An aesthetic measure based approach for constructing a colour design/selection system is proposed in this article. In this model. an image data base for the relationships between the psychological preference of customers and clothing colour tones is built using the membership functions of a fuzzy set, and an aesthetic measure calculation method based on colour harmony is also proposed. In addition, a skin colour detection theory, is proposed to construct a skin colour detection program to detect the skin colour of a customer, which is then taken is the major colour in matching the skin, polo shirt, and(or) pant colours to select the best colour combination. Integrating, the skin color detection theory, colour harmony theory. aesthetic measure method, and fuzzy set theory, a program is constructed to build an aesthetic measure based colour design/selection system. With the aid of this system, one can get proper cloth colours to match his/her skin colour and image requirement by starting with inputing one's colour photo, catching image with a camera. or inputting R. G. B values of his/her skin. The theoretical results for the ranks of clothing colours proposed by the system are examined with the experimental results and the result shows they are very close, suggesting that the proposed colour selection system is acceptable. Although the selection of clothing colours is taken as an example to specify the methodology, it can also be used to develop a system for other products. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals. Inc.