Earth tones are natural, neutral colors like brown, beige, tan, and sand that derive from the earth and natural materials like dirt, wood, etc. Earth tones have seen a resurgence in fashion lately as people move towards more natural styles. But who can really pull off earth tones? The answer lies in considering your individual coloring and undertones. Let’s analyze who looks best in earth tones.
What are earth tones?
Earth tones describe colors found naturally in nature and earthy materials like soil, wood, stone, etc. They create a calming, grounding effect and provide a neutral backdrop. Typical earth tones include:
| Browns | Beiges | Tans |
| Taupes | Creams | Khakis |
| Ochres | Umbers | Sepias |
| Rusts | Terracottas | Duskys |
| Mushrooms | Fawns | Camels |
Earth tones range from the lightest tints like oatmeal to deepest shades like espresso. They bring a natural, organic vibe to any wardrobe.
Why are earth tones popular?
Earth tones have surged in popularity over the past few years. Here’s why these natural hues have come back in vogue:
– Minimalism: As people embrace more pared back, minimalist style, earth tones provide a perfect neutral base. They create simple, elegant looks.
– Wellness: With the self-care and wellness movement, earthy colors evoke a grounded, zen vibe. They promote relaxation.
– Sustainability: Increasingly people want a smaller, ethical wardrobe. Timeless earth tones lead to less waste and greater sustainability.
– Nostalgia: From cottagecore to grandmillennial style, earth tones bring back nostalgic visuals of pastoral life.
– Androgyny: Earth tones work well in androgynous, non-binary fashion as they’re so versatile.
So earthy hues check a lot of boxes for modern style and sensibilities. No wonder they’ve come back around!
How do you determine your undertones?
When considering earth tones, pay attention to your skin’s undertones. Your undertones will impact which earth tones most enhance your complexion.
Here’s how to determine if you have warm, cool, or neutral undertones:
– Veins: Check the veins on your wrist in natural light. Blue or purple veins indicate cool undertones. Greenish veins point to warm undertones. A mix means neutral.
– Jewelry: Does gold jewelry compliment your skin or look gaudy? If gold flatters, you likely have warm undertones. If silver suits better, that’s a sign of cool undertones.
– Clothing: Earthy olive greens and corals indicate warm undertones. Pastel pinks and blues signal cool. If you look great in both, you’re neutral.
– Sun: Do you tan easily in the sun? That’s a warm trait. If you burn first, you likely have cooler undertones.
– cheeks and lips:Warm complexions have peachy cheeks/lips. Cooler ones run pinker. Neutral is a mix of pink and peach.
Once you’ve assessed your undertones, you can determine which earth tones will be most harmonious.
Best earth tones for warm undertones
Those with warm yellow, peach, golden undertones are complemented by earth tones in the warmer brown, red, and orange families. Here are specific earth tone colors that flatter warm complexions:
| Caramel | Terracotta | Cinnamon |
| Acorn | Pecan | Walnut |
| Khaki | Cocoa | Umber |
| Ochre | Rust | Saddle |
| Cafe au Lait | Mocha | Russet |
These earthy shades with golden, red, or orange undertones will harmonize beautifully with warm skin. Avoid ashier, muddier earth tones that might clash.
Best earth tones for cool undertones
People with cool pink, rosy, or bluish undertones look best in earth tones on the cooler, grayer side of the color wheel. Ideal earth tones include:
| Oatmeal | Mushroom | Taupe |
| Driftwood | Pebble | Slate |
| Heather | Charcoal | Pavement |
| Sand | Stone | Putty |
| Clay | Dove | Khaki |
Avoid warmer earth tones like sienna, ochre, mustard, etc. as they may make skin appear sallow. Stick to cooler, gray-based earth hues.
Best earth tones for neutral undertones
For those with a mix of warm and cool undertones, the entire range of earth tones can work beautifully. With neutral skin, consider:
| Almond | Oatmeal | Sand |
| Mocha | Russet | Umber |
| Cocoa | Khaki | Stone |
| Beige | Taupe | Slate |
| Camel | Mushroom | Heather |
Having both warm and cool traits gives you flexibility. Just avoid the extremes of the earth tone family.
Best earth tones for olive complexions
Those with olive or golden skin have greenish undertones. Olive complexions pair perfectly with earth tones that contain hints of green. Ideal shades include:
| Moss green | Artichoke | Pistachio |
| Camouflage green | Avocado | Celadon |
| Forest green | Cactus | Seafoam |
Avoid earth tones with too much yellow, peach, or ruddiness as they may clash with olive skin’s green undertone.
Best earth tones for dark complexions
For those with rich, dark complexions, earth tones with enough depth and vibrancy compliment best. Great options include:
| Chocolate | Espresso | Ebony |
| Walnut | Chestnut | Mocha |
| Coffee | Cocoa | Caramel |
Lighter earth tones can wash out darker skin. Seek out shades with sufficient saturation. Avoid pastels or mutes.
Best earth tones for fair complexions
If you have very fair, porcelain skin, soft, lighter earth tones flatter you best. Ideal shades include:
| Oatmeal | Fawn | Biscuit |
| Mushroom | Dove | Stone |
| Heather | Putty | Sand |
Deeper, more pigmented earth tones can overwhelm paler complexions. Seek out subtle, delicate earth tones instead.
Best earth tones for gray hair
For those with silver or salt and pepper hair, earth tones with a touch of gray or blue complement beautifully, like:
| Smoke | Slate | Pewter |
| Taupe | Driftwood | Stone |
| Ash | Graphite | Cloud |
Avoid browns or yellows that may clash with gray locks. Stick to neutral, slightly muted earthy hues.
Best earth tones for blonde hair
With golden blonde hair, you can pull off warmer earth tones with golden, amber, and peach undertones like:
| Honey | Caramel | Ochre |
| Ginger | Almond | Khaki |
| Sand | Beige | Biscuit |
Cool ash blondes look best in lighter taupes and mushrooms. Avoid ruddy or olive earth tones.
Best earth tones for red hair
For those with auburn, strawberry, or copper red locks, earthy shades with red or terracotta tones enhance your coloring, like:
| Russet | Terracotta | Cinnamon |
| Clay | Saddle | Paprika |
| Brick | Rust | Fox red |
Steer clear of forest greens or ash gray earth tones that could potentially clash with red hair.
Best earth tones by season
Here are the best earth tones for each season that complement the landscape:
Spring: pastel earth tones – cream, oatmeal, sand
Summer: warm earth tones – caramel, ochre, olive green
Fall: autumnal earth tones – cinnamon, rust, umber
Winter: cool earth tones – dove gray, taupe, heather
Match your earth tones to the colors predominant in nature each season.
Conlusion
While earth tones work on most people, you’ll look your very best in earth tones tailored to your specific skin tone, hair color, and undertones. Once you find harmonious earthy shades, build a capsule wardrobe featuring these versatile neutral colors as your base. With earth tone pieces you love, you’ll create a cohesive, organic look and feel your most natural beautiful self.