10 Tips on How to Dress in Color for 2025

If you have resolved to up your style game in 2025, adding color can be the answer. Curating a closet of cohesive colors and prints will give you options for every day of the week and make it easy to look your best.If your closet lacks color, it's not all your fault. Many retailers focus on core colors like black, beige, white, and navy. And when we don't know what to wear, we often just reach for those colors. They are safe, but they can also be boring. Look past the basic offerings to find the colors that are best on you, they are out there!

So how do we add color to our closet in a way that makes sense?

1. Begin with a PROFESSIONAL COLOR ANALYSIS to gain confidence in the colors that will suit you best. This analysis provides a customized palette based on your unique temperature, depth, and chroma, guiding you toward shades that truly make you shine. More than just identifying flattering colors, it offers fresh ideas for unexpected color combinations you may not have thought of before.
   Additionally, you'll discover your best neutrals, a crucial aspect of achieving a cohesive look.
   
   Remember: not everyone looks fabulous in black, so it's wise not to default to that color without exploring alternatives.
    
2. From your palette, CHOOSE 3 OF YOUR BEST COLORS that work well together. Begin building your wardrobe with those colors and your best light and dark neutral. This will give you mix and match options.
   
   
3. GET A COLOR FAN. A color fan, also known as a palette fan or color swatch fan, is an essential tool used in color analysis. A color fan contains numerous individual color swatches, each representing a different hue. These swatches are arranged in a fan-like manner, making it easy to flip through and compare colors.
   • Colors are typically organized by categories such as warm, cool, light, dark, or neutral tones. This organization helps clients quickly identify which colors fall within their range.
   • The color fan showcases various depths (shades) and chroma (intensity) within each hue, allowing you to see how different variations can complement their features.
   • Color fans are lightweight and easy to carry, making them convenient to bring along when shopping or planning outfits
     
4. EMBRACE PATTERNS. Incorporating patterns into your wardrobe can significantly enhance your look by adding visual interest and depth to your ensembles. Patterns such as florals, stripes, polka dots, or geometrics can break up solid blocks of color, making an outfit more dynamic and lively. When chosen thoughtfully, patterns can also draw attention to particular areas, helping to create a balanced silhouette.
   
   Additionally, they offer a fun and playful element to your style while allowing for self-expression. Patterns should be related to your personality and in proportion to your size. When choosing a pattern, make sure to consider the background color, as well as the design. The background can make a garment feel decidedly warm or cool. If you are CLASSIC , consider stripes, plaid, and polka dots. If you are BOHO, look for tribal, florals, and folksy geometric patterns. If you are EDGY, look for geometric and oversized prints. If you are ROMANTIC, look for soft florals and watercolor prints.
   
   
5. BUILD BASICS IN YOUR BEST COLORS (including your best neutrals). This includes layering pieces like turtlenecks and tanks, as well as t-shirts, socks, etc.
   
   
6. FIND A SIGNATURE COLOR. A signature color in fashion refers to a shade or hue that an individual consistently wears and is often associated with their personal style. It becomes a recognizable aspect of their wardrobe and can reflect their personality, mood, or even brand identity.
   
7. EDIT YOUR CLOSET. Let go of items that do not fit, are well-worn, or are not in your palette. It may feel wasteful or scary at first, but freeing space is important to the process. This will also free your mind of the guilt of not wearing many of your pieces every time you enter your closet. Get rid of the wrong or just okay to make way for the right and best pieces.
   
   
8. FINISH THE LOOK WITH ACCESSORIES AND MAKEUP. For jewelry, start with your best metal, gold or silver, then spread into your palette colors. Clean out your makeup drawer. Make sure that your options are in alignment with your palette. Completing your look with the correct makeup for your color type will bring the look together. It's the icing on the cake. Everything from undergarments to eye shadow should feel cohesive. If you need help, check out the professional makeup analysis and lip color fan from YourColorStyle.com.
   
   
   
   Sample image from a Makeup Analysis
9. Each season, CONSIDER WHAT COLORS TO ADD TO YOUR WARDROBE. Work with intention and purpose. A good place to start is the Pantone forecast for the season, as those colors will be showing up in stores. Compare their forecast with your palette, and the colors you already have and decide what to add that season. I recommend only adding 1-2 colors (or color families) per season.
   
   Repeat the above steps of finding patterns and accessories for the new colors that you add.
   
   
10. BE PATIENT. Don't settle for pieces that are not great. Shop new stores, hire a stylist, ask a friend for help. Breaking out of your former patterns will help you to achieve your style goals for 2025.

If you are lost as to your best colors, start here.

Here's to living life in color this year!

Gail Scott
YCS Style & Beauty Director

Gail Scott

Gail Scott is Creative Director for Style and Beauty. She is a makeup expert and personal stylist. If you would like professional advice with Gail, please sign up for her exclusive 2-hour 1:1 session. Or schedule a 15 minute Style Chat with Gail to ask your questions.