What Color Swimsuit Should I Wear?

The easy answer to this question is simply: Whatever color you damn well want! 

There are no real fashion rules anymore. You can wear basic neutrals, graphic patterns, and any and every hue and shade as long as it makes you feel confident and happy.

That said, some of us want to choose swimwear or period swimwear colors that really complement our skin tone (this is especially relevant when so much skin is on display.) Skin tone isn’t just about how dark your skin is, but the skin’s undertones, which can be warm or cool.

Warm Skin Tones Versus Cool Skin Tones

If you’ve ever shopped for red lipstick, you’ll know that there are myriad shades of red. Some are warm with undertones of orange or brown. Some have a cooler, blue undertone. Finding the right shade for you is often less a matter of preference and more a matter of matching the undertones of the lipstick with that of your skin. 

In general, warm skin tones love warm color tones, and cool skin undertones love cool color tones. But how do you tell whether you have a warm or cool skin tone? This isn’t simply a matter of how dark you are. 

Here are some quick hints about what your skin tone might be. If you fall somewhere in between the two, you probably have a neutral skin tone.

Still confused about your skin tone? Here are some other ways to determine it:

Consider Your Hair and Eye Color

There will always be exceptions to this (especially for those of us who love to mess around with our hair color!), but here’s the typical divide:

Look at Your Wardrobe!

Most of us gravitate to a certain palette in our closet and have generally learned over time what colors flatter us. 

If your closet is full of jewel tones like emerald green, sapphire blue, and purples, odds are you have a cool skin tone.

If you prefer autumnal shades; reds, browns, and olive greens, you probably have warm skin.

(Note: Pastels are harder to judge as they have a lot of white in them and can all have undertones that are bluer or more yellow, which means you can find pastels that are warm and pastels that are cool. Take pink, for example; a peachy millennial pink is definitely warm. But the stereotypical “little girl pink” (ugh, gendered colors) is bluer in undertone and therefore cooler.)

Now that we have an understanding of skin tone, we can look at fair versus dark skin with those dimensions in mind.

Let's crack the 'what color swimsuit should I wear' code!

Cool Skin Tones: What to Wear for Fair Skin & Dark Skin

For those with cool undertones on the fair end of the spectrum, those deep jewel tones will be reliably flattering swimsuit colors to your pale or fair skin. Pale skin also works well with a classic red. Your colors include:

• Bright white
• Purple, magenta, and amethyst shades
• A red with blue undertones (classic pillar box red)
• Sapphire blues (or even a navy blue or other bold blues)
• Emerald greens

Of course, black is reliably safe for everybody!

Colors for cool skin tones to avoid are yellows, oranges, or browns. These will tend to make you look very blue and washed out.

Candy colors tend to look amazing on those with cool undertones and darker skin. A bright white will also provide a delightful contrast with dark skin that has a cool undertone.

• Bright white
• Lilac
• Classic pink
• Aquamarine
• Mint greens

Warm Skin Tones: What to Wear for Warm Tone & Dark Skin

If you have warm undertones and fair skin or pale skin, light colors can blend into your skin, giving you that “nearly naked look.” Some of you might want to go for that, but many of us would rather steer clear! Instead, choose those earthier colors (traditionally thought of as fall colors), including:

• Mustard yellow
• Orange
• Dark brown
• Khaki green or olive green
• Burgundy or merlot reds

Again, warm undertones can also default to classic black.

Colors to avoid include bright white (opt for a warmer white if you want to wear white) and those candy-colored pastels which tend to have blue undertones. If you want to go lighter, choose very peachy, warm pastels.

If you have a warm skin tone and darker skin, you can definitely go for lighter shades without worrying about them blending into your skin tone. However, as mentioned, avoid candy-colored pastels and instead go for hues with more of an earthy, warm undertone. These include:

• Warm whites and beiges
• Peachy pinks
• Corals
• Sage greens
• Soft lemon hues

And, yet again, you can always wear black! Check out these great Knix Swimwear options. 

What About Patterns?

You’ll generally find most patterns stick within these color families (indeed, you can learn more about what shades go with cool and warm tones by looking at combinations of colors in patterns. If you’re unsure, pick the one dominant color in the pattern (usually the one that hits your eye first) and identify which family this shade sits in.

What About Neutral Skin Tones?

If you feel like you check boxes on both sides of the cool and warm skin divide, or that your closet is full of shades from all of these color families that suit you, then lucky you! It’s likely that your skin tone is pretty neutral, and you can choose whatever you want!!

That said, we seriously think that rule applies to everyone. If you truly love a certain color and feel great wearing it, don’t let some pesky fashion rule stand in your way. Life’s too short!

*Important: No Matter What Your Skin Tone, Don’t Skip the SPF!

Hopefully, it goes without saying that SPF applies to everybody. Some skin tones burn more quickly than others, but the sun’s rays can do damage to any skin complexion. So whether you’re poolside or on the beach, slather on that SPF and preserve your natural beauty and health. And don’t forget to reapply throughout the day or after a dip!

Related: How to look good in a swimsuit 

Written by Jane Flanagan — Updated on March 5, 2023.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.