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In the Telegraph article ‘How to wear bright colours to flatter every skin tone’, Fashion Editor Tamara Abraham spotlights ME+EM’s knowledge of colour to flatter varying skin tones.
“A line in the latest ME+EM lookbook for July and August resonated with me. “Confident shades reflected to flatter every skin tone.” The shades in the book were certainly confident - poppy red, mustard yellow, cobalt blue - a primary palette done well,” Abraham says.
Piquing her interest, she asked our founder Clare to delve into our colour philosophy further.
“We spend a lot of time thinking about colour and also who it’s going to suit. We spend a lot of time putting different shades of a colour on people’s skin, and trying to identify which shade is targeting which skin type. Lots of our designers have been on colour courses, which I think is quite unique,” explains Clare.
In particular, “brownish-blond hair, honey skin and pale blue eyes is a really common colour palette, so in our collection we will offer lots of shades to suit that tone,” Clare says. For instance, the Countess of Wessex has recently been spotted in two ME+EM dresses; most recently at Wimbledon wearing our cream based Polka Dot Print Maxi Dress.
“[Women with tanned or dark skin] can be much freer,” Hornby says.
’Everything looks amazing on a darker skin tone.”
Another colour that can carry off almost everything is “clear”, Abraham explains. This is “defined by bright eyes, dark hair and fair-to-olive skin.” For instance, Kate Middleton roused media attention in our Colour Block Silk Shirt Dress + Belt in a vibrant sugar pink and bubblegum tone.

- Feminine V Neck Maxi Dress + Belt
- Chunky Chelsea Boot
Alternatively, if your complexion doesn’t match these categories, Clare explains that “We offer many layering solutions, like frill collar T-shirts. We spend a lot of time thinking about how, if someone wants to wear a colour that might not necessarily suit them, how they can wear it so it’s not next to their face.” Indeed, as Abraham says, “even the colour of those T-shirts are carefully chosen: a flattering warm white, rather than an optic white, for instance, and a shade of pale blue that suits everyone.”
- Cotton Frill Collar Tee
- Lofty Cashmere Curved Hem Jumper
- Midweight Barrel-Leg Sweatshirting Jogger
- Broderie Sleeve Layering Top
- Merino Cashmere Mini Cable Vest + Snood
- Luxe Ponte Track Pant
For a colour consultation guideline, read the full article here and discover managing director of Colour Me beautiful, Cliff Bashforth’s, tips. Alternatively, pop into one of our ME+EM stores across London and Selfridges Manchester for a personal styling appointment.