Christmas Outfit Color Palette Ideas for Every Color Season

5 min read · Swatch Fan

The best Christmas outfit color palette is one built from your color season: Springs look festive in poppy red, warm green and gold; Summers in raspberry, pine and silver; Autumns in brick, olive and bronze; Winters in true red, emerald and bright white. You can absolutely do Christmas outfit colors besides red and green, too: navy and silver, burgundy and cream, or icy blue and white all read "holiday" without looking like a candy cane.

If every Christmas photo has you looking pale in the family red sweater, Swatch Fan finds your color season from quick yes/no questions and gives you your festive shades: Find my colors.

Christmas colors that aren't just red and green

Classic red and green is iconic. It's also the fastest way to look washed out if the specific red and green don't suit you. The good news: "Christmassy" is more about mood than exact shade.

Festive palettes that aren't red and green

Christmas outfit color blue: is blue festive?

Yes. Navy, midnight and icy blue are big holiday colors, especially paired with silver or white. If your family isn't strict about red, blue is an easy win for cool-toned people who look ghostly in orange-red.

Spring holiday palette

Springs are warm and clear: think golden hair, peachy or warm skin, bright eyes.

Your Christmas palette: poppy red, coral red, kelly green, warm turquoise, gold, ivory.

Spring Christmas outfit ideas

Skip: black velvet and deep burgundy near your face, which can overpower you.

Summer holiday palette

Summers are cool and soft: ash or light brown hair, pinkish skin, gentle contrast.

Your Christmas palette: raspberry, soft cranberry, pine green, dusty blue, silver, soft white.

Summer Christmas outfit ideas

Skip: tomato red and bright gold, which can make you look flushed.

Autumn holiday palette

Autumns are warm and rich: auburn, chestnut or golden-brown hair, golden or olive skin.

Your Christmas palette: brick red, rust, olive, forest green, bronze, camel, cream.

Autumn Christmas outfit ideas

Skip: icy blue and pure white near your face. Cream is your white.

Winter holiday palette

Winters are cool and high-contrast: dark hair, very fair or deep skin, striking eyes. Christmas is your moment, honestly.

Your Christmas palette: true red, blue-red, emerald, black, bright white, icy pink, silver.

Winter Christmas outfit ideas

Skip: camel and mustard near your face.

Reading four palettes and trying to decide which one is you is exactly where people get stuck: "I have brown hair but I'm pale, am I Autumn or Winter?" Swatch Fan answers that from yes/no questions about your veins, jewelry, hair, eyes and tanning, no selfie needed, and gives you 12 named colors plus a daily three-color outfit. Find my colors

Christmas outfit colors for men: quick table

Season Sweater Pants Accent
Spring Coral red or kelly green Navy or camel Gold watch
Summer Raspberry or pine Grey Silver
Autumn Forest green or rust Chocolate or camel Bronze or brown leather
Winter True red or emerald Black Silver

Matching family and friend group photos

Christmas family photos and friend group pics are where color clashes show up the worst. Everyone in matching red can make half the group look washed out.

A better Christmas outfit color scheme for groups

  1. Pick a family of colors, not one color. Example: "any red, burgundy or cream."
  2. Let each person pick their version. Winter picks true red, Autumn picks brick, Summer picks raspberry.
  3. Add one shared neutral. Everyone wears jeans, or everyone wears cream.
  4. Avoid big logos and neon. They pull focus in photos.

Matching Christmas pajamas and ugly sweaters

Ugly Christmas sweater colors are chaos by design, so have fun. If you want to look good in the photo too, pick one where the color near your face suits you (a green sweater for warm tones, a navy or white sweater for cool tones).

Photo tip: take group pics near a window or outdoors in daylight. Warm indoor lights plus red sweaters equals everyone looking orange. More on that in why do i look yellow in pictures.

For the coat you'll be wearing over all this, see what are good colors for a winter coat. And if you're going for a quiet, classy look for Christmas dinner, check old money colors for brown skin.

Get your festive shades before the party

A Christmas outfit color palette that matches your season means you look good in every photo, not just the ones with a flattering filter. Swatch Fan gives you your season from quick yes/no questions, 12 named colors with hex codes, 6 lipsticks, and a daily three-color outfit. You can also scan a sweater in the shop, or a screenshot, and see yes, close or skip.

Find my colors

FAQ

What are Christmas outfit colors besides red and green?

Navy and silver, burgundy and cream, icy blue and white, plum and champagne, and chocolate and gold all feel festive. Pick the combo that suits your season.

What should I wear on Christmas Day?

Something comfy in your best festive color: a knit in your season's red or green with jeans or trousers works for most families. Keep the flattering color near your face for photos.

What Christmas outfit colors are best for men?

Forest green, navy, burgundy and your version of red are easy wins. Pair with grey, black, camel or navy trousers depending on your season.

How do I pick a Christmas color scheme for a family photo?

Choose a color family, like reds and creams, and let each person wear their most flattering version. Add one shared neutral and shoot in daylight if you can.

Is blue a Christmas color?

Yes. Navy, midnight and icy blue with silver or white feel very wintry and festive. They're especially good for cool-toned people who don't suit orange-red.

Point your camera at a top, a dress or a lipstick and see if it's in your color season before you buy it. Find your season in two minutes, no selfie needed.

Find my colors →