Have you ever noticed that certain clothing colours make you look tired and washed out, while others instantly make you look stunning? You haven't just imagine this; there is a reason why this happens. And it has to do with colour theory.
Selecting the wrong colours for your clothes can leave you looking ill or off. If you want to have a wardrobe that makes you feel great, it's paramount to find the colours that will flatter you the most. And colour analysis is a great tool to help you find them.
Color analysis, also known as personal color analysis (PCA), seasonal color analysis, or skin-tone matching, is a term often used within the cosmetics and fashion industry to describe a method of determining the colors of clothing and makeup that harmonize with a person's skin complexion, eye color, and hair color for use in wardrobe planning and style consulting. It is generally agreed that the wrong colors will draw attention to such flaws as wrinkles or uneven skin tone while harmonious colors will enhance the natural beauty of the individual making them appear healthy and fresh-faced.
To color analyze yourself, you must evaluate your:
- Skintone
- Hair color
- Eye color
Your skin tone, hair color, and eye color will fall into one of four main seasonal categories: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The base families are named after seasons because each season has an established color association with it already. For instance, we think of oranges and red for autumn, icy white and pale blue for winter, lush green for spring, and light, airy colors for summer.
This is not a new concept and goes back to impressionist painters who had to accurately represent a seasonal landscape by the tones, hues, and shades they used. But the concept of seasonal color in regards to your own hair, skin, and eyes was popularized by Carole Jackson’s book “Color Me Beautiful” in the 1980s.
