Picture day is a big deal for kids of all ages. It’s a day to get dressed up and look your best — at least that’s what it’s supposed to be. In this article, we will discuss the Best Colors To Wear On Picture Day, best color to wear for work photos and best color to wear for professional headshots.
When you’re getting ready to have your picture taken, there’s a lot to consider. The clothes you wear are an important part of how your photos turn out—and sometimes, the color of those clothes can make or break your photo!
We know that picture day is stressful enough without having to worry about what colors will look best in your photos, so we’ve done all the work for you. Here are our top 5 colors that look great in pictures:
best color to wear for work photos
As a mom of four, I’ve been through my fair share of picture days. I’ve learned a thing or two about what colors work well in photos and what colors don’t make the cut.
So, here are some tips on what colors to wear on picture day and why they work so well.
Blue: Blue is one of the most flattering colors because it makes people look younger and more energetic. The color also makes you appear slimmer than you really are, so if you’re self-conscious about your weight, this might be a good color choice for you.
Black: Black can make you appear thinner too, but it has the opposite effect on some people because their skin looks paler than it really is when they’re wearing black clothes or accessories like shoes or bags. So if you have darker skin, steer away from darker shades like navy blue and opt for lighter ones instead like royal blue or powder blue instead.
White: White is another flattering color because it makes people appear younger than they actually are — it’s why wedding gowns are often white!
Best Colors To Wear On Picture Day
The Best Colors to Wear When Having School Picture Taken
Every year, beginning in kindergarten up until high school graduation, picture day at school rolls around. Knowing what colors work well in school photographs is essential for taking consistently good pictures. From basic black to bright hues, certain colors work better than others. Learn a few simple rules and you can make a strong showing in many yearbooks to come.
Medium and Dark Colors
Medium-to-dark shades of blue, burgundy, purple, orange and green look good in professional pictures, as these colors won’t blend into your skin and will highlight your face. When choosing a top, consider your coloring. If you have a warm skin tone (yellow or olive undertones), a warm shade like orange or red is a smart choice. People with cool coloring (pink undertones) will be complemented in clothing from the cool end of the spectrum, like turquoise or emerald-green.
Brights vs. Pastels
In general, vibrant colors — think hot pink, cobalt blue and tangerine — look better in school photos than pastels. Not only do these shades pop in pictures, but they also add brightness to the face. Pastels — especially hues like peach, butter yellow and baby pink — can wash you out by not providing enough contrast between your shirt color and your skin. Darker-skinned students are an exception to this rule, and look attractive in colors like lilac, soft blue and yellow.
Black vs. White
White has a tendency to absorb light, making it a less-than-optimal choice for picture day. On the other hand, black, as well as charcoal gray, is a much stronger wardrobe option for its tendency to pop and flatter without distracting. Additionally, black looks striking against a wide variety of backdrops; since you never know what the screen will be at a school photo session, black is a consistently safe selection.
Patterned vs. Solid Colors
The objective of a school picture is to showcase students looking their best, not to draw attention to a crazy shirt. It’s best, therefore, to avoid patterns like checks, polka-dots and florals, and instead keep the top in one uniform color. While a color-blocked shirt doesn’t have the distracting element of a tiny print, it can break up the visual line. Additionally, shirts with words or visible logos are also not an ideal choice. Stick to solid-colored tops that best complement your coloring, and you’ll have a yearbook look that will stand the test of time.
What Color of Clothing Makes Eyes Look More Enhanced?
The term “opposites attract” isn’t just an old relationship adage; turns out, it’s a piece of beauty wisdom as well. Choosing clothing in colors that are the opposite of your eye color will enhance your eyes. However, the opposite is also true; matching your clothing to your eye color is another way to play up your irises. Confused? Don’t worry — just read on for tips on what colors to wear to make your eyes the center of attention.
Blue-eyed Babe
Odd as it may sound, wearing shades of orange will turn up the wattage of your blue eyes. Orange and blue are complementary, or opposite of each other, along the color wheel. Clothing in shades of blue will enhance your blue eyes as well. Don’t worry about what hues or shades to choose — feel free to run the gamut from burnt orange to tangerine, and from baby blue to cobalt.
Green-eyed Gal
In addition to wearing an Emerald-colored blouse, you can play up your green eyes with shades of purple. As with blue and orange, the two colors are complementary; each provides the greatest contrast to the other. If you’ve got dark green eyes, try wearing lavender, mauve or orchid. Hues like plum, aubergine and royal purple also will make pale green eyes pop.
Brown Betty
Brown eyes are just a tad trickier; because brown is considered a neutral, it does not lie on the color wheel the way green and blue do. Luckily, since brown is a mixture of all the primary colors, a myriad of options await you. Warm hues like red, orange and burgundy help brown peepers pop; but bright blue, eggplant and gold-flecked greens also do the trick.
Lady Gray
Like brown, gray is also considered a neutral. Gray eyes look great with black clothing. The contrast of light and dark will make your eyes pop; and since black is also traditionally neutral, it won’t overwhelm the lightness of gray. Also, it’s very likely you have either a green or blue hue to your gray; if this is the case, follow the rules for those eye colors accordingly.
Hazel Hottie
Got hazel eyes? Lucky you — the choices that apply to green- and brown-eyed girls apply to you, too. Purple, green, brown or orange — clothing in either color, in any shade, will pick up similar shades in your irises and bring them out beautifully. A little gold glint will also enhance any hint of gold in your eyes, according to the experts at glassescrafter.com.
