dressing by colour seasons

[MariCooyong]

Most of us have ‘colour seasons’: ‘Autumns’ look good in warm colours that complement their warm colouring, ‘Summers’ look good in pastels that complement their pale colouring, etc. But is it possible for someone to look good in every colour?

Also, how much attention do you pay to your colour season, and do you ever break the rules, so to speak?

I think I saw it advertised at Tube stations in the City, maybe 30 years ago?

I first had my colors done about 28 years ago then when I let my hair go grey a few years ago I had them done again with a different company. I was a summer each time. Having them done was nothing to do with MN.

You find it weird that people do this? That’s fine. It takes all sorts to make a world and it would be boring if we were all the same.

I think Color Me Beautiful was one of the first few companies to do this and they started in 1983. It’s who I had my first lot of colors done with.

I don't seem to fit into the seasonal categories. I'm neutral skin toned (a cool olive) but always come out as a winter in online quizzes, typically clear winter but I find the winter palette too cool at times and suit coral and peachy pink nudes. I look dead in browns and taupes though. I seem to be a bit between clear winter and clear spring, a late February maybe 😂

@CeeceeBloomingdale some people are like this which is why in some systems, HOC for eg, each season is now broken down into sub types. I’m a true summer and my best colors are different to someone else who could be a light, deep, soft for eg.

I don't fit into any of the categories though, some of the cool tones are wrong for me in the winter palette and some too warm in the spring one. Clear is the subcategory that suits me best from those two seasons. Still at least I've worked out what suits me I suppose.

I'd never heard of this till MN and only looked into it on a whim but there's definitely something to it. @LolaSmiles you sound like me. Mostly soft summer but a few from the Spring palette look nice if I've a bit of a tan. I look poorly in Autumnal colours I've realised

I don't fit into any of the categories though, some of the cool tones are wrong for me in the winter palette and some too warm in the spring one. Clear is the subcategory that suits me best from those two seasons. Still at least I've worked out what suits me I suppose
It might be that warm/cool isn't your dominant feature then.

There's one colour season one that goes through three different dominant features, saying out of all the levels (wamth, colour, hue), different people will have a different dominant feature, though lots will have the dominant feature as warm/cool.

You might find your ideal colours are across two sister seasons and that you reject the part of your season that's the other way. For example, I'll almost wear any summer colours that are bordering the winter season even though they're cool, but will steal from the light spring even though they're warmer.

That was an awful explanation before my morning coffee. ☕

The one that was most obvious for me when I was getting assessed was cream Vs white. The cream just made me look slightly ill compared to the the white. I was a bit sad to give up some more yellow-based colours - khaki, browns, orange - but they really do nothing for me.

HOC came to our school in the 80s so definitely pre-dated MN

I always knew that camel/brown/yellows/orange did nothing for me. That blue suited and many greens. Turquoise and soft emerald work well as does fascia. Dusty blues/pinks/Heathery shades work. I wear black and grey but with a scarf/top from my palette. Dark blue has always been a winner.

Mine have changed. I was originally a warm autumn. It was told that as I got older I would change to a soft autumn as my colouring changed. Absolutely spot on.

I've had my colours done amd I do look a lot better in those colours rather than what I used to wear

ElizabethBennetismybestfriend
That's really interesting. Did they share why that might be?

I wonder if the fact my mascara is brown and my brow gel is a warmer gel means I can get away with more of the spring colouring. I had warm lowlights for a while so had to adapt my makeup and I am still growing the last of it out, even though overall my hair is close to natural again. Sometimes I wonder if I'm gradually becoming more spring as I age.

No it makes a lot of sense. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

CeeceeBloomingdale
I'm glad it made sense.
Realised I'd missed out that I almost NEVER wear summer colours bordering on winter.

I'm fairly religious about mine apart from black! Which isn't in there but i will always wear.

This, and a few other posts, are making me wonder if a lot of people just use the recommended colours as accent colours?

I do a bit for work. Wouldn’t feel.comfy turning up in a pink frock!

Would you wear a top in one of the colours? Tbh I thought the reason people had these was to decide what colours to use a major part of the outfit, but .i may well be wrong.

Tops yes. Coats I'll buy dark blue, wine, black - never, ever camel or brown. .

I have some turquoise and pink smart wraps for work and also tunics in greens, blues, purples for weekends.

This, and a few other posts, are making me wonder if a lot of people just use the recommended colours as accent colours?
I don't use them as accent colours but most of my colours are quite muted.

An example outfit would be a muted blue pair of chinos, a neutral with bluey pattern shirt and another colour from my palette as a cardigan or jacket.

My whole wardrobe uses a selection of my colours that all go with each other. I like the softness of the colours.

I'd imagine if someone's wardrobe is more neutral (black, grey, camel, navy, white) and their season has bolder course they might prefer accent colours though.

I had my colours done about 15 years ago, but then filed it away because it was too difficult to actually buy anything in the right colours. Now I've discovered kettlewell online and have bought a few tops and an item through the FB resell page.

I am a spring and definitely suit the spring colours, although I can actually get away with black. I do think some people take it to extremes though - some of the kettlewell clothing is a bit fuddy duddy, and on the FB page you get people dressed from head to toe in their colours and that would generally be too much for me.

I agree @rookiemere. I have some super wrap type tops for work and I find their scarves very useful. Oh, they also do some really useful cardigans which even for a summer come in greys/blues, etc.

I also find Kettlewell a bit fuddy duddy but I very rarely buy anything other than basic camisoles, vest like tops and some knitwear. I really liked their long length vests but they’re discontinued now along with their waterfall wraps. I just liked being able to go online and bulk buy knowing I didn’t have to traipse round shops or spend ages online only to return most of what I’d bought. I also find there sizing very hit and miss. The do a flirty wee skirt every summer, it’s just under the knee and generally has a ruffle around the hem and I love them. I have quite the wee spring in my step when wearing one.

The FB page is an education.