When it comes to color, there may be options in your closet that shouldn't have made the qualifying race. Wearing the wrong color can make you ill. Sallow, ashen, and muddy complexions are all signs of color contamination. And the only protection against chromatic allergies is color composition cognizance, specifically, knowing your color category.
And you can start here:
 |
Cool & Delicate (aka Summer)
Cool & Brilliant (aka Winter)
Warm & Fresh (aka Spring)
Warm & Rich (aka Autumn)
|
If you find yourself stuck betwixt boxes, fear not, you may belong between.
The illustrated color wheel dynamically directs as we dye hair, tan skins, contact color eyes, or age. But to begin, it's best to analyze our natural roots.
Skin Tone
Eyes- Porcelain - Clear Winter, Springs, Light Summer
- Ivory - Springs, Summers, Soft Autumn
- Pink beige - Light Summer, Cool Summer, Light Spring
- Neutral beige/Asian - Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn, Cool Winter, Deep Winter
- Warm beige/Asian - Autumns
- Golden brown/Asian/Latin/African - Autumns or Deep Winter
- Cool brown/Asian/Latin/African - Deep Winter, Cool Winter
- Olive/Asian/Latin/African - Cool Winter, Deep Winter, Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn
- Clear blue green, turquoise or bright hazel - Clear Spring, Light Spring, Clear Winter
- Grey or soft blue - Summers
- Hazel, topaz, golden brown or warm turquoise - Warm Spring, Warm Autumn
- Soft hazel or turquoise - Soft Summer, Soft Autumn
- Dark brown or rich hazel - Deep Autumn, Deep Winter
- Ash blonde - Light Summer, Light Spring
- Golden blonde, strawberry blonde or red - Warm Spring, Warm Autumn
- Light to medium brown - Light Spring, Light Summer
- Mousy brown -Soft Summer, Soft Autumn
- Medium brown - Clear Spring, Deep Autumn
- Medium to deep auburn - Deep Autumn, Deep Winter
- Chestnut to dark brown - Clear Spring, Deep Autumn, Deep Winter, Clear Winter
- Dark black - Clear Winter, Deep Winter, Deep Autumn
- Warm grey - Light Spring, Warm Spring, Soft Autumn, Warm Autumn
- Soft or ash grey - Light Spring, Light Summer, Cool Summer
- Salt & pepper or silver - Clear Spring, Winters, Cool Summer
sponsored by:
Simone France,
try it to perfect your unique complexion
Review the 12 options diagrammed below, and comment on your color category? Does it match up with your personal experience?
Get your own virtual color consultation
Get your own virtual color consultation
56 comments:
I'm a Spring - a warm one (I think). I have natural strawberry blonde/red hair, blue/grey/green eyes, and peachy undertones in my very fair, though not particularly freckled skin. I probably look most similar to Bryce Howard (at least in this photo - I think my hair is lighter). I had a hard time growing up with a mother who has roughly the same hair color but is an autumn (darker hair, brown eyes, lots of freckles when younger) and took it for granted that we were the same...NOT true.
Georgia, from your profile pic, you definitely look like a warm spring. You complexion and hair color is gorgeous!!
Hmmm... I think I am either a light spring or a light summer. I can't quite settle on which one. And also, it appears that I have been wearing all the wrong colors! :) Thanks for breaking it down so well. I think it will prove
to be very helpful to me
People have a hard time with my season, but I think I figured it out.
I think I am a clear winter or a clear spring because I can wear both of those colors. Your little pinwheel chart was helpful because it had something in between...a lot of websites are really confusing.
My eyes are dark, but still an amber jewel tone which is what throws people off.
I think I am either a deep autumn or deep winter...Can I be both??
Natalie, deep autumns and deep winters actually share some of the same qualities. Most people tend to be more warm or more cool though. Are there any colors you really love or hate to wear? For example if you hate to wear most yellows, you are probably primarily deep winter. You are welcome to e-mail me directly at reachel@cardiganempire.com.
I remember when I was in high school my mom took me to get my "colours done". I was a winter then, but close to a spring.
What a very helpful chart! I went right away to the navy/royal blue as my absolute best neutral, and from there found myself at "light and cool", a Summer. In my twenties I had my colours done and was pinned for a spring, which almost worked but not all of the time. I always look better in white than in cream. Could I be a "Light Summer"?
