white, black, dark gray, very dark blue, maroon, cold burgundy, deep purple and muted or too grayish tones. They can harden your features or take away your light.

In clothing, light blouses, dresses in coral or peach tones, cream shirts and light camel outfits work especially well. At MIA, the Camel Ramie Dress It fits well with this range because it provides warmth, softness and works as an easy base for daytime looks. 

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Summer colorimetry: cold, soft and delicate features

you can be summer if cold, soft and poorly contrasted features predominate in your notes. It usually fits you if your undertone tends to be cold or cold-neutral, if your hair and eyes appear ash, pink, bluish, gray or soft undertones, and if your contrast is low or medium.

Colors that suit you: pale pink, powder blue, lavender, mauve, pearl gray, sage green, gray blue, cool soft white, light denim and cool taupe. Cold pastel tones and delicate, low-saturated colors also tend to favor you.

Colors to avoid near the face: intense orange, mustard, warm camel, bright coral, orange red, earthy brown, very marked black, neon fuchsia and colors that are too warm or saturated. They can make the face look duller or less rested.

For clothing, light blue shirts, pale pink blouses, pearl gray sweaters, dresses in lavender or sage tones, and soft white garments will work very well. At MIA, the White Linen Dress It especially fits because of its soft white color and because it works as a versatile base. 

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Autumn colorimetry: warm, earthy and deep features

you can be autumn If warm, deep and duller features predominate in your notes. It usually suits you if your undertone tends to be warm or warm-neutral, if golden, copper, hazelnut, chocolate, honey or olive green nuances appear in your hair and eyes, and if your face has a medium or high depth.

Colors that suit you: warm beige, camel, terracotta, tile, ochre, mustard, olive green, khaki, chocolate brown, coffee, boiler, burnt orange and aged gold. Spicy tones and deep colors with a warm base also tend to favor you.

Colors to avoid near the face: optical white, cold gray, ice blue, cold fuchsia, bubblegum pink, silver, very hard black, lemon yellow and neon or too bright colors. They may seem too cold, artificial or not integrated with you.

In clothing, this palette works especially well on flowy dresses, earth-toned ensembles, brown pants, warm beige blouses, and olive green jackets. At MIA, this Natura dress in camel color It fits especially well with autumn colorimetry due to its base color, perfect for natural and flattering looks.

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Winter colorimetry: cold, intense and contrasting features

you can be winter If cold, intense and contrasting features predominate in your notes. It usually fits you if your undertone tends to be cold or cold-neutral, if there are dark, ash, black, bluish or very defined nuances in your hair, eyes or eyebrows, and if your contrast is high.

Colors that suit you: optical white, black, navy blue, cobalt blue, anthracite grey, cherry red, cool fuchsia, emerald green, cool burgundy, deep purple and silver. Jewel colors and very defined tones also tend to look good on you.

Colors to avoid near the face: yellowish beige, light camel, brick orange, warm mustard, dull brown, dull olive green, very warm cream, soft coral and overly powdery pastel tones. They can make the face lose definition or look less luminous.

When it comes to clothing, white shirts, black or navy blue dresses, monochromatic outfits and garments in intense tones work very well. At MIA, the Ebony Set It fits especially well with winter colorimetry due to its clean, contrasting black base, ideal for creating a look with presence without complicating it too much. 

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How to wear colors that are not from your palette

Knowing your colorimetry doesn't mean you have to stop using colors you like. The idea is to learn to place them better.

If a color doesn't flatter you too much, try wearing it away from your face: on pants, skirts, shoes, bags or belts. And combine it with a shade from your palette on top to balance the look.

For example, if it's spring and you love black, you can wear it with pants or sandals, and combine it with a cream, coral or light camel blouse. If it is winter and you like camel, you can use it on a bag or a skirt, and wear a white, navy blue or black shirt close to your face.

Colorimetry doesn't have to limit you. It has to help you buy better, combine more easily and choose clothes that really flatter you.