What's your "color season?"

May 26, 2015

Remember the old Color Me Beautiful color analysis from the 80s?

Back then, somebody told me I was a Summer.

That has always kind of worked for me. I like the cooler colors anyways. 

soft summer colors
Recently I've done some research on color analysis, and wow, the information out there quickly got overwhelming. There are online quizzes, and whole blogs and Pinterest boards devoted to the twelve seasons.

Yes, twelve now. Every season has a "true," a "light," and a "soft" version (although I think Color Me Beautiful is still doing just four seasons).

I bookmarked a couple dozen different pages of color charts and analysis, and did a lot of reading.

As far as I can tell, I'm a Soft Summer.

But, after all my research, I decided to follow some of the "rules," discard a few, and, when all is said and done, use the info how I want.

Yay. One more way I can see I'm finally confident enough to do my own thing.

Here's what I'm doing, as I think of colors for my new wardrobe. (29 pounds down, only 5 to go!!)

No:

orange
yellow
cream
taupe
brown
black
green
any yellow-based reds or blues

Yes:

navy
gray (dove gray to charcoal)
white

pink (light, rose, and fuchsia)
blues, especially periwinkle
plum
lavender
burgundy

Soft summers are supposed to be able to wear creams, taupes, rosy browns, and green. But, other than brown, I've never liked those colors so they're not on my list. Limiting myself to a certain color palette isn't restricting -- it's freeing. Not so many choices, and everything goes together.

And I'm subtracting browns and creams for another reason, too. I'm going to start transitioning to my natural hair color. My silver "highlights" aren't going to look so great with those colors. (More on this in my next post.)

Another "rule" I'm breaking is that of wearing white. I'm not "supposed" to wear it, but I really like it. And I think white always looks nice on people with white/silver streaks. So I'm keeping it.

A couple "rules" I thought you might find interesting: Nobody, except winters, should wear black. (And even though I've read black is recommended for people with white or silver hair, I won't wear it -- it's too hard and cold for me.) Unless you love it, then I say, wear it!

Blues and purples are universally flattering. In fact, everyone can wear every color -- it's just the particular shade and intensity. I'm better in cooler, more muted shades. Some look better in bright colors. Or warm colors.

So, after all this research, it comes down to -- I'll wear what I like and feel pretty in. Did I just waste a bunch of time? No, not at all. Thinking through all this and defining my own "colors" will save me lots of time and money in the future.

Do you know your colors? Do you dress according to your "season?"




Be pretty if you can,
witty if you must,
                             but be gracious if it kills you.  -- Elsie de Wolfe

19 comments

  1. Congrats on your weight loss! I'm so proud of you and I know you feel great. I added grays and silver to my wardrobe when I went natural. My hair is super light now without any tone of blonde left. And I pay attention to what clothes make me feel good when I wear them. If you avoid something in your closet, it probably is not right for you. I still have that Color book. I think I'll get it out and review it. I have bright blue eyes so I love wearing blue. Hugs, Diane

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  2. First of all, congratulations on your slow and steady, new you! I could tell from the recent graduation photo that you were looking really good, and I like this update. I need to spend more time figuring out my own palette, but I do know I can wear a lot of what you cannot - yellow (lemon), orange, greens and some yellow-based blues (turquoise, minty, seafoam) and reds (peach/pink, coral, apricot) - likely due to Irish, freckly skintone, hazel green eyes and color-treated auburn/brown hair (what my natural was). I love white, can wear ivory, but look sickly in beiges and taupes. I don't always feel good in black either, but like navy, and grey makes me feel washed out. This would be a fun exercise, Deborah, and maybe you could write a tutorial incorporating some of your resources for readers? I sure would appreciate it, and I bet others would too! Either way, it's working for you! Have a great week.
    Rita

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  3. Congrats on losing nearly 30 pounds. I say that as I am stuffing my gob with speghetti. (Rolls my eyes knowing who FOUND your lost 30!)

    I can't wear those colors either. But I love black, olive green, navy ...but by far my all-time best color is royal blue. I get so many compliments in it, but I have always felt weird wearing bright colors......much prefer black.

    Keep up the good work, and I soooo enjoy your awesome and informative posts, Deb - big hugs.

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  4. I love all your colour choices! I have never done any colour analysis, but I like softer colours. I think it is to do with my more introverted personality - I don't like to stand out! Congratulations on the weight loss - what an amazing job! I would love to see some of your new wardrobe.

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  5. I am tickled pink for you! Really! I remember back to January, wasn't it, when there was a post revealing that it wasn't all fun and games at the time? But you stuck to it and persisted and learned what worked for you. You inspire me!

    I'm so woefully ignorant about color choices. It's always a happy accident when I find something I like. I think I need to research it some.

