Your wedding day has arrived and the process of finding a dress has come with it. Amidst the neckline, train, skirt and silhouette brides worry about, the new question has become what shade of white do you wear? As more and more bridal dresses come in a variety of shades and colours, it is important to pick one that accentuates your features.
Stark white is the purest and brightest white. Every bridal boutique has this color as a standard to compare against. There are off-whites including silk, diamond and natural white. “There are no rules anymore to be strict on what shade of white to wear” Shirlee-Anna Thompson, Assistant Manager at David’s Bridal, Scarborough, says, “Choosing a shade of white for your dress is like going to a paint store and choosing a shade of white for your walls. You have to match the tone to the surrounding colors.”
Many are unable to tell the difference between the various shades unless they place them against stark white. Ivory, or “eggshell”, has a yellow undertone similar to the appearance of cream. A darker yellow undertone gives the white color of champagne. Finally, there are dresses with pink undertones such as rum pink. These dresses stand out on certain skin tones and appear white when photographed.
To choose the right color, it is important to start with your skin tone:
- Fair Skin: On the lighter side of the spectrum, fair skin toned individuals look best in yellow-ivory shades. This color creates a contrast from their skin without having the white appear pink. Stark is not ideal for fair skin.
- Medium Skin: Medium skin with pink undertones are better suited in creamier colours such as silk or ivory. The yellow undertones of these dresses cancel out the pink undertones of the skin creating a majestic white on the individuals who wear them.
- Ivory Skin: Experts recommend champagne or diamond white on ivory skin.
- Olive Skin: Most shades complement olive skin as their neutral complexion allows them to wear the purest of whites. Shades with both pink and yellow undertones suit olive skin as well.
- Dark Skin: Lastly, dark skin with yellow undertones should avoid dresses with yellow-ivory shades. These individuals should select dresses of rum pink or stark white.
