Is there a shortcut to looking better? Yes. Wearing the colors that complement your skin tone will instantly make you and your clothes look better. For those with darker skin, the ability to highlight your dark features, as well as dress with bright colors gives you a ton of great options for building your outfits. We’ll review the best clothing colors for dark skin to give you a head start.
For the purpose of this post, we’ll stick to two different categories of dark skin. Those with tan or olive skin (think those of Mediterranean/Latin/Hispanic, Pacific Islander, or Middle-Eastern descent), and those with brown or dark brown skin (mostly those of African descent, although darker tones of those from South Asian or Pacific Islander descent can fall into this category too).
There will be some overlap of the colors that work well for these two categories, as well as some differences. The biggest key is to stick with colors that don’t wash out or compete with your skin tone. Colors should complement your tone naturally.
If you’re skin color is a bit lighter, check out this article for the best colors to match lighter skin.
Best colors for both types
True red works well for almost all skin colors. This color works well to highlight the warmer tones of those with tan skin, while the brightness contrasts well against those with darker skin.
Navy blue is another color that looks great on most skin types. Navy is a solid neutral color that can match a variety of other colors mentioned in this article. It works especially well for polo shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, suits, and pants.
Purple works well with these two skin tones in particular. This bold color complements darker skin especially well. And it has a little more warmth, compared to a color like royal blue, that highlights the warmer tones of tan/olive skin.
Colors for tan/olive skin
Warmer, richer colors work well with this skin tone. Go for earth tones like olive green, brown, mustard, and orange-yellow. These colors accentuate and bring out a natural glow to tan/olive skin.
Burgundy and deep reds stand out well with this skin tone, and are the perfect colors to add boldness to your looks.
You should avoid pastels or faded colors, as these will wash out your warmer tones. White and black aren’t terrible but also don’t flatter this tone as much as other richer colors. Off-white and cream will work better instead of white, and charcoal or navy will substitute well for black, if you are able to make these changes.
Colors for brown/dark brown skin
If you have darker skin, don’t be afraid to get colorful. Almost all colors work well with your tone.
Dark colors like black and charcoal accentuate your darker features. On the opposite end of the spectrum, bright colors like white and pastels contrast well and look more lively against these skin tones.
Rich vibrant colors like emerald green, sapphire blue, bright yellow, and royal purple provide the best complement to darker skin. The combination of the darker skin tones and these lively colors enrich each other especially well.
You should avoid earth tones or faded colors. While they don’t look terrible, they just fall a little flat compared to the colors mentioned above.
How to wear them
As you can see in the pictures, the safest way to pair one item in these colors with complementary neutral tones in the rest of your outfit.
With these best clothing colors for dark skin, one risk you run is adding too many colors to the mix. While both skin tones mentioned in this article are best highlighted by more colorful tones, be careful not to go overboard. Mixing and matching too many bold colors can easily lead to a mismatched or overly bold color combination. Dressing with vibrant colors should complement your complexion, without visually overwhelming everyone around you.
Below are a few examples of outfits that incorporate some of these colors:
- Brown chukka boots, dark denim, burgundy sweater over a white OCBD, and a navy pea coat
- White sneakers, light grey chinos, royal purple polo shirt
- Brown Chelsea boots, dark grey chinos, mustard yellow sweater
- Sand chukka boots, white jeans / stone chinos, red linen-blend knit polo shirt
- Brown workwear boots, dark denim, grey t-shirt, olive chore coat
These best clothing colors for dark skin recommendations are just that – a guideline. As always, mix, match, and experiment as needed to develop your unique style.
And remember, being in shape is the best style accessory. If you have a minute, you can check out this article for more in-depth advice on dressing for your skin tone.