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  6. Oh, this is so interesting. I remember that book. I think I'm a winter, but want to take some online quizzes to now for sure. Just fun stuff. And congratulations on the weight loss. I'm proud for you, and should follow suit. :)

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  7. I'm always amazed at the color confusion out there. Although I have spent many hours helping clients find their "true" color palette, it usually ends up being something they've loved all along and are drawn to. Women have a wonderful instinct about these things, but often second guess themselves for any number of reasons.

    I divide things into warm and cool tones, based on the color of your skin. Here's an easy way to determine whether you are "warm" (i.e., yellow undertones) or "cool" (i.e., pink undertones).

    I used silver and gold fabrics with my clients, but you can just place your hand on a stark white fabric or tablecloth. If your hand suddenly looks old and veiny, your color palette is warm. If it looks youthful and soft, your color palette is cool.

    The cool palettes are winter and summer; the warm palettes are autumn and spring. If you're a summer, the winter palette contains the same colors as summer, but more intense (i.e., more saturated). Winter is your sister season, so you can borrow freely from her palette. I'm guessing that certain jewel tones would look stunning on you.

    Cheers, M-T

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the great tip, M-T. I just tried it, and it confirmed that my palette is cool.

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  8. Yea on the 29 pounds!!! I'm so proud of your accomplishments!!!!
    I remember doing a color analysis years ago, but I don't remember what I am. I guess I just pick colors that I like and steer clear of those that I don't.
    You must need a new wardrobe by now!!

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  9. Wow, congratulations on your substantial weight loss, I could do with losing a few more pounds but seem to have a levelled out. I can't decide if to let the natural grey/silver come through or keep on colouring my hair. I hadn't thought about the consequences regarding clothes.

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  10. I love your 'summer' colors - I think they are so pretty! I can see your vision here and I think those colors will look very nice on you! So inspiring that you have stayed with your goals and now you can have some rewards. I remember that book, too - I think I am an Autumn, but I'm not really sure. It does sound like an interesting subject!

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  11. I've had two "professional" color analyses in my life, and they radically disagreed with each other! So I've opted for a very streamlined wardrobe scheme: mostly black, grey, white, red, pink, and maybe purple or blue, if I see something that blows my hair back. I think there's a little bit of logic to these systems, and a lot of marketing hype; nobody knows your colors better than you do!
    big hug,
    Janice

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  12. Hi Deborah, love your colors and they are similar to mine. I just seem to naturally go to the colors that work for me. Yellow and gold are certainly not for me in clothes. I am a mix of light colors like pink and soft grays with jewel tones~ but black and browns and white always work well for me too.
    Great post. Have fun and a wonderful last week of May.
    Blessings and Hugs, CM

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  13. Gracious? Not my strong suit! =D

    All those categories would throw me for a loop. The last time I had my colors done, I came out a winter. I wear a lot of black and white, but when I wear a certain shade of blue, people usually comment that I look good in that color. I should get more of it.

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  14. Very interesting post, Deborah. I have enjoyed reading as you have discussed your wardrobe. Congratulations on your weight loss! Very happy for you, and proud!

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  15. First off, Big Congratulations on your weight loss!! Amazing!! You must feel wonderful, and only five more pounds ... a cinch ;) I do remember the Colour Me Beautiful plan, and I still have that book on my shelf! The law office I worked in then had a former beautician working in reception, and she explained all of this to me. She advised me that I was a Winter, and I've always followed that colour scheme (more or less). I was thrilled to be able to wear bright colours, and it made me feel very confident that they worked for me. Of course the 80s were all about bright colours weren't they! Now, I've toned things down a bit (less fuschia, more icy pink), but I still keep the basics in mind.
    Wendy

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  16. Dearest Deborah,
    You are remarkable and I sure am happy for you and very proud for having shed your 29 pounds. Guess the colors you wear also depend on how the weather is outside, and I agree with you for adapting to our natural, more mature hair color with some gray.
    Sending you big hugs and keep it up!
    Mariette

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  17. Hi Deborah,
    You sound like you're having fun researching things. Having been a cosmetologist at one time, I have always taken an interest in colour palettes. I have a warm palette and I am naturally drawn to those colours, not only in my wardrobe but also in home decor. Although I must confess that I enjoy every colour under the rainbow even though I can't wear them all. I do admit that orange is probably my least favourite colour although corals, peaches, and salmon pinks attract me and look good on me.
    Congrats on your weight loss. You must look and feel absolutely wonderful. Good for you, my friend! Thanks for this fun post.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  18. Hi Deb it's so exciting to know that you're sticking with your weight loss program down to the very last 5 pounds! Congratulations! It's fun that you are letting us into your fun world of wardrobe and hair color changes. Can't wait to see it all come together!
    Debby

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