My Journey with Color Analysis

37 Comments

1. I think part of what expounded your problem is that Dark Autumns suit deep and warm colours, so some of them CAN actually pull off black (though of course they’d look *best* in warmer shades).

   This is what I found from my own colour analysis – I was told that I can wear ‘dark on dark’ outfits (which may otherwise overwhelm some folk), which may explain why black looks felt like they were ‘almost’ there for me (but like you articulated, something still felt ‘off’).

   So if I do *have* to wear black these days, I either go all-out or I wear it with ecru near my face. That’s how I’ve found colour analysis to be helpful – to know *how* to break the rules to best serve me & my colouring!

2. Hi Zaeobi! So good to hear from you again. I have learned so much and will share more tomorrow.

3. Oh, no! You’ve left us hanging! I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story. I’m really surprised your move affected your colors. My last color modification was 2020 when I let my natural grey hair grow out. Looking forward to tomorrow!

4. Living where there is more light helped me to see things more clearly. My home is flooded with natural light and my previous house was not…it makes a difference when we are looking in mirrors while dressing and putting on make up. “I can see clearly now” see you tomorrow, Kim.

5. Can’t wait to hear the rest!

6. Thanks for being here, Missy!

7. I am looking forward to seeing in what direction your journey is continuing. I was typed spring in 1983 by an independent analyst. I did follow it most of the time because I had over a hundred fabric swatches in my book and I sewed much of my clothing. When I taught school and sewed less, I moved into more black. I know now it wasn’t my best, but when you are younger (and fashion is pushing it), you can get away with more. My girlfriend and I went in the summer of 2019 to another independent and I was typed dark autumn. I feel very much at home in my colors. So many of them were actually in my extensive spring palette from 83, so not too far off base. Warm. Large variety of values. (There have been so many changes in color analysis in 40 years; for example: no sub-seasons). It has always interested me that you wear navy while I was told to wear marine blue. Navy looks really flat on me. I think with dark autumns, and I research it extensively, the key for me is having the contrast and values right to look my best. I do like bending the rules a bit though. I am now experimenting with monochromatic dressing even though my analyst says it is boring on me. I always enjoy playing. Can’t wait for tomorrow. I am going to guess that you sought analysis in person and that you are changing sub-seasons!

8. Hi Pam, thanks for the mention! Isn’t color such an exciting journey? I’m so glad you’re enjoying it and can’t wait to read Part 2!

9. Very interested in your color journey! 40 some years ago I had my colors “done” at a Pennsylvania resort I was staying at. I was a warm autumn, like you, but I have never really embraced those colors. Now at 73, I still carry those swatches and have the page from the popular book Color Me Beautiful taped to the inside of my closet door but I never felt the selected colors were me. Much has changed in the years (especially my hair color) and after research I learned (and maybe incorrectly) that it is your skin tone that determines your color palette. True? I live near Susan and follow her blog and have been tempted to book an analysis but the cost always stops me. I also feel that the murky colors of the autumn are better in clearer, cleaner shades for me. Thank you for bringing up this interesting topic again! Will be reading for more information!

10. I enjoy playing too, but I think I have done it so much that it has become confusing and a little muddled. When I really pay attention to what I see in the mirror is when I see the differences big time. Hope to see you tomorrow, Deborah.

11. You really started the whole thing for me, Susan…inspired me during my winter phase and continue to inspire me. Thanks for stopping by today.

12. You are right about the skin tone, Linda. Most professional color analysts cover up your hair when they do a session. It really has little to do with our hair….though that is part of the conversation after skin tone is determined.

13. Very interesting! I hope you will, at some point, talk about how to find a color analyst and perhaps talk about the pros and cons of different systems. I suspect the expertise of the color analyst is more important than the color system.

14. This is fascinating, Pamela. I can’t wait to read the rest of the story tomorrow. An abundance of light can really help us see colors and their effect more clearly. I dislike the florescent lighting in most store and even more dimply lit dressing rooms. So I carry my color wallet with me when I shop and even sometimes ask to take something outside to see the color in daylight. Like a lot of us who knew we had warm palettes, I reverted to black & white or navy & white because finding suitable business attire in warm colors was impossible in the 80s and 90s. Then it just became a habit especially since those 2 combinations dominate the offerings. Since embracing my autumn palette saying goodbye to navy (with the exception of a couple pair of pants) was even harder than eliminating black from my wardrobe. I’ve also learned that after letting my hair go its natural ivory color I have low contrast to my features. I look and feel best when I dress in fairly low contrast combinations, either monochromatic or keeping to a similar value. Color is such a big and interesting topic. See you tomorrow!

15. Like everyone else who has commented this morning, I can’t wait for Part 2! I may have to consider a do-over myself since my last consultation was in the 80’s! Being 70 and going gray may be the perfect time.

16. Thanks for sharing Kathie…here in my smaller town, they might actually allow me to take a garment outside to look at. Thanks for the idea. You are so right about the lighting in stores…it has always been an issue with me when I do dressing room try-ons. Some stores seriously need to re-visit the choices they make in the dressing room areas! See you tomorrow.

17. It just may be, Deanna…but I will say that what I have learned is that it is about our skin tone more than our hair. See you tomorrow.

18. I really enjoyed today’s posting. I have always wanted to have my colors done but living in a small community it was not available. When I worked I wore a lot of the professional black or blue clothing but found jewel colors worked well with my hair and coloring. But now I have silver hair and I struggle with what really are the best colors. It has been so interesting to follow your journey to find the correct colors for you and I am looking for the next part of your story.

19. So happy to have you here, Claudette. I hope it helps.

20. I have always thought color analysis was interesting. I’m considered a summer but now with my white hair I think I lean toward a winter. It does make a difference. I can see it in your pictures. Looking forward to tomorrow.

