Perhaps one of the most well-known kinds of Indian garments is the saree. Although this beautiful dress has gone through dramatic changes and iterations, sarees are still a large part of Indian culture. One of the saree’s best features is its use of bold prints and colors. With the wide variety of hues to choose from, there is something that fits every skin tone and preference.
Unfortunately, fashion often fails to take into account darker skin tones. With that in mind, let’s discuss some of the best colors for dark skin. We will explore several colors in detail to provide an essential guide that will help you choose your skin’s best saree colors.
What Colors Work Well for Dark Skin
The wonderful thing about darker skin tones is that they pair well with most colors, shades, and hues. Unlike paler tones, you don’t have to worry about your skin looking washed out by specific colors. White is one of the safest and simplest options, but you can opt for brighter, more intense colors if you want.
The best saree colors for dark skin are:
- White
- Red
- Violet
- Gold
- Emerald
- Light yellow
- Pink
- Orange
- Cobalt
- Lavender
- Grey
What Is Undertone?
There are two different factors to consider when choosing clothing colors: skin tone and undertone. Your skin tone is the surface color of your skin, whereas the undertone is the coloring under the surface. There are three different undertones: warm, cool, and neutral. Warmer undertones are brighter earthier colors, cool undertones are paler and more pastel, and neutrals are the middle ground (think bright pastel coloring).
If you’re unsure of your skin’s undertone, one thing you can do is check your veins. If you’ve got greenish veins, your undertone is warm. If your veins are purple or blue, your undertone is cool. Hard to determine vein color means that your undertone is neutral. Another way is jewelry; silver corresponds with cool undertones and gold with warm undertones. If both types of jewelry look good on you, you likely have a neutral skin undertone.
White
The beautiful thing about white is that the darker your skin, the more you can experiment with its different hues. “Bold” might not be the first thing you think when you see the color white, but a pure, stark shade of the color can make a big statement. The point of wearing white is to create a contrast with your darker skin. The difference between your skin tone and the neutral color will accentuate your figure.
Red
Red is an incredibly vibrant color that invokes passion, love, and life. Red represents power and can project feelings of confidence, from a bold red lip to a complete saree. However, due to its intensity, red can be intimidating for some people.
There are many red hues to choose from, including cherry, rose, wine, scarlet, and apple. Each of these bright colors works well with darker skin. Red is considered a “warm” color. It brings out the warmer, earthier, more radiant undertones in darker-skinned women.
Violet
It is widely known that purple is associated with royalty. You might also be pleased to know that purple represents luxury, ambition, wealth, mystery, dignity, and peace. Unlike stark whites and bold reds, purple is considered a fun, funky color that works well against darker skin.
Depending on the shade, it can invoke regality to any woman wearing it. Violet is one of the brighter “cool” colors that look great against dark skin. The color contrasts nicely and can add more vibrancy to darker skin. It can range from soft to dark-hued, and each shade can be subtle without melting into your complexion.
Gold
Gold is also symbolic of wealth but is representative of grandeur, passion, compassion, and courage. This metallic tone complements earthier complexions, such as beige and cream-colored skin, and warmer and cooler undertones in darker skin. It’s helpful that gold itself goes well with other colors too. Emerald green works exceptionally well with the bright, regal, metallic shade.
Emerald
When you think of emeralds, you probably conjure images of the gorgeous gemstones. Where some shades of green can be garish, the stunning jewel tone isn’t one of them. Emerald is a rich, bright green that manages to be calming and eye-popping all at once. Emerald pops against dark brown skin because of its vividness. The vibrant green contrasts with dark brown skin and brings attention to certain features.
Light Yellow
Light yellow has a way of calming and demuring while bringing a certain intensity when paired with darker skin. Light yellow is a pastel color, so it has enough of a distinction from darker skin that it doesn’t blend in too much with darker skin. The yellow’s pale warmth will stand out.
Pink
Pink may usually be associated with young children – specifically girls, but it is also very much for boys. This is unfortunate because it is gorgeous for women. Winter pinks (colors like fuchsia and hot pink), blush shades, and lighter pale pinks look great with dark skin because their vibrancy stands out against it. Pink has an enormous range, allowing you to find the right one for your tastes, from the bold to the less conspicuous.
Orange
Orange is joy, sunshine, success, determination, health, and creativity. It is also made for darker skin. This intense color is loud and strong, best for duskier complexions; orange highlights nutty, tan, and umber tones in the skin.
Cobalt
The nice thing about having darker skin is that you can pair lighter and darker colors with it. Cobalt is one of numerous dark colors that work with deeper skin tones. This rich, luxurious blue is the more glamorous version of navy.
Darker-skinned people are often advised against neutral colors like dark blues. Cobalt has enough richness to blend well with dusky skin without being absorbed into it; the color is neutral and bold.
Lavender
People shouldn’t underestimate the power of purple; it’s a color with many shades, and lavender is the most elegant of them all. Where violet is the more mysterious, regal version of purple, lavender is the more feminine, graceful, and elegant tone. Lavender works for dark skin like violet and light yellow; it adds vibrancy and contrast without blending in too much with darker skin tones.
Grey
Grey may have the reputation of being dull and boring, but it’s another neutral color that will make your darker skin truly shine when you find the right tone. Grey looks good with any skin complexion–from lighter, pale tones to darker, deeper ones. Keep in mind that you might want to be careful with the shade of grey you choose.
Where lighter grays–like white–contrast well with darker complexions, a darker shade can highlight grey undertones in the skin. Women with cooler undertones can end up looking washed out.
Conclusion
The best saree color for your dark skin is the one that makes you feel good. A beautiful red can invoke confidence and authority, where a delicate lavender may bring out something more feminine. The good news is that there are so many colors that complement darker skin.
Remember that reds and whites are bold, so you will likely stand out in a crowd. Golds, emerald, and pink are vibrant and striking against dark skin, but the same can be said for lighter yellows and purples when used right. Specific colors work better with certain undertones, but most colors look good on darker-skinned women.
