Nude dresses are more popular than ever.
Over the past decade, nude-colored dresses have changed from novelties to staples in the wardrobes of fashion-minded women the world over. Yet despite their popularity, nude dresses can be a challenge to wear.
A color that is just slightly off can make you look tired and washed-out. Accessory choice is complicated. The amount of skin you should show is different from when you are wearing a print or a strong color.
However challenging these issues might seem, they are easily managed. These tips will help you select and style a nude dress, making the most of a look that is quickly becoming a new classic.
#1 Choose the Right Color
One of the most important things when choosing a nude dress is that it must complement the natural undertones of your skin color.
“Nude” is a relative term, and although most often we think of it in terms of that peachy-beige colour that has been popular for years, modern sensibilities dictate that what nude means to one person is quite different from what is means to another. Nude is really a general term, and depending on your skin tone could be anything from an alabaster peach to a deep mahogany brown.
Most people’s skin falls into one of three categories: warm, cool or neutral.
To determine your skin tone, look at the veins on the underside of your wrist. If the veins appear to be blue or purple, you have a cool skin tone. With warm skin tones, the veins will appear greenish. With a neutral skin tone, it’s difficult to tell if the veins appear more blue or green.
If the wrist test leaves you undecided, consult with a makeup artist at your cosmetics store. They’re good at this.
Once you’ve determined what your baseline skin tone is, you can choose a nude dress in a fabric that complements your skin tone.
Women with a cool, light complexion look great in a pale blue-based pinky beige. Women with warm complexions should steer towards more yellow-based shades. Those who are lucky enough to have neutral skin tones have the widest variety of options.
When in doubt, try it on; there is no substitute for actually wearing a color to see how it works on you.
#2 Keep it Covered
To rock a nude dress successfully you’ve got to manage your skin exposure carefully.
A nude dress by definition gives the illusion of nakedness. Consider this suggestion of nudity its own styling detail, much as you would a plunging neckline, short hemline, or open back.
Even if the exact same dress with the exact same details works beautifully in a different color, choosing a nude dress with an overabundance of these details can end up looking trashy instead of classy.
To keep things looking polished and sophisticated, choose a nude dress with fewer skin-revealing details than you ordinarily wear. If the neckline is low, make sure the skirt hits the top of your knee. Short hemline? Remember to cover up on top.
#3 Use Accessories to Create a Mood
Fashion enthusiasts often find their inspiration for accessorizing a look from the colors and patterns of the garment. While it might seem tempting to keep accessories on the lighter side when wearing nude, the reality is that your options are actually a lot less limited. A nude dress is a blank slate for just about any accessories you might want to wear.
Pairing a nude dress with light-coloured, lightweight accessories is a great way to create an ethereal, feminine look. But that’s not your only option.
If you are wearing a nude dress with very feminine detailing such as pleats and ruffles, choose edgier accessories in jet black, leather, or metal accents. That can be just the thing to help balance a look that might otherwise read as overly sweet.
Pairing a nude dress with a brighter-color accent such as red (as seen time and again on Valentino runways) is a great way to make your look pop and give it a modern edge.
Nude also looks great when worn against complementary shades of nude, creating a subtle, monochromatic color-block effect.
Nude Is Nice
There are many more ways to rock a nude dress, more than we could possibly cover here. But these three tips are guaranteed to get you and your nude dress up and running.
With the holiday season just around the corner, you might want to add another dress to your seasonal repertoire. Next to your little black, little white, and little red dresses, why not add a little nude dress? You’ll be glad you did.
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