How to Wear Colours That Normally Wash You Out
Image Credit: Pexels / Ron Lach
If you love a colour but feel it makes your complexion look less lively, you do not need to stop wearing it. Instead, try changing where the colour sits, what you pair it with, or how much of it appears in the outfit.
A shade that feels difficult as a high-necked top may work beautifully as trousers, a skirt, a cardigan over another colour, or a print. You can also add a colour you prefer closer to your face through a neckline, collar, scarf or layer.
Colour analysis can help explain why certain shades feel easier to wear, but it does not need to decide what stays in your wardrobe.
What does it mean when a colour “washes you out”?
“Washed out” is a subjective styling phrase rather than a precise rule. People often use it when they feel a clothing colour creates less contrast with their natural colouring than they would like, or when a shade seems to make their complexion appear duller in comparison.
The effect can depend on more than the colour itself.
Lighting, make-up, hair colour, the neckline of a garment, surrounding colours and the amount of contrast in an outfit can all change how you perceive a shade.
Most importantly, different people prefer different effects.
One person may dislike a soft, low-contrast combination because it feels muted. Someone else may love exactly that quality.
So if a colour supposedly “washes you out” but you enjoy wearing it, that is already a good reason to keep it.
Start by asking what you dislike about the colour
Before trying to fix an outfit, work out what is actually bothering you.
Ask yourself:
- Does the colour feel too pale?
- Does it seem too close to my skin tone?
- Is it warmer or cooler than colours I usually prefer?
- Does it feel too muted?
- Is it brighter than the rest of my wardrobe?
- Do I dislike it only when it is directly beside my face?
- Would I like it more with stronger contrast?
The answer can point you towards a simple styling adjustment.
For example, if pale beige feels too low contrast, adding black, navy or a rich brown might be enough. If mustard feels too warm near your face, you could wear it as a skirt instead.
Wear the colour away from your face
One of the easiest options is to move the colour lower in the outfit.
If a particular shade feels difficult as a blouse, jumper or dress, try it as:
- Trousers
- Jeans
- A skirt
- Shorts
- Shoes
- A belt
- A handbag
This lets you enjoy the colour without making it the main shade directly beside your face.
For example, if pale camel is not your favourite colour for tops, camel trousers could work with a navy, black, white or colourful knit.
If icy blue feels too pale near your face, you might prefer it as a skirt with a deeper top.
There is no requirement for every colour in your wardrobe to work equally well in every position.
Add a colour you love near your face
If you already own a top or dress in a colour that feels difficult, layering can change the effect.
You could add:
- A jacket
- A cardigan
- A shirt worn open
- A scarf
- A contrasting collar
- A visible vest or camisole
- A necklace that adds colour or contrast
The aim is not to hide the original shade. It is simply to introduce another colour into the area around your face.
Imagine a pale beige jumper that feels too close to your colouring. A navy blazer or deep green cardigan can frame it with stronger contrast.
A warm rust dress could be paired with a cooler scarf if that combination feels more natural to you.
Change the neckline
The same colour can feel surprisingly different depending on how much of it sits close to your face.
A high-necked jumper creates a larger block of colour around the face than a V-neck or open shirt.
If a shade feels overwhelming, you might prefer:
- A V-neck
- A scoop neck
- An open collar
- A button-down shirt worn slightly open
- A cardigan rather than a pullover
- A jacket with a contrasting top underneath
This is not about which neckline supposedly suits a particular body shape. It is simply about controlling the amount and placement of colour.
A lower or more open neckline allows more of your skin or another layer to break up the shade.
Pair pale colours with stronger contrast
Very pale colours can sometimes feel difficult if the whole outfit has a similar level of lightness.
Adding a darker colour can give the outfit more definition.
Try combinations such as:
- Pale beige + black
- Cream + navy
- Blush pink + charcoal
- Icy blue + deep denim
- Pale grey + burgundy
- Soft lavender + dark brown
You do not need to use black if strong contrast is not your style.
Medium denim, olive, taupe or another mid-depth neutral can provide a gentler contrast.
Experiment until the balance feels right to you.
Soften a colour that feels too bright
Sometimes the problem is the opposite. A colour may feel too intense rather than too pale.
If vivid cobalt, fuchsia, lime or red feels stronger than you want, pair it with quieter colours.
For example:
- Cobalt + navy
- Fuchsia + charcoal
- Bright green + denim
- Strong red + chocolate brown
- Vivid orange + cream
You can also wear the bright colour in a smaller area.
