Dear Kathi,

I have always struggled with what to wear as an African American Male, so I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?

1. I have attached a picture of myself and I’m wondering if I am a cool or warm skin tone? (I have green veins)

2. What kind of jewelry will look best on me? For example, white gold or yellow gold?

3. What colors of clothing would be best for me to wear?

If you have time, it would help me a lot if you could answer these questions.

Best Regards,

Ewane Masango - University of Oklahoma, Business Finance and Philosophy

Hi Ewane,

Thanks for your question and also for sending me your photo. I realize that determining your best colors can be quite a challenge. Since you say your veins are more green hued than blue, I would say that you have a warm skin tone. In the picture your skin tone also appears more brown (warm) than black (cool).

With these details in mind I would suggest that you wear yellow gold jewelry, not white gold or silver.

The colors that will look best will be in the warm yellow tinted colors not colors with blue tints. Choose clothes that are made with the bright colors that occur in nature during the fall season. Since you live in Oklahoma, this will be easy to identify and you should be getting a lot of inspiration in the coming months!

I would love to see you in lime green, pumpkin, saffron, bright orange red etc. If you have a choice between white and ivory or off-white for your shirts, always choose ivory. It is a warm color and will even out your skin tone.

It might be helpful to print a copy of the color wheel in this article and take it with you when you shop to get a better idea of what colors to wear.

When you are shopping and uncertain about the color, ask someone close by if you look healthy or tired when you hold the item up close to your face. If your skin tone looks more even and healthier, you are on the right track. If your face looks tired or your skin tone is more faded, don’t make that purchase.

Also, if you wear something and throughout the day people ask you if you are tired or feeling under the weather, this is a tell tale indication that you are wearing the wrong color and it is probably has more of a blue than a yellow base. I hope this helps!

Best of luck to you. If you find the perfect item or outfit in a color that makes you look and feel fantastic, please send me another photo!