How to Dress for Ebony Skin Tone

Be fashion savvy in the clothes that suit you best.

From magazine covers to celebrity news, almost everyone is trying to avoid the dreaded fashion faux pas. Even if you're not worried about the paparazzi, it's still a must to know what colors bring out your best features and complement your skin tone. For ebony beauties, navigating your way through the world of clothing can be fun and full of variety for any occasion.

Things You'll Need

• White top, bottom, or dress
• Pastel top or dress
• Rich, bold colored top

Instructions

Wardrobe Tips to Help You Shine

1. Choose colors that are clean and crisp. White, cream, and ivory play beautifully off darker skin. Even an outfit with all white pieces, provided it's pre-Labor Day, is a dazzling winner. Linen pants, for example, are a great wardrobe staple that can be worn casually or dressed up.

2. 

   Spice it up with bold splashes of color.

   Play with colors that provide a contrast to your skin, like yellows, pinks, greens, bright oranges, and blues. The key here is to avoid extremes. You don't want colors that are too muted, like tans, because they can fade into your skin. You also don't want colors that are too bright, like garish neons, as these tend to overpower your ebony hue rather than complement it.

3. Minimize garments that have bold patterns and colors to a few key pieces. This way they add spice to the outfit rather than being too busy and distracting. Remember, your skin is a permanent part of what you're wearing, so build your wardrobe around your biggest asset.

4. 

   Warm it up with a striking violet.

   Steer clear of dark, solid colors that have the tendency to make your look drab and monotone. For warm colors, choose rich, bold shades. Of course, black is a classic and definite exception to this rule. Pick black pieces that have a bit of sheen to them, like satin or acrylic for example, rather than a faded cotton look. Ladies, accessorize that little black dress with silver jewelry to add some sparkle. For a look that could go classic or modern and funky, add white to the mix.

5. 

   Pretty in pastel.

   Pick up the pastels! Although these usually find their way out of the closet for Easter, pastels are a nice cool shade for rich, chocolate skin during the spring and even summer months.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your skin moisturized. This helps your skin reflect light, bringing radiance and life to any outfit you put on.

• If you need some extra help or inspiration, pick a celebrity or style icon whose fashion you admire and follow their lead.

• Take advantage of a fashion consultant if you could use help tailoring your wardrobe choices specifically to you. Look them up in the yellow pages, or ask your favorite stores if they have someone on hand.

• Ladies, your makeup is just as important as your outfit. Making sure you wear colors that complement your skin helps to maintain a desirable, chic look. If you need a second opinion, free consultations are offered at most makeup counters in your local department store.

• If you don't like it, or you don't think it looks good, don't wear it. No color or style suits you better than confidence.

References

• Collegefashion.net: How to Find Your Perfect Colors
• Marchars.com: Matching Colors/Skin Tone