Color Theory: Warm Blue vs. Cool Blue
If you're familiar at all with the color wheel, you've probably been told that blue is a cool color.
Not "cool", as in, you look epic, rad, groovy, amazing... whatever you kids are saying these days. ;-)
Cool. I like to think of cool colors as colors that lack warmth. They lack any hint of yellow. In fact, blue is on the complete opposite side of some pretty warm colors. Blue is a primary color. It's a true color. You can't get any cooler than blue. It's right in the middle of the cool side of the color wheel.
So, does it make sense to say warm blue or cool blue?
If you have warm undertones, can you wear blue?
All hues of blues are going to be considered cool colors. All hues of blues are going to be wearable by someone with cool undertones.
But because blue is a primary color, I find that ANYONE can wear blue. Warm undertones or cool undertones, it doesn't matter.
What DOES matter is the intensity and shade of the color. For example, you can wear blue but not a muted blue... you may look better in bright true blue. The color wheel to the left shows a set of colors with just a slight softening. A little bit of grey added. This is not the brightest of the color wheels. The blues in this color wheel may be too "Grey" for you.
You may look better in a "warmer" blue. Hmmmm.
In this color theory lesson, I show you the difference between warm blue and cool blue. What does it mean when you hear me say, "that blue is too cool for you" or "you should wear a true blue"?
Once you've had a chance to watch, I'd love to know:
Have fun and wear what you love!
Jen Thoden
So, does it make sense to say warm blue or cool blue?
If you have warm undertones, can you wear blue?
All hues of blues are going to be considered cool colors. All hues of blues are going to be wearable by someone with cool undertones.
But because blue is a primary color, I find that ANYONE can wear blue. Warm undertones or cool undertones, it doesn't matter.
What DOES matter is the intensity and shade of the color. For example, you can wear blue but not a muted blue... you may look better in bright true blue. The color wheel to the left shows a set of colors with just a slight softening. A little bit of grey added. This is not the brightest of the color wheels. The blues in this color wheel may be too "Grey" for you.
You may look better in a "warmer" blue. Hmmmm.
In this color theory lesson, I show you the difference between warm blue and cool blue. What does it mean when you hear me say, "that blue is too cool for you" or "you should wear a true blue"?
Once you've had a chance to watch, I'd love to know:
- What hue of blue do you love to wear?
- Do you have cool undertones or warm undertones?
- Posted in blue, color theory
2 comments
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This was very helpful! Thank you for the explanation.
This was so helpful! I have light complexion and warmer toned skin (somewhere between neutral and warm). I love navy, and I can see that the slightly warmer navy you demonstrate in the last part of the video is a color I recently added to my wardrobe and it’s great—doesn’t wash me out at all.
I’m thrilled that I can wear this true blue navy, too, because it’s so classic. Growing up in England as a child, navy, burgundy and grey were such common colors in my closet, and I still love them today.
I’ll look forward to more of your videos. I’m curious about whites as well. I’m drawn to crisp whites, even though so much literature says I should go for ivory and cream. In summertime, I just love a bright white.
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Your Color Style replied:
Thank you so much for sharing. I’m thrilled that it helped
Jen