The Anti-Color Analysis Thread

[FrugalFashionista]

This is a safe space for anyone who
(tick any that apply)

• wants to burn her scarves
• will scream if someone goes semantic on 'Oyster'
• does not want to be made to wear lipstick
• is not looking forward to the next Kettlewell catalogue
• does not identify with any particular season
• will never ever do a style day
• has self-diagnosed Stockholm syndrome
• is tired of the tireless marketing drum of color analysis on S&B

I realize I may be endorsing an unpopular view but this thread here is for anyone who does not want to discuss color.

C'mon, am I the only one?
Raise your hand...

PS I will send a crappy lipstick personally chosen for me by a color analyst to the first taker. It's a shimmery peachy tone that has no staying power and streaks your teeth. But don't worry, it will make you look a million times better.

Yes I think they do have their own makeup collection;

Thanks for your professional insights Wally and Santa! I do not work with color and have no training in it, so I'm genuinely interested in any professional views!

Marvellous and Briar I have a bunch of clothes I regret nearly all the navy. I agree that brown can be a tricky color to wear. I felt inherently frumpy in navy, much sharper in black.

And thanks everyone else for every type of input!

I also have a really hard time suppressing the flippant tone
Maybe because it's not very me to be dead serious (I mean, this is not exactly the Kiev crisis...) and because I'm free now like Noddy said and don't need to adhere to the dogma, self-censor and try to see things I just don't see... Perhaps the dead serious angry mode belongs to acolytes?

One of the not so great sides of color analysis is that it nearly always seems to come bundled with slightly dubious cosmetics that you are 'encouraged' to buy. By the way, my 'Cinnamon' lipstick is still up for grabs! I only used it once, went to a department store and matched it with a decent quality lipstick that actually was up to the job...

I'm also willing to admit that color analysis can work. It works for my MIL. She went to a community college course and had hers done for a tiny swatchbook fee - the book contained all the colors she had always worn anyway so she naturally was 100% happy. She didn't even have to buy a lippy! It also worked on my American friend who self-diagnosed using the 4-season CMB textbook (I wish I had it with me, it has some lovely pics, and the streaky blusher they styled everyone with is experiencing a mini comeback! So the make-up tips might be bang on trend too...). She was a textbook Winter, we both agreed on that...

I'm quite tempted to get my colours done as since I had children I tend to bit a lot more online and second hand stuff of eBay so I don't to try things on as much. I already know that if I want to wear black I need to wear a lot of make up to carry it off and I tend to stick to fairly staid neutral combinations of brown, beige and green. I don't have a great eye for color and have made a few expendice mistakes, especially with the change from changing room artificial light to daylight. I would really like to have someone suggest a few brighter colours to wear or suggest a shade of red that might suit me.

I've had some really good hair and make up advice from hairdressers and make up counter staff and I would really like to have someone do the same with clothes as although I love picking out clothes for other people I find it really hard to do for myself.

I'm not really fussed about an overarching theory, but I could do with a bit of a style and colour overhaul and no one seems to do one without the theories.

Just hope frugal has enough quotes pro and against colour analysis for her research paper or book. Time for a namechange perhaps now that true colours (ha!) have been revealed.
Getting your colours done isn't compulsory. If you don't fancy it, don't do it. End of.

What is the problem some of you have with Frugal?

Just seems odd to see so many old names accusing her of this - I feel there's a huge back story/feud here.

You see, it totally is like Game of Thrones

No need to write a new book on color analysis, NotAMeanGirl...
It's all in the 1980s CMB book!
The theoretical core elements are still unchanged and the styling too...
If you pm me your address, I can send you mine!
I do not believe I need it any more

Can someone inform me what their problem with OP is? Do you think she is not a genuine MN:er but a journalist or something?

I've just been around the block a few too many times to know when I smell a rat.

What exactly is there to say against Colour Analysis that would fill an article or book?

Wait and see, I guess. Plenty of material for an article, I'd say.

I'm a bit disappointed with the way this thread has gone, I think a genuine debate without the smirking would have been useful for those who have had their colours and those that are contemplating it. I didn't agree 100% with my diagnosis, although as I said earlier I still learned and took something from it, the murky approach where you take some, leave other bits rarely gets talked about, do people feel disloyal, foolish or is it only me who debated some if the decisions their HOC stylist made?

