Have you ever avoided wearing a certain colour or shade because it simply doesn’t seem to suit your skin tone? If you answered yes to that question, rest easy knowing that you’re not alone. The truth is that not all colours are made the same — certain colours suit a particular type of skin tone better than others, and this is largely due to colour theory and season. If you’re looking to revamp your wardrobe with only the best of the best colours that are guaranteed to not just make you look good but also allow your features to shine, you’ve come to the perfect place.
Today, we explore the concept of colour seasons and share some tips on how you can use it to dress for success, so be sure to read on to find out more!
What Is A Colour Season?
The concept of “colour season” is often used in fashion and personal styling to describe a system of categorising colours based on their undertones and intensity. Simply put, your colour season determines which kind of colours harmonise best with your skin tone, natural eye tone, and hair colour to find your ideal palette. As its name suggests, colour seasons are characterised by four main categories — Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each of these seasonal colour palettes mimics the colour aspects of an individual falling into that particular season. If you’re shopping for a new wardrobe at any of the big brands such as Myer online, we recommend using the following guidelines when it comes to choosing the best colours for your personal season.
Spring: Warm and light colours with golden or yellow undertones, such as pastel pinks, light blues, and soft yellows.
Summer: Cool and light colours with blue or pink undertones, such as soft pastel blues, lavender, and pale pinks.
Autumn: Warm and deep colours with red or golden undertones, such as rich oranges, deep reds, and warm browns.
Winter: Cool and intense colours with blue undertones, such as bright, bold shades of red, blue, and green.
How Can I Determine My Colour Season?
STEP 1
Determining your colour season usually involves analysing your skin, hair, and eye colour to identify which undertones are most prominent. To assess your undertone, we recommend carrying out one of the following tests:
The Vein Test: This test is one of the easiest ways to identify your individual skin tone. Look at the veins on your wrist in natural light. If they appear blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones, which may indicate that you’re a Summer or a Winter. If they appear green, you likely have warm undertones, which may indicate that you’re a Spring or an Autumn.
The Jewellery Test: Adorn both silver and gold jewellery on your skin in natural light. Which one looks best and gives you the appearance of more even-toned, healthy-looking skin? If you look best in gold or copper, you have warm undertones. If you look best in silver or white gold, you have cool undertones.
The Paper Test: For this test, you will need a piece of white paper. Place your sheet of paper next to your face, without any makeup, in natural light. If your skin looks more yellow, golden or peachy, you have warm undertones. If your skin looks more blue, red, or pink, then you have cool undertones.
STEP 2
Now that you have determined your undertone, it’s time to assess your colour season by evaluating your hair colour and eyes to further categorise it as light or dark.
Spring Hair & Eyes: Spring season individuals have warm undertones and lighter hair and eyes. There is generally minimal contrast between these three features in Spring Dress also.
Summer Hair & Eyes: Summer season individuals have cool undertones, but have lighter hair and eye colours. There is a decent amount of contrast between their skin tone and their hair and eyes, although it is much more moderate than winter season individuals.
Autumn Hair & Eyes: Autumn season individuals have warm undertones, with dark hair and dark eyes. There is little contrast between their skin, eyes, and hair, and more of a soft blend between all three features.
Winter Hair & Eyes: Winter season individuals usually have cool undertones, dark hair, vibrant eyes, and a high contrast between their skin, eyes, and hair.
STEP 3
Now that you have determined your colour season, it’s time to dive into the colour palettes that best suit your unique tone. Generally, there are 12 colour season palettes, with each season divided into 3 categories: light, clear and warm. Find out more here.
Why Does My Seasonal Colour Palette Matter?
Once you know your personal colour season, you can use it as a guide when choosing clothing, makeup, and accessories. Wearing colours that complement your natural features can make you look healthier, more vibrant, and more polished. It also provides clarity on why a certain colour or shade might not work for you.
However, it is important to note that while personal colour seasons can be a helpful tool, they are not a hard and fast rule. Some people may not fit perfectly into one season or may prefer to wear colours outside of their season. Ultimately, the most important thing is to wear colours that make you feel confident and comfortable.
How To Dress For Your Colour Season
Once you have determined your colour season using various tests or any other colour analysis method, there are several ways you can dress to complement your natural colouring.
Here are some general tips for each colour season:
Spring
- Wear light, bright, and warm colours such as coral, peach, light green, and golden yellow.
- Avoid dark, cool, or muted colours.
- Choose soft, flowy fabrics and delicate prints.
Summer
- Wear cool, soft, and muted colours such as lavender, baby blue, and rose pink.
- Avoid dark, bright, or warm colours.
- Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics and delicate details.
Autumn
- Wear warm, earthy colours such as olive green, rust, and burnt orange.
- Avoid cool, pastel, or bright colours.
- Choose rich, textured fabrics and bold prints.
Winter
- Wear bright, contrasting colours such as black, white, navy, and jewel tones like emerald, sapphire, and ruby.
- Avoid pastels or muted shades.
- Choose sharp, crisp lines and tailored silhouettes.
In A Nutshell
Colour season theory is a fantastic way to figure out what tones, colours and shades look best on you. It is an incredibly helpful tool for anyone looking to enhance their personal style, bring out their best features and create a unique wardrobe that truly works for them. While these guidelines certainly aren’t meant to be hard and fast rules, following them might help you put together a more cohesive-looking wardrobe
that helps you put your best foot forward…because you deserve to look and feel your best!
And there you have it- everything you need to know about finding your personal colour season and dressing in accordance with it. We hope that this article has given you some new insight into the ins and outs of the colour season theory, allowing you to curate a wardrobe that truly allows you to shine.
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