Females of fair complexion ought to wear the purest white; they
should choose light and brilliant colours, such as rose, azure, light
yellow, &c. These colours heighten the lustre of their complexion,
which if accompanied with darker colours, would frequently have the
appearance of alabaster, without life and without expression.
On the contrary, women of a dark complexion, who dress in such
colours as we too frequently see them do, cause their skin to appear
black, dull, and tanned. They ought, therefore, to avoid wearing
linen or laces of too brilliant a white; they ought to avoid white
robes, and rose-colour, or light-blue ribbons, which form too
disagreeable a contrast with their complexions.
Fair women cannot be too careful to correct, by light colours, the
paleness of their complexions; and dark women, by stronger colours,
the somewhat yellow tint of their complexion.
Crimson is extremely handsome at night, when it may be substituted
for rose-colour, which loses its charms by candle-light; but this
crimson, seen by day, spoils the most beautiful complexion; no colour
whatever strips it so completely of all its attractions. Pale yellow,
on the contrary, is often very handsome by day, and is perfectly
suited to people who have a fine complexion; but at night it appears
dirty, and tarnishes the lustre of the complexion, to which it is
designed to add brilliancy.
Green is the only colour which should be worn as a summer veil.