I'm pleased to see this thread as I've been bemused by what seem to me to be endless references to colour analysis on so many threads so its a relief to find I'm not alone. I love colour, work a lot in London & look forward to summer when I can arrive at Waterloo at the start of a work day without being faced with a sea of black. I have pale skin but often use a bit of fake tan in the summer & I can wear different colours in the summer from the winter - how does colour analysis deal with this - I've never heard anyone say you need to have a summer & winter session but surely that's essential?
I love all sorts of colours which, in my eyes, make me look completely washed out if worn against the skin - bright yellow, orange etc. The only way I can happily wear yellow is as a belt or bag. I know cobalt blue only works for me when I have a bit of fake tan. It is hard to believe that other people can't see this for themselves but it is also clear that people see colour differently - you've only got to go to an art gallery to see this - plus I have a friend who is red & green colour blind & trying to imagine how he sees the world is mind-blowing. I love turquoise in varying shades & he thinks I look awful in it - he sees it as a sort of muddy grey.

snowdown I didn't take what my consultant said as gospel, but found it incredibly useful especially in terms of knowing what colours to go for when I'm buying expensive things like coats or party dresses. I never wear scarves (and wasn't told to by HOC) and keep the red lipstick for nights out.

I like a bit of fake tan in the summer as it makes me look a bit different & I know it means I can wear different colours or at least different shades. I guess I'm a bit contrary.

God, I always use fake tan as am so pale and look infinitely better with a little on.

Djangor - I wear different colours in winter to summer - I love burgundy in winter but don't wear it in the summer. I wear a lot of coral and pinks in the summer but not in winter. I think that's pretty normal to be honest.

I don't actually know anyone in RL whose had their colours done so for me the number of people on here who have had it done or want it done is interesting. But then many things that happen on mn have no relation at all to my RL.

Hi ladies
I totally baffled about the conspiracy theories here.

I'm not a journalist nor am I ever going to write an article or a book on color analysis. It's a great idea for an expose and I'm flattered if you think I could write about it, but who on earth would buy it - I don't think very many people outside MN S&B really care about having their colors done...

If you want to believe that
(take your pick)

• I killed JFK
• I'm a hairy guy in his underwear
• I am a CIA agent, undercover, posing as a harmless housewife
• am Elvis resurrected (but hmm, would Elvis be a Light Summer?)
• I am an alien please feel free to do so.

The truth - that I'm a longtime occasional S&B poster who likes Dior, bootcuts, perfumes, Frugal threads, Grüner Veltliner, NPR, HBO series, art, books on Kindle, mineral makeup - may just be a tad too boring I think some of you may even have swapped clothes and cosmetics with me...

I'm really sorry if this thread has shattered someone's universe. Color analysis is a silly subject and I've already devoted too much time and money to it. I've enjoyed your views ladies and seeing some old faces here has been wonderful, but this is it for me.

Have a great evening all and let's find something new and more interesting to talk about...

I don't need to cover my grey hairs, wear make up or have botox but I do because it makes me look better. Equally a little fake tan makes me look better no matter what colour I'm wearing.

I'm not talking tangoed but just enough to take the blue tinge from my skin - I really know how to sell myself don't I?

MrsCB, I also use fake tan, with bronzes in it, as it's good for covering the thread veins on my legs. And making me look less ghostly - I am wonderful at burning at the slightest exposure to sun. I also bleach my hair and look, genuinely, quite unwell without make up. I haven't had my colours done, despite thinking TravelinColour is one of the nicest MNers I have met, but know I look a bit deathly in black. I just put on more make up. Artifice is the name of my game

Bronzer not bronzes, thank you, ipad.

But most of my clothes co-ordinate - just because I haven't had my colours done doesn't mean I don't know what colours suit me.

But you keep your swatch book and I'll keep my faken tan

I suspect I'm spring/summer.

I think frugal works with international monetary fund,i heard,that the pros/ cons of color analysis amid the global economic crisis,is at the top of their agenda,
It actually all adds up,her perfume threads,her frugal threads,her love for all Dior related products....

frugal could you be Christine lagarde

It makes holiday packing a breeze too

Rudy, I am thinking that maybe it would be worth a visit!