How to adapt your style to your body type and colorimetry?
Do you wonder why certain cuts flatter you while others leave you indifferent? Or which colors naturally illuminate your face? The answer lies in two pillars of self-knowledge: colorimetry and morphology. Understanding these two levers will enable you to create a coherent, harmonious and deeply rewarding personal style.
In this article, you'll discover 7 practical tips on how to dress for your figure and color palette. A guide for all women who want to combine style and authenticity.
Don't know your colorimetry? Take our 2-minute test.

1. Find your ideal palette: the magic of colorimetry
Colorimetry involves identifying the colors that naturally enhance your complexion, eyes and hair. It's based on the famous seasonal method (spring, summer, autumn, winter), which groups palettes according to warm or cool, luminous or subdued tones.
Wearing your "right colors" is the assurance of looking good even without make-up. A suit in the right shade of beige or blue can literally light up your face.
Don't know your colorimetry? Take our 2-minute morphology test.

2. Respect your morphology without being confined to it
Knowing your morphology (A, H, X, O, V...) allows you to choose cuts that balance your silhouette and enhance your natural proportions.
- Morphology A (hips wider than shoulders): opt for structured jackets or jackets with epaulettes. For pants, opt for straight or palazzo cuts.
- H morphology (straight silhouette): belted suits or double-breasted blazers create the illusion of curves. Choose 7/8ths or palazzo pants for a dynamic look.
- X morphology (pronounced waist, balanced shoulders and hips): fitted is your ally.
- O morphology (localized curves, low waistline): opt for flowing cuts and open jackets that elongate the silhouette without molding it.
- Morphology V (shoulders wider than hips): opt for flared or volume stockingsand off-the-shoulder jackets to rebalance the silhouette.
Don't know your body type? Take our 2-minute morphology test.
3. Mix colors and cuts to reinvent yourself
Winning combinations are often born of contrast:
- A masculine oversized cut in a soft nude hue that softens the silhouette while adding modernity.
- A tailored suit in a bold color such as emerald green, red, black or white. red or yellow, to infuse vitality and draw attention to your assets.
But beyond examples, the real secret lies in balance. For example, pairing a structured piece with a fluid fabric allows you to play with volume without weighing it down. Similarly, mixing a saturated color with neutral tones makes it easier to integrate that color into your wardrobe, while avoiding the "too busy"effect.
Style often lies at the intersection of your personality and your proportions. Dare to mix and match to express your uniqueness: an oversized jacket with slim pants, a bright top under a sober blazer, or a bold accessory to energize a classic outfit.
Tip: remember to play with textures alongside colors and cuts. A soft knit combined with smooth leather or shiny satin can sublimate a silhouette and enrich your style.

4. Identify your face's natural contrasts
Your style gains in coherence and impact when you choose clothes that respect the natural contrast of your face. This contrast is the difference in luminosity and color between your skin, hair and eyes.
- High contrast (e.g. light skin and dark hair): choose combinations with strong contrasts such as navy/white, black/ivory, or bold colors like bright red or cobalt blue. These strong contrasts highlight your features and add dynamism to your look.
- Soft contrasts (for example, beige skin and chestnut hair): opt for softer palettes, with subtle, harmonious cameos like beige + sand, powder pink + taupe, or delicate pastels. These tones envelop your face, creating a natural harmony without overpowering it.
Tip: think about your accessories too - a bright lipstick for high contrast, or a natural, discreet gloss for soft contrast, can perfect your look.

5. Use accessories to assert your personality
Even the perfect cut or color should still look like you. Accessories are there to :
- Add a touch of whimsy to a sober suit,
- Structure or lighten a silhouette,
- And assert your visual universe.
A black suit becomes modern with colorful sneakers, or ultra chic with an ivory silk tie. Add a brooch to a jacket lapel, a metallic bucket bag to liven up a neutral look, or asymmetrical earrings to emphasize a face. Oversized sunglasses in graphic shapes and fine fishnet gloves are also must-haves this year.
6. Don't underestimate the power of texture
Textures influence color perception and silhouette:
- Matt skins blossom in matte fabrics, velvets and raw wools.
- Light complexions catch the light with luminous tweed, satin or pearl cotton.
Body shape:
- Fluid materials (lyocell, crepe) elongate and soften the silhouette.
- A rigid material (gabardine, twill) structures the lines.
- Depending on how it is woven, wool can soften or sculpt:
By playing with contrasting textures - for example, mixing a chunky knit sweater with a satin skirt - you create depth and style, even in a neutral color palette.
7. Make self-knowledge a strength, not a constraint
Finding your style at work isn't about fitting into a box or following set rules. Quite the opposite: it's about getting to know yourself better, so you can make freer, fairer, more assertive choices.
Knowing your morphology, your allied colors, your contrast level and your personal rhythm doesn't mean locking yourself in. It's about acquiring solid points of reference, so you can better detach yourself from them. A well-cut jacket or a color that brightens the complexion then becomes a tool of expression, not a prescription.
This self-awareness allows you to feel aligned between what you wear and who you are. It makes style more instinctive, more fluid, more powerful. It helps you to gain confidence, to dare strong pieces or unexpected combinations - always in keeping with your universe.
Successful style is not an accumulation of trends, but a personal construction based on listening to oneself.
To find out more, take a look at our article "Trouver son style au travail : guide pour un style réussi", a step-by-step guide to revealing your style in the workplace.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about morphology and colorimetry
At 17H10, we offer personalized colorimetry and morphology appointments with our image consultants, by appointment only in our Paris boutique. And for those who would like a first approach, you can take a free online test (2 minutes is all it takes) to discover your colorimetric and morphological profile.
- Morphology A: structured blazer, straight pants
- Morphology H: fitted or double-breasted jacket
- Morphology X: everything that marks size
- V morphology : wide-leg pants, straight blazer
- Morphology O: fluid material, empire cut
The aim of colorimetry is not to restrict you, but to guide you towards the shades that naturally enhance you. You have every right to like (and wear!) a color that isn't in your ideal palette.
Here are a few tips on how to do it gently:
- Keep color away from the face: wear it low, with pants, skirt or shoes. This prevents it from influencing the complexion or hardening the features.
- Soften it with layering: slip it under a jacket, cardigan or shirt in a hue that suits you. It will still be present, but less dominant.
- Make the most of accessories: a color that doesn't flatter your skin tone can look great in a bag, belt or discreet pattern.
- Adapt the shade: sometimes a slightly cooler or warmer hue can be enough to make it more harmonious for you.
Example: if mustard yellow doesn't brighten you up, try it in a skirt with a cream shirt (which suits you), or as a scarf away from the face.
In fact, many people have characteristics of more than one morphology at the same time. You can have broad shoulders like a V-shape, yet a narrow waist like an H-shape. Or your figure may evolve according to different periods in your life: pregnancy, weight gain or loss, hormonal changes, or even posture.
That's why it's often more useful to think of morphology as a flexible guide to help you choose your clothes, rather than a label to be respected at all costs. The most important thing is to feel good, comfortable and confident in what you're wearing, rather than trying to fit into a mold.
💡 For example, if you have an A morphology with a little roundness around the belly (O aspect), you can mix cuts that balance the hips while favoring fluid, comfortable fabrics around the waist.
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