Black Beauty
Just like brown and gray, black is considered a neutral and doesn’t lie on the color wheel. Black irises get a boost when you wear white, gray or black. From silver to charcoal, any shade of gray will work, but light hues will provide a starkly cool contrast.
What Color Shoes Go with a Gray Shirt?
Absolutely everything goes with a white shirt, and most footwear seems to work with a black shirt. However, when it comes to that middle ground, the gray shirt, deciding what color shoes to pair with your top may leave you feeling a bit unsure. This neutral top color pairs well with nearly anything. For the best look possible, though, consider some stellar options.
Black
When you’re donning a light gray shirt, a solid way to keep onlookers’ eyes up at the top portion of your outfit while offering a solid, sleek anchor to your look is wearing a pair of black shoes. For a casual ensemble with a gray shirt and jeans, opt for black-on-black Converse-style sneakers. You can also dress things up a bit with a pair of black leather boots during the winter season or black strappy leather sandals during warm weather.
Gray
If you have a particular penchant for soft, tonal dressing, like wearing multiple shades of gray all within one outfit, then you are in luck. Visualize yourself in a pale gray shirt and a pair of charcoal-gray trousers. Skip the expected black shoes and spring for a medium gray pair of kicks to keep your look subtle. A pair of tweed loafers offers a unique finish to a menswear look while tweed flats or pumps complete a womenswear outfit.
Multicolored
Gray is the ideal neutral to start with when playing around with adding bold color and interesting mixtures of hues to your get-up. Start with a soft gray shirt and a pair of black slacks or a black skirt. Instead of pairing neutral shoes with your neutral look, reach for a more vibrant pair. Consider a pair of cobalt and orange wingtips, whether brogues or high-heel Mary-Janes. You’ll get a kick of visual interest without overdoing it.
Nude
Perhaps you are wearing a gray shirt with beautiful detailing, and the last thing you want is to draw any attention from your top. Whether your top is tucked into a pair of neutral or colorful bottoms, you can avoid adding any extra competition to your ensemble with a pair of nude shoes. Look for footwear that matches your natural skin tone as closely as possible to achieve a convincing “nude.” From oxfords to loafers, moccasins, sandals or pumps, a nude shoe will disappear while keeping the attention on the rest of your attire.
The Best Colors of Clothing to Wear to Bring Out the Green in Eyes
The color of money and the symbol of renewal, more and more people are trying to go green. If you are part of the lucky green-eyed population, or even have just a few flecks of green, find fashion in the most flattering shades for those times when you want your eyes to shine.
Blues
Since green is a mix of the colors blue and yellow, several hues of blue will bring out the cooler shade in green eyes. Gravitate toward light to medium shades if you’re fair-skinned, and pair t-shirts, dress shirts or blouses in shades of turquoise or sky blue with your favorite jeans for a flattering off-duty look. Avoid dull, faded tones to prevent looking washed-out. Medium to dark skin with warm undertones can opt for tops in more dramatic shades such as aquamarine or electric blue. If your skin tone is cool, choose shirts in jewel tones like sapphire and royal blue. Navy is a classic and complements most complexions. Top a white or ivory shirt with a navy blazer for a timeless outfit that works just as well on the weekend with jeans as in the office with tailored trousers.
Greens
Naturally, green is the obvious background to make green eyes pop. A shirt in a similar shade to your iris will exaggerate your eye color. Wear darker hues that your eyes will reflect to deepen and intensify your eye color. Jewel-tones and greens with blue undertones flatter cool-hued skin, so opt for emerald green, celadon or mint in shirts, sweaters or dresses. Warmer tones should lean toward yellow-based greens, such as grass green or lime green. Soft, gray-greens like sage, moss and olive flatter most skin tones and are easy to incorporate into any style. Think army jackets, khaki pants, t-shirts, berets and baseball caps for weekend style options. Suits and ties in these neutral hues could also work for the office.
Purples
Head to the opposite side of the color wheel from green and you’ll find that purples, plums and rose-colored shades really make green eyes come alive. Purple contains both blue and red, which add intensity to any green shade. Lean toward warm, red-purples if you have warm tones in your skin; cool tones benefit from blue-based purples. Choose a rose or lavender t-shirt, dress or button-down for light-colored spring or summer outfits. Darker plums, burgundy and wine shirts, coats, hats, jackets and scarves all work for fall and winter.
Gold
Outfit yourself in gold if you have warm or neutral toned skin to enhance the yellow side of green eyes. Green-eyed pupils that are ringed with gold especially benefit from this metallic shade and make everyone notice your 24-karat flecks. Guys will look great on a night out or at a special event in a gold dress shirt, tie and accessories like cufflinks, while women can wear this dressy shade in a silk cocktail dress or slinky gown with matching gold jewelry.
Best color to wear for professional headshots
If you’re looking for the best color to wear for professional headshots, the answer is simple: black. Black is a classic, elegant choice that will never go out of style. But if you’re not into black, don’t worry! You can still get that professional look with other colors.
Gray is also a popular choice among people who want to look professional and put-together. Gray is a neutral color that works well in any situation—whether you’re trying to sell yourself to an employer or just want to show off your style on social media.
If you want something a little more fun and flirty, try wearing red instead of black or gray. Red is known for its power and passion, so it’s perfect if you want your headshots to reflect those qualities as well!