Frances Tyrell,
I would definitely categorize you on the cooler summer side of the continuum. However, I would consider soft summer over light summer based on your profile pic. If you have gone have added more blonde or gray to your hair since, you may have settled into light summer however.
Good luck,
Reachel
You nailed it with the cool and brilliant for me and my blue eyedness! Coincidence that you are both cool and brillz yourself? :) Thanks for the tips! They are appreciated. :)
What do you do if you have slate eyes (they change color from blue/green to pure grey with a white/yellow ring around the iris), WHITE skin (face cream, body olive), and strawberry hair that goes from light (summer) to medium (winter)? I think i look best in blacks, reds, and beige, but I wouldn't mind more colours to add to that.
beigs,
From your description, I would take a look at warm spring. Even with the various you described between seasons, you could still function within that category.
http://www.cardiganempire.com/2012/08/color-analysis-3-degrees-of-warm-rich.html
Good luck!
Thank you!
This is FASCINATING! I have always wondered why certain colors look good and others look meh.
I *think* I'm somewhere between a clear spring and a winter? I have ivory skin, hazel eyes (blueish green with an amber center) and brown hair... But I could be wrong, I suppose! I always get compliments when I wear bright royal blues- I think I know why now! Of course, I wish I could nail down which one I really am so I could figure out my best color palette. LOL
This is just such a neat way to try and figure out what colors work best.
I believe I am a warm spring or warm autumn, somewhere in the warm neighborhood. I have reddish golden blonde hair and greenish brown eyes with A LOT of gold in them as well as ivory skin.
kathleenea,
You are definitely sound like you're in the right area. Based on your initial description, I would probably lean towards warm spring.
Good luck!
Hi,
I can't seem to figure out what season I am. I seem to lean towards a cool winter or cool summer, I think. Please help...
Characteristics:
- look much better in navy and charcoal, than cream and brown
- bluish veins
- can't decide if my skin is neutral beige or rosy
- greyish blue eyes with a circle of yellow brown circle around the pupil.
- dark brown hair (with a slight red tinge though!)
- I don't look good in black at all
- I look washed out in light pastels
Thanks! (Can I email you a photo if the characteristics seem contradicting?)
Mayah,
From what I can tell you sound like a cool summer. You are welcome to send me a photo if you would like. I'd love to see your pretty coloring.
Hi, totally love your blog!Still, I'm not sure if I'm a Deep Winter or a Deep Autumn, I can't decide if I'm cool or warm, could I be just neutral? I have natural almost black hair, with some brown underlights(and salt and pepper), olive skin with some pale freckles and rosy cheeks (also, I tan easily, deep brown eyes with deep charcoal ring and no green undertones, and about my veins I can't decide if their ar bluish or greenish...I naturally tend towards the deep winter colors, as I look horrible in yellow or orange based colors.
Had my colours done once and was told I was a Deep Autumn on the border of a Deep Winter... so I tried to base my wardrobe around that yet, I found it made my olive skin look sallow and yellow. I feel really good in deep chocolate and watermelon reds.
After finding this page I scanned down the first skin tone and I leaned toward beige and brown rather than blue and grey. That took me to a warm and deep, but then the eyes confused me because my eyes identical to the cool and brilliant. I look more like the colouring of Liz Taylor in her emerald green dress, now in my later years and had more olive skin in my earlier years (must be the inability to get outside into the sunshine with 6 children). Who am I?
At present I wear black a lot because I really can't find my best colours.
Who am I?
Would like to find a basic neutral and have accessories around that in a colour that I KNOW suits me.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Pardon the earlier response, i didn't edit first.
Could you please help me figure out my colors? I have dark blue eyes and medium brown hair that has hints of red when the sun shines on it. A makeup artist told me I have yellow undertones and I tan fairly easy. I like wearing blues and grays, but even though I like black, I don't think it's very flattering with my skin color. I also hesitate about wearing yellow because I don't think it does anything for me.
Cristina,
Based on your description, I would definitely diagnose Deep Winter. You sound like you have a lovely combination of features :)
Reachel
GiveMeColour,
Based on your description, I would categorize you as a Deep Autumn. Every feature doesn't need to line up exactly with the description, and the actual application of color makes the biggest difference. If you feel good in the color, that is the strongest indicator.