A vivid shirt underneath a jacket shows less colour than the same shirt worn alone. A bright bag or pair of shoes gives you an even smaller dose.
The colour stays in the outfit, but you control its impact.
Use a print instead of a solid block
Prints are useful if you like a colour but do not enjoy wearing a large area of it.
Look for a pattern that includes the difficult colour alongside shades you already know you enjoy.
For example, if mustard feels too strong on its own, a floral print containing mustard, navy and cream may feel easier.
If pale pink seems too delicate as a solid top, a print combining pink with burgundy or green can create more contrast.
You can then repeat one of the other colours from the print elsewhere in the outfit.
A patterned piece also removes some of the pressure to decide whether a single shade is “your colour”.
Try a different version of the same colour
Colour families contain enormous variation.
If one yellow does not feel right, another yellow may.
Instead of abandoning a colour entirely, compare versions that differ in temperature, depth or intensity.
For example:
If beige feels difficult, try:
- Cream
- Taupe
- Camel
- Mushroom
- Deeper tan
If pink feels difficult, try:
- Blush
- Rose
- Raspberry
- Coral
- Fuchsia
If green feels difficult, try:
- Olive
- Sage
- Emerald
- Forest green
- Teal
If blue feels difficult, try:
- Powder blue
- Denim blue
- Cobalt
- Navy
- Teal-blue
Often the question is not whether you can wear a colour family, but which version fits your preferences best.
Adjust warm and cool colour combinations
If you use colour analysis, you may notice that shades with a particular temperature feel easier near your face.
Someone who prefers cooler colours might find camel, mustard or peach harder to wear. Someone who prefers warmer shades might feel less at home in icy blue, cool grey or blue-based pink.
You can still use these colours.
Try pairing them with shades from the opposite temperature.
For example:
- Camel + cobalt
- Mustard + navy
- Peach + charcoal
- Icy blue + warm brown
- Cool grey + rust
- Fuchsia + camel
Mixing warm and cool colours can make the contrast look deliberate rather than accidental.
Use your favourite neutral as an anchor
A familiar neutral can make an unfamiliar colour easier to style.
Think about the neutral you rely on most.
It might be:
- Black
- Navy
- Grey
- White
- Cream
- Camel
- Brown
- Denim
- Olive
Then pair the difficult colour with that neutral first.
If lilac is outside your usual palette but you wear navy constantly, try a lilac shirt with navy trousers.
If bright orange feels intimidating but cream is a wardrobe staple, start with an orange cardigan over a cream outfit.
You already know how the neutral works in your wardrobe, so there is only one new element to consider.
Use accessories to introduce a difficult colour
Accessories are an easy way to experiment without making a colour the focus of the whole outfit.
You might try the shade in:
- A scarf
- A handbag
- Shoes
- Socks
- A belt
- Hair accessories
- Jewellery
This can be particularly useful if you enjoy a colour aesthetically but do not like it close to your face.
A lime bag, pale yellow shoes or rust belt can add the colour without requiring a matching top.
If you later decide you enjoy seeing more of the shade, you can experiment with a larger piece you already own or consider it the next time you genuinely need something.
Use jewellery to change the colour balance
Jewellery adds another colour and reflective surface near your face.
Depending on your preferences, yellow gold can introduce warmth, while silver-coloured metals can create a cooler effect.
You could try:
- Gold jewellery with a cool grey top
- Silver jewellery with a camel jumper
- Mixed metals with a neutral outfit
- Colourful earrings with a pale top
- A stronger necklace over a muted knit
The effect may be subtle, but it can help connect a clothing colour to the rest of your outfit.
There is no need to match jewellery to your undertone. Use whichever metal or colour gives you the result you like.
Consider the fabric as well as the colour
Two garments in almost the same colour can look quite different because of their fabric.
A shiny surface reflects light differently from a matte one. A sheer fabric creates a different visual effect from a dense knit. Texture can also change how strong or soft a colour appears.
If you dislike a particular shade in one garment, that does not necessarily mean every version of that colour will feel the same.
You may prefer:
- A textured knit rather than smooth satin
- Washed denim rather than a flat solid blue
- Linen-like texture rather than a glossy finish
- A sheer layer over another colour
- A print rather than one uninterrupted block
Pay attention to the whole garment, not just the colour name on the label.