21. I hope everyone will remember that it is more about skin tone than hair…hair is important but only after your natural skin tone is determined…then they look at the color of your hair.
    Thanks Paula

22. I love this topic and will be interested in the rest of your new experience tomorrow. Funny thing, I have signed up for my 4th analysis in my 70 years. This one is with Joan Kosmachuck who is training a new consultant in Ontario Canada in April so I was able to get an appointment without having to go to California. I have followed her for years and been fascinated with the way she works so am very excited. Never too old to learn new tricks and a new outlook. Hope you are having fun with more information and will be interested to see how new eyes work for you

23. Thanks Pam for including us in your color journey. I know it makes a difference. Looking forward to part 2.

24. Color analysis is out of reach for my budget at 80. With mostly white hair and pale skin, soft light colors like pale blues and light blush pinks and even pale grey seem to make my skin look more alive. Because I’m petite, I wear monochromatic shades in a column of color. I bought an ecru sweater and found I looked terrible in it! Yet slightly warm off white looks better than white. Living in a small mountain town, my life is very casual so jeans and knit tops are my daily wear. We have to pay attention to the light bulbs we use as well. Warm 2700 Kelvin makes me look jaundiced. It has a lot of yellow in it. We changed out everything slowly to LED 4100 Kelvin. The blue light of 5000 looked terrible too. So we both look more natural with good coloring in the clear more white light. It is also more like our clear mountain light we live in. Looking forward to your blog tomorrow.

25. I am having fun, thanks Diane!

26. See you tomorrow, Audrey.

27. See you tomorrow!

28. I am looking forward to your continuing journey of color analysis. I too had my colors done in the ’80s & was told I was an autumn. Though I loved wearing the autumn tones in the fall, they didn’t seem right the rest of the year. I look better in a cool palette but know there are degrees of each “season”. You definitely have me interested in exploring an in-person color analysis. I also agree that lighting makes a huge difference. There is nothing worse than the fluorescent lighting that most offices have.

29. I hope this helps, Becky. Based on what you wrote here, make sure you don’t miss tomorrow!

30. Several years ago as I retired, I treated myself to a color analysis. It was so inspiring that over the next couple of years we treated our 3 daughters to an analysis as well. Yes, it was pricey, but I thought the boost one got in confidence was very much a good investment. I would also add that this is a wonderful tool for men as well as women. My consultant also spent a lot of time with the correct shades of makeup which really helps me as I am pretty pale and can sort of fade away without a little lipstick and mascara. I also love that I can now do the makeup in about 90 seconds or maybe a little longer. But really, it does not take long. Many have pointed out that you can save a lot of money when you know what suits you and what does not. I highly recommend an in person analysis even if it means saving up a bit. Can’t wait to see your color fine tuning, Pam.

31. Thanks so much, Mary. I do believe it saves money when you know your colors…He may not admit it, but I think Mr. B is considering doing this!

32. Hi, I can’t wait for tomorrow’s blog. I’ve always been interested in color and fashion not only what looks good on others but myself included.
    From 27 shades of tan. Karen Z.

33. See you tomorrow, Karen!

34. I was analyzed and then trained in the old 4 season system in 1984. I was typed as a spring. I remember some conversations I had with the people who trained me. I was adamant that dividing everyone into one of only 4 types had no nuance. I have always (since around the age of 10) had a very strong sense of what colors suited me. I knew when I was typed at age 29, that not all of the colors in the spring palette really suited me. In fact, I knew that there are a lot of colors in the autumn palette that suit me very well. I have medium golden brown hair, very light, yellow-toned ivory skin, and hazel-green eyes. I am not my best, for example, in pastels. However, clear rusts, which are in the old autumn palette are some of my best colors. I decided in 1984 that I would choose to wear the colors that I knew looked best on me. I refused to be a slave to a system that did not take individual variations into account. When I color analyzed clients I always tailored their colors to those that I could see looked best on them. After dabbling in color analysis for around a year, I stopped working with anyone other than friends and family. I worked instead as a music teacher and dance and choral accompanist. (My bachelors and masters degrees are in music.) However, I continued to be very selective about what colors I chose to wear and what colors I would dress my daughters in when they were young.

    During the pandemic, when I had a little too much free time, I poked around the web to see what color analysis systems were in vogue. I knew that the olden days of 4 system, no nuance methods were gone. I have known for many years that most current systems use a 12 season method. After lots of web surfing, I found a system that really jibes with my own thinking. I dislike some of the names that some systems use. For example, “Blue Autumn”. Hmmm? I truly like the simplicity of Jen Vax’s “Your Color Style”. (I have no affiliation with her company. I strictly work as a musician.) Jen divides people into the categories warm vs cool, bright vs soft, and light, medium, or deep. I am bright warm medium. The colors in that palette are the colors I have chosen to wear since my teens. Jen does make it possible for clients to fine tune their palettes beyond the 12 basic ones. I know that I have a very practiced eye when it comes to myself, so I have never availed myself of her services. However, for anyone who struggles with color, I highly recommend her online services. I know that choosing the right colors makes a huge difference in how we look.

35. Thank you for sharing your story, Kathy.

36. Love this! How exciting for you. I also followed Susan’s color analysis journey and certification. Her current wardrobe is so suited to her. Funny, I thought you were going to say you two got together and she re-did your colors. It would have been a terrifically fun catch-up. Looking forward to tomorrow’s post and finding out your next chapter. When I had mine done by Color Me Beautiful many years ago, I was tagged a Spring, which I still love and still looks great. Despite my hair turning white in front, I still have a peaches and cream complication. Now that there are so many variations of the four seasons, it’s tempting to get it done again. Maybe a trip to California to meet Susan. 😉

37. I would love to get together with Susan sometime to talk all things color! How fun that would be!