Good luck dear,
Reachel
starbucks4m,
I would experiment with the cool summer color palette. It's hard to say for sure, but try on a few of the hues and see what you think. I hope you find something you love.
Reachel
Hi, I love your blog.
I have no idea what type I am and go nuts, because of it. My eyes are quite similar to your warm and fresh eye. However, my hair is dark brown, as are eyebrowes and eyelashes. I can't be than spring, can I?
Hair has a golden sheen. The most of veins are greenish. Skin tone is yellowish. I try to avoid sun, because I rather burn than tan. In childhood I used to have freckles. Sounds like an autumn, doesn't it?
But my colors aren't so definitely warm and I look much better in pure white and black then in orange. The best colors for me are: navy, crimson, teal, very dark chocolate brown, very light grey. Definitely muted ones. The worst are bright ones, for example dodger blue and neon green. Also creamy white, charcoal and medium grey.
Sorry for writing so much, but have you any idea, what type I am?
Can I just recommend a site please?
This supports your site and will help these women as it has helped me.
dressing your truth.com shows a new way to see what suits and what doesn't, what colours to wear and what styles to cut and colour your hair. Try it, check it out.
Meredith
Maggie, try this
http://dressingyourtruth.com/special-offer/?utm_source=BP%2BSOS%2BEmail&utm_medium=BP%2BBP%2BSOS%2BEmail%2BDay%2B7&utm_term=BP%2BBP%2BSOS%2BEmail%2BDay%2B7&utm_content=Bottom%2BHyperlink&utm_campaign=BP%2BBP%2BSOS%2BEmail%2BDay%2B7
This is a great way to break this down!
I'm definitely a winter! I'm still trying to figure out which winter I am, but while I figure that out, I wanted to know something. Is it safe to say that as long as you're a winter, you can wear any of the colors in the winter palettes (Clear, Cool, Deep)?
Maggie,
I would experiment with the palettes of Clear Spring and Clear Winter. Both accomodate some of the warm clarity of Spring and some of the cool depth of Winter.
If you want to send me pictures, I'm happy to look at them.
Good luck!
R
Meredith,
I actually just finished reading both of Carol's books. It's Just your Nature, and Dressing your Truth. Both were very interesting. I'm not sure I agree with every sentence, but I like the overall theory and see some truths in it.
Thanks for reading!
R
Anonymous,
If you can wear all the colors in the winter palette, it is safe to safe you're a cool and brilliant winter. There may be one subset that suits you best, but you can probably safely flatter yourself in all.
R
Reachel,
Agreed. After 21 days reading all around it I gleaned some wisdom but lots of confusion still. I think the makeovers are great but I cannot see consistent parameters in this face shapes.
I'd love you ro take a look at my picture. I've been told 2 seasons and the expense of trying to buy make up,
& clothes is becoming too much.
Kindly, Meredith
Plus, I've noted sadly that ageing changes MUCH!
:-(
Meredith
When I was young I had very dark brown eyes, olive skin and golden brown hair. As I have aged I now have brown/black hair, a more ruddy olive complexion (redder in face) but olive still and my eyes are a deep, deep green with dark, dark brown outter rim, and shades of brown over the green like brown organza over deep olive green lining. My skin is still olive but lighter than it was. I'm similar to Liz Taylor I suppose but a couple of shades deeper skin. Who am I?
Can you please preview pics?
Meredith
According to the "How to Choose Color …" I'm Cool & Brilliant
According to the eye color chart I'm Warm & Rich
Skin tone: I'm not sure; it's very very pale, on the pink side
Eyes: Medium brown
Hair: Mousy brown, I was born blond (ash blond).
Hair and eye colors would imply Soft Summer but my skin tone might send me to Cool Summer.
I am a senior woman with gray hair, light white/gray in the front and darker gray in the back. When I was younger, I always wore some shade of strawberry blond or auburn or reddish brown on my hair and favorite colors were cream, beige, taupe, aqua and turquoise and deep peaches or mango. I have blue/green eyes that look more steel blue from a distance. Now that I am gray, I am in a quandary as to what colors to wear. I am totally turned off to black, red, fuchsia,and navy looks terribly aging on me. How does a woman with gray hair figure out what season they are?
I forgot to say that I have ivory skin, and am often told my skin color is like "peaches and cream" although I myself do not see it. Toned down or too muted colors make me look tired and pale colors make me look washed out. But bright primary colors are overwhelming on me. I could send you a picture if you tell me how to do so.
