Adding color to your LBD

My little black dress…or should I say my 1/2 dozen little black dresses are my staples. Those who know me are used to seeing me either in a skirt and striped top or an LBD. It’s easy, elegant and goes anywhere at anytime. For some (like me) it covers flaws and always looks great, but I often add a splash of color because black can be a bit aging.

little black dress

Jules Standish, The Colour Counsellor has authored the book How Not to Wear Black and offers some great tips for adding color to your LBD based on your skin tone.

Winter Complexions are cool, light or dark, not translucent, and not rosy cheeked, with a distinctive, striking look to the appearance. Black can be worn against face with no signs of dark shadows, lines or ageing. Cool colors include electric blue, fuchsia pink, emerald green, burgundy with black and white neutrals.

• Celeb Spy: Megan Fox is a striking winter. Winters skin tones are the rare few that can wear black well naturally without it ageing their looks.

Spring Complexions have yellow/gold undertones, tend to blush easily, have broken veins or rosy cheeks and can vary from very fair, freckled to dark and golden. This color palate is bright and warm including lime green, golden yellow, coral, turquoise, red, and grey/stone/blues neutrals.

• Celeb Spy: Amanda Holden is a bubbly spring.

Autumn Complexions have more bronze undertones than spring and never have rosy cheeks. Muted colors include olive green, burnt orange, mustard, caramel and teal. Neutrals are browns/dark greys/blues.

• Celeb Spy: Penelope Cruz is a dramatic autumn.

The Rules of How to Wear Your LBD if it’s not in your natural color range

1. Wear a black dress with a low neckline and ensure that your natural skin color reflects up against the face.
2. Invest in a fabulous gold (warm skins) or silver (cool skins) necklace, or wear gorgeous colored stones of amber, turquoise, citrine or jade.
3. A wrap or scarf is a great accessory in a color that suits your skin tone.
4. Choose a black dress with a colored pattern in it.
5. Opt for a two-tone dress with a block of color on the top and black on the bottom or color down the middle and black at the sides for a really slimming look.
6. Colored jackets or cardigans can offset the LBD beautifully, are warm and hide upper arms.
7. Wear make up that is the perfect color for your complexion and features.
8. Warm (coral, green and brown) based make up is best for yellow/golden based skin tones while cool (pink, blue, purple) for the pink based ones.

For more tips on what colors are the most flattering for your skin tone, pick up a copy of  How Not to Wear Black by Jules Standish at Amazon.com and other book retailers.