I’m trying to learn more about warm and cool colours. How can I tell which blues have a yellow undertone?

Distinguishing between warm and cool blue shades takes practice. A blue with a yellow undertone usually leans towards turquoise or teal, while a cool blue pulls more towards indigo or ice blue. Try comparing two garments side by side – this makes the yellow or red tone clearer.

Light base colours with subtle undertones

In beige and brown tones, the warmth is more visible, but light colours like ivory, pearl, and certain greys can be trickier. Try holding them against stark white or an obviously warm colour. This makes the subtle yellow or pink tone more apparent.

How warm is warm graphite and bubblegum pink?

Warm graphite is a dark, neutral brown-grey with a slightly warm undertone. It can appear greenish depending on which colours it’s worn with. Bubblegum pink comes in both warm and cool variants; the shade we use has a touch of warmth and works well in the Light Spring palette.

Can I use Safari green?

Safari green is often muted and somewhat “dirty” in tone. It falls outside the clear palette for Light Spring, but nothing is forbidden. Combine it with lighter and warmer colours from your palette to keep the overall look fresh.

Train your eye for undertones

• Compare colours side by side, especially light shades.
• Study how the skin reacts to different blue tones in daylight.
• You can use our Pro tool for garment analysis – free for seven days – to train your eye further.

Want to dive deeper into white shades? Read our answer Is ivory a warm or cool tone?. For a customised assessment, we recommend our digital colour analysis.