Choosing glasses that complement your skin tone is one of the most effective ways to ensure your eyewear looks intentional and flattering rather than accidental. While personal style should always take precedence, understanding the relationship between frame colours and skin undertones gives you a powerful framework for making confident choices.
Understanding Skin Undertones
Before matching frames to your skin, it helps to identify your undertone — the subtle hue beneath your skin's surface that remains constant regardless of how tan or pale you are. There are three main undertone categories:
Warm Undertones
Warm undertones have golden, peachy, or yellow hues. Signs you have warm undertones include: your veins appear greenish, gold jewellery flatters you more than silver, and you tan easily rather than burning.
Cool Undertones
Cool undertones have pink, red, or bluish hues. Signs include: your veins appear blue or purple, silver jewellery suits you better than gold, and you tend to burn rather than tan.
Neutral Undertones
Neutral undertones are a balance of warm and cool. Signs include: your veins appear blue-green, both gold and silver jewellery suit you, and you can wear most colours without them clashing.
Frame Colours for Warm Undertones
Warm undertones are complemented by frame colours that echo and enhance the golden, peachy qualities of the skin:
Best Choices
- Tortoiseshell: The amber, honey, and brown tones of tortoiseshell are a natural match for warm undertones, creating a harmonious, cohesive look
- Warm browns and caramels: Rich brown acetate frames echo warm skin tones beautifully
- Gold metal frames: Gold complements the golden quality of warm undertones
- Olive and forest green: Earth-toned greens work well with warm complexions
- Warm reds and burgundy: Deep, warm reds add richness without clashing
- Cream and ivory: Softer than stark white, these tones complement warm skin gracefully
Approach with Care
- Stark black can create harsh contrast with very warm skin tones
- Cool greys and icy blues may clash with golden undertones
- Silver metal frames can look slightly cold against warm complexions
Explore our full collection for warm-toned acetate options in tortoiseshell, brown, and amber finishes.
Frame Colours for Cool Undertones
Cool undertones are enhanced by frame colours with blue, pink, or grey qualities:
Best Choices
- Black: Classic black frames create a clean, striking contrast with cool skin tones
- Silver and gunmetal: Cool metallic tones complement the blue-pink quality of cool undertones
- Blue and navy: Cool blues harmonise naturally with cool complexions
- Purple and plum: These cool-toned colours are particularly flattering for cool undertones
- Cool grey: Sophisticated and understated, grey works beautifully with cool skin
- Rose and blush: Soft pinks complement the rosy quality of cool undertones
- Clear and crystal: Transparent frames work across all undertones but have a particularly clean, modern quality with cool complexions
Approach with Care
- Very warm oranges and yellows can clash with cool undertones
- Gold metal frames may look slightly incongruous with cool complexions
- Warm tortoiseshell can work but choose darker, less amber-heavy variations
Our Clear Frames collection and titanium options in silver and gunmetal are excellent starting points for cool undertones.
Frame Colours for Neutral Undertones
Neutral undertones are the most versatile — you can wear almost any frame colour with confidence:
Best Choices
- Both gold and silver metal frames work equally well
- Tortoiseshell in any variation is flattering
- Black, brown, and all neutral tones suit neutral undertones
- Clear and transparent frames are particularly elegant
- Bold colours — red, blue, green — can all work depending on the specific shade
If you have neutral undertones, focus on frame shape and personal style rather than colour restrictions. Browse our Best Selling styles for inspiration.
Beyond Undertones: Skin Depth and Contrast
Undertone is one factor; skin depth (how light or dark your complexion is) is another. The contrast between your frame colour and your skin creates different visual effects:
High Contrast
Dark frames on light skin (or light frames on dark skin) create a bold, striking look. The frames are immediately noticeable and make a strong style statement.
Low Contrast
Frames that are closer to your skin tone create a softer, more harmonious look. The frames blend more naturally with your face, creating an understated elegance.
Medium Contrast
Medium contrast — frames that are noticeably different from your skin tone but not dramatically so — is the most versatile approach, working across most occasions and styles.
Practical Tips for Choosing Frame Colours
Test in Natural Light
Artificial lighting in shops can distort how colours appear against your skin. Whenever possible, view frames in natural daylight to see how they truly interact with your complexion.
Consider Your Hair Colour
Your hair colour creates a frame around your face alongside your glasses. Warm hair tones (golden blonde, auburn, warm brown) reinforce warm undertones; cool hair tones (ash blonde, cool brown, black with blue undertones) reinforce cool undertones.
Think About Your Wardrobe
Your frames will be worn with your entire wardrobe. Choose colours that work with the majority of what you wear, not just your favourite outfit.
Rules Are Starting Points, Not Constraints
These guidelines provide a useful framework, but personal style and confidence matter more than any rule. If you're drawn to a frame colour that doesn't technically match your undertone, wear it with conviction — confidence is the most flattering accessory of all.
Find Your Perfect Match
Understanding your undertone gives you a powerful shortcut to frames that look naturally flattering. But the best way to find your perfect pair is to try different options and trust your instincts.
Explore our complete eyewear collection in a range of colours and materials, or browse our Best Selling styles to discover what's resonating with customers right now.
