Which season suits you? According to Carole Jackson, author of the 1980s best seller “Color Me Beautiful,” everyone has a unique color palette based on their season and tone, such as “soft” or “bright.” While some dismissed the book as another way to capitalize on women’s insecurities, Jackson’s goal was always to boost her clients’ confidence.
The process of color analysis varies depending on the person conducting the test, but it typically involves a clean face, natural lighting and comparing hundreds of fabric pieces in different shades and colors. As you go through the swatches, you observe how certain hues enhance your natural features rather than dull them.
If you’re looking for colors that will give you a boost of confidence, then color analysis might just be for you! However, most college kids don’t have the budget to drop the average $200 to $300 on something so frivolous. Luckily, VALLEY has some insider tips to share!
What To Look For
Despite the high fees charged by color analysts, it might be worth your investment since your color palette never changes. This consistency allows you to focus on styles that play to your strengths rather than constantly chasing trends that never feel like “you.” One color that remains a constant across all seasons is a bright, warm red, though many today argue for the inclusion of black, navy and sand as well, according to Vogue.
According to beautyexpert.com, the three key factors to consider are “your undertones (warm, neutral, or cool), your value (light or dark), and your chroma (bright or muted).” Here is a breakdown of each step and what it includes.
Your undertones are the hues found under your skin. Warmer undertones are indicated by hints of yellow or gold, while cooler undertones come in shades of pink and blue. Another way to determine your undertone is in your veins, with greener tones signifying warmth and blue tones meaning cold. For those who wear jewelry, gold usually compliments those who are warm-toned, while silver matches cooler undertones.
Your value is examined by looking at key features, such as your eyes, skin and hair. However, since one can dye their hair, it is often not the best factor to consider. When examining these features you’re trying to determine if they lean more light or dark. A helpful tool for this is using a grayscale filter to see if the tones appear more white or black.
Lastly, your chroma is determined by how contrasting your features are. The higher the contrast, the higher the chroma. Once you’ve decided whether you’re warm or cool, light or dark and muted or bright for each category, it’s time for a little beauty math.
Warm + light + bright = Spring
Cool + light + muted = Summer
Warm + dark + muted = Autumn
Cool + dark + bright = Winter
Each season is then divided into subcategories which may require some trial and error with different fabric swatches to finalize.
Don’t Throw Shade
In the past year, color analysis has grown in popularity due to social media. With many filters created and influencers jumping on the trend, there has been a lot of misinformation about how color analysis works. Most of the popular filters aren’t accurate or dynamic enough to be reliable.
One major critique of color analysis, particularly its origins in the 1980s, is its failure to accurately represent people with darker skin tones. The original test scaled skin tones from light to dark on a white-based gradient, often resulting in individuals with darker skin being categorized as Autumn or Winter, which many find hard to believe.
Whether or not you see yourself in your shades, you don’t need to live by your analysis. Sometimes, we don’t always want to make a statement or can’t bring ourselves to part with pieces that bring us joy, even if the color might make us more drab.
What’s your season and go-to shade? Let us know on X @VALLEYmag!
Related
http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/the-old-hollywood-glamour-aesthetic/
http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/to-the-maximalist/
http://www.valleymagazinepsu.com/color-combos-from-your-favorite-cartoons/