Use make-up only if you want to
You may see advice suggesting that certain clothing colours require particular make-up to “make them work”.
You do not need to change your make-up for your clothes.
If you enjoy make-up, however, you can use it as another colour element in an outfit.
A lipstick, blush or eye colour can repeat or contrast with clothing in the same way that jewellery or a scarf can.
For example, you might enjoy a stronger lip colour with a very pale outfit because it adds contrast.
That is an optional styling choice, not a requirement for wearing the colour successfully.
What if beige washes you out?
Beige is often mentioned in this context because it can sit close to some skin tones and create relatively low contrast.
If you like beige but feel a beige top is too muted, try:
- Beige + black
- Beige + navy
- Beige + burgundy
- Beige + forest green
- Beige + cobalt
- Beige + dark denim
You can also try a deeper camel, cooler taupe, lighter cream or darker brown.
If you own a beige dress, a contrasting jacket, cardigan, scarf or necklace can break up the colour near your face.
Or simply wear beige as trousers, a skirt or accessories instead.
What if pastels wash you out?
Pastels can create a soft, low-contrast effect, which may or may not be what you want.
If pale colours feel too quiet, pair them with deeper shades.
Try:
- Powder blue + navy
- Blush + burgundy
- Mint + forest green
- Lavender + charcoal
- Pale yellow + chocolate brown
Another option is to choose a clearer or slightly deeper version of the pastel.
Instead of very pale pink, try rose. Instead of powder blue, try medium blue. Instead of pale lavender, try violet.
You can keep the colour family while changing its intensity.
What if black feels too harsh?
Black is often treated as a universal neutral, but not everyone enjoys the amount of contrast it creates.
If black feels stronger than you want near your face, try breaking it up.
You could wear:
- A black cardigan over a lighter top
- A black blazer with an open neckline
- A printed black blouse
- Black trousers with a softer colour above
- A scarf between a black coat and your face
You might also prefer navy, charcoal, deep brown or another dark neutral.
There is no reason black has to be the foundation of your wardrobe.
What if white feels too stark?
If crisp white creates more contrast than you prefer, try another version.
Options include:
- Cream
- Ivory
- Soft white
- Ecru
- Pale beige
- Light grey
If you love bright white anyway, soften it with a cardigan, scarf or jacket in a colour you enjoy.
You can also wear white farther from your face through trousers, skirts or shoes.
The goal is not to identify the one correct white. It is to find combinations you like wearing.
What if you love a colour outside your seasonal palette?
Wear it.
Seasonal colour analysis can be useful for noticing patterns, but a colour season is not a dress code.
If your palette suggests cool colours and you love rust, keep the rust.
If your palette suggests warm colours and cobalt is one of your favourites, wear cobalt.
You can borrow the styling ideas from your palette without treating it as a boundary.
For example, use one of your preferred neutrals to connect the colour to the rest of your wardrobe, or wear the shade away from your face if that feels easier.
Personal taste should have the final say.
How to decide whether a difficult colour deserves space in your wardrobe
Not every colour you like needs to become a wardrobe staple.
Sometimes a shade looks beautiful on a hanger but simply does not work with the clothes you already own.
Before buying something new, ask:
- Do I genuinely enjoy wearing this colour?
- Can I combine it with at least two things I already own?
- Would I wear it in this particular garment?
- Am I comfortable with the amount of contrast it creates?
- Could I use the colour elsewhere if I do not like it near my face?
If you already own the item, experiment before deciding to remove it from your wardrobe.
A different layer or combination may be all it needs.
A simple formula for wearing any difficult colour
If a colour you love feels tricky, use this process:
- Try it with your most reliable neutral.
- If it still feels difficult, move it away from your face.
- If it must sit near your face, add another colour through a layer, neckline, scarf or jewellery.
- Try a print that contains the colour rather than wearing it as a solid block.
- Compare a warmer, cooler, lighter, deeper or more muted version of the same colour.
- Decide based on the outfit you see, not a colour-analysis rule.
You do not need every shade to create perfect harmony with your colouring. Sometimes contrast is exactly what makes an outfit interesting.
If you love the colour, the useful question is not “Am I allowed to wear this?” It is “How do I want to wear it?”
Related reading
- How to Dress for Your Colouring: A Guide to Colour Analysis
- Warm vs Cool Undertones: How to Tell Which You Have
- How to Build a Wardrobe Around Your Colour Palette