GiveMeColour,
It sounds like you are deep (high contrast between hair, eyes, lips, and face). It also sounds like you may have lost some of your pigmentation as you have aged, which is quite common. You may have previously been a deep autumn, and shifted to a clear winter. It's difficult to say without seeing you in person for a color draping, but you are welcome to send me a picture to review.
Good luck!
Thankyou where do I send it to? (picture)
Regards, Meredith
GiveMeColour, you may send it to reachel@cardiganempire.com
digne, i would lean towards soft summer based on your description, but definitely try the colors of the cool summer category as well. Good luck!
Patrice, I would experiment with the spring category. My best guess is the light spring category. As a former autumn who has lost pigment via aging, these colors are still warm but not as saturated and overwhelming. Hope that helps.
Hello Reachel,
Fantastic post but I'm another awkward one completely confused by the whole 'colour thing'! I'd love to send you a photo to see what you think if that's ok. Thank you in advance.
Hi Rachael! Hoping you can help me find my season. I have dark brown hair (naturally) with not really any obvious warmth. My skin is very fair with blue/purple veins, yet I believe (and have been repeatedly told) I'm more warm or neutral, not cool. My eyes are a brighter olive with a golden sunburst and spokes. But dark green (or olive) is the overall look. My hair is currently a copper red and everyone seems to love it (I do!). I've always been told I look good in black, and bright reddish orange. I don't like myself in camel or khaki, or army green AT ALL. But I do look good in a lot of greens-bright emerald, moss, etc. I'll send a picture if I am able to. I've thought deep autumn (since my natural hair color is quite dark), but my really fair skin confuses me. I would appreciate any thoughts you would be willing to share! Thank you!
I was able to post a few pics if you look under "posts" on my profile, as opposed to "pictures". Some are silly but they best show my skin and eyes in natural light. The one with dark hair is my natural color hair. I've been dark, highlighted, blonde, and now red.
Buffy Terry,
My best guess is clear spring. Even though your hair is red, I would stick with this category which would also suit you as a brunette.
Good luck!
Reachel
Dear Anonymous,
I got your previous comment regarding whether you are a spring or a summer. If you have a blue undertone, I would lean toward summer. If your eyes are a warm blue/green hazel you might be soft summer.
Have fun experimenting,
R
Hi Rachel
I'm confused if I'm a clear winter or clear spring.
I have pale skin and green eyes (quite green but with a golden circle in the middle and navy circle around the outer). I've been dying my brunette hair since I was young so I'm not really sure what my natural shade is but it seems to be a medium brown and it has some copper in it, and now some grey. Even when my hair was dyed black (currently dark chestnut) it still had a bit of copper coming through.
I look best in the strong colours of both clear spring and clear winter - cobalt, bright green etc... but it would be nice to differentiate between the two palettes.
I hope you can help!
Thanks.
Katherine,
Based on the golden circle in your eye and the copper in your hair, I would lean toward the warmer Clear Spring.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! It will help me to get out of my mummy frump stage to sort out my colouring.
I can't tell if I'm a light spring or light summer. My eyes look like the light spring photo, but my hair has always been a cool shade of blonde.My skin has some warmth to it and when I tan, it turns a golden hue. I have never looked good in greys, but also look terrible in orange and yellow. Could I be a combination of the two?
Anonymous,
If it seems like more of a combination of warm and cool, I would lean toward Spring. There are many tints and shades of orange and yellow in the Spring category and I would explore the different color opportunities.
Hi, I am loving this blog! Do you have advice for people have both cool and warm elements. I have cool, fair, pinkish (as I've aged) skin, but dark brown hair with reddish natural highlights. My eyes are cool green/gray eyes, but with that warm ring around the middle. Seems I could fit anywhere but spring!
Hi Barkla Blogger,
Thanks for stopping by! I would love to help you. Unfortunately, I have been getting so many complimentary color typing requests, I was falling behind on my other orders. If you would like a color analysis, please find the button to purchase a $12 color analysis service at the bottom of this post.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi there, I would love to do so! Unfortunately I was unable to do so. I'm in Canada; does your payment service allow for Canadians? I did send am e-mail also to you, so if you can't answer here, I'll await your response there. Thanks!
Post a Comment