An Update On My Virtual Personal Color Analysis
Happy Tuesday ladies. Several of you have asked about my virtual online color analysis so I thought I would give you a quick update. My journey through virtual color analysis has been a bumpy one so it’s taking more time than I anticipated. My roundup will be a lengthy post so I may break it into two.
Personal Color Analysis: Is It For You?
I’ve had three virtual personal color analyses done in the last two months. They were all done in a similar fashion. I took and submitted pictures of myself with colors near my face in varying lights, with and without makeup. This was followed up with a zoom session with each color professional. They had all decided on my coloring before the zoom session.
I did walk outside with my laptop for two of the sessions so they could get a “live” look at my skin tone. During the zoom call, we talked about which colors they decided were my most flattering and how I should wear them. Here’s the problem…three professionals came to three different conclusions! And they’re radically different.
The Three Colors You Should Never Wear
I questioned why they made the decisions they did because I need to understand why they have come to the conclusions they have. I also want to be sure I can explain their system to you accurately.
Because of the confusion, I’ve scheduled a consultation with a fourth consultant and I’m hoping for some consistency. I still have the two-color pallets that were done by top color experts in the industry, in person and they are very similar. I have also reached out to one of them for some clarification.
How Our Colors Change As We Age
I do know our colors change as we age, but these pallets were done live by draping me in various colors and watching how my complexion changed…which makes them pretty significant.
My journey continues and I am learning a lot in the process. Many women had their colors done “back in the day” and were given the wrong pallet. The science and art of personal color analysis have come a long way in recent years and I hope to have some results to share soon.
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
My major takeaway from what I read here is to be the you-est you that you can do. I’m a former blond, now with white hair, and not a great white at that. I’m going back to blond, with a touch of ash and very light, so as to space the coloring sessions (and cost). It’s nice to have a group of women who share their experiences. Thanks Jennifer for creating this opportunity.
Welcome, Molli!
Have you considered that this whole “color analysis” thing is maybe just a way to part women from their money and not much more? If I had a wad of cash to spend on something unnecessary, I think I’d go buy a fabulous coat in a fabulous color (not a neutral) and wear it because I loved it whether some consultant thought it suited me or not. Rant over.
I relate to Eve’s suggestion that the colors of your birth month give you a clue as to which colors you look best in. I recently purchased the book “Color Me Confident” (used on Amazon) and the author uses cool, warm, soft, and clear and combinations rather than the seasons. Lots of great pictures where you can see the effects that color has on the women. I’m definitely a soft/warm which has all the colors that I enjoy wearing , many of which are fall colors. My birthday is in November which goes back to Eve’s theory. Interesting! I look forward to your next color post! Such a fun topic!
Over 30 years ago, I had my color analysis. They said I was an Autumn. That works for me because I really like those colors. Even as a teenager, I preferred peach lipstick and blush over the pink everyone else was wearing. We didn’t really have too many choices back in the 60’s and 70’s. I now have a white streak around my face that looks amazing in my dark blonde hair. My complexion is lighter but still a warm, pale. Perhaps, going with your instincts is the best way after all.
I had my colours done by ‘your true colours‘ many years ago – again draping the large swatches across shoulders etc, but what I liked was that it was not a pre packed seasonal swatch of colours – it was individually put together and focussed in the clarity, depth and tones of colours that suited me. I had previously had another set of colours done by another company that presented me with an autumn swatch, with your true colours I was predominantly what other would describe as a winter palette but my colours were bright and deep colours
I’ve looked forward to your report on color analysis.
Years ago I studied a system that I have found to be the golden standard. While other systems are interesting and have points of credibility, this one takes into account t more than skin tone and it has stood up to the test of time and competition.
Several readers mentioned Carol Tuttle’s system which I have studied as well but find that, while her take on personality traits resonated with me, basing color on personality failed the litmus test. I see no correlation between skin tone and personality traits.
I’m not sure my source is still taking clients but I certainly hope someone is carrying on her theory.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. As I have looked at your photo posts I have tried to determine what category you are in. It’s hard to see all the elements in a photo so I don’t know how it can be done successfully via photo or zoom. So many things can influence the skins color.. reflection of wall color, or warm or cool sunlight, foliage color reflection… I’m not at all surprised you received 3 different results! How frustrating though. Have you decided which one you agree most with? And can you share your thoughts on that? I remain curious!
Could you share the system you like? I am leaning towards to pallets I had fine in person which did not have a season attached.
Three different decisions is not really helpful. I was told many years ago I was Autumn and I thought that was correct as I could see for myself that those warm, deep colours look best on me. I had another analysis done about two years ago mostly because I kept reading that our skintone cools as we age. I am still an Autumn, true autumn as it is called now. I am still warm and deep even though I no longer colour my hair. It is deep grey not at all silver or white and I am 70 years old. So my skintone has not changed even though I read constantly that we are cooler as we get older. Some of us just don’t fit the “all of us” category:)
I did find an “autumn” lipstick just recently in Cinnamon that makes my eyes sparkle with almost any colour I put on!
I hope you can find an answer to your quest!
A lipstick that makes your eyes sparkle is a gem!!
I had my colors done, as they used to call it. The analysis was spring. The analyst told me that if I want to wear colors that are not spring, there are solutions. She said artful use of makeup, hair coloring or foils/highlights, or wearing a spring color near my face could address this, but wearing my best colors was the easiest solution. I had told her that I will not stop wearing colors that I like, no matter what. I will wear black!
I am still spring, but the new system of cooler spring heading toward summer might be what I am now. This is why it would be interesting to do it again. Clear jewel tones still work for me, but not in the intensity that once suiited me. There is less contrast between my hair and skin tone now. I still wear black sometimes.
Carol Tuttle’s Dressing Your Truth, more about personality type almost makes more sense to me. The color chart gives a range of colors you can personalize, with make up, hair and jewelry suggestions for each type. A quick quiz And some free videos will tell you what you want to know, it was spot on for me, but I hadn’t followed thru with my personal style, especially colors!!
Thanks, Jennifer! I, too, have had different people say that I am this or that. I follow Imogene Lambert from Australia. She teaches colors and lots about how to look your best. I thought about a virtual consult, but thought the price too high for my budget. I am so glad you shared this! It has saved me quite a bit of money! I, too, think you look fantastic in blue!
P.S. as a art major, I realize I may “ like “ certain colors on myself, but I want the knowledge of what really looks good on myself also. That way I can make the choice to utilize the information to my advantage. I try to “ make friends “ with my complimentary colors, as I know paintings often combine unusual colors and it works.
I’ve had my colors done in person in the past ( summer), and recently online ( blue autumn, basically slightly warmer summer mixed with autumn) . I felt more confident with in person appointment. As I tried to take pics on my iPad , the colors kept changing my ( no makeup) skin tone, warm/ cool, back and forth, back and forth. And I question the quality of a zoom/ virtual reading due to the variance of pics. Yes, how do you have your monitor calibrated! All my pics/ selfies/ posts, keep changing my skin tone.
I’m a firm believer that you look best in the colors that bloom around you in the month you were born. I was born in June and I’m naturally drawn to those flower colors I see in nature at that time of year. The green in the trees is not the same as the spring or fall. I guess in a sense I follow the season colors but based on my birthdate. My husband looks great in the colors you see in the landscape in February. The Browns, the greys like tree bark, the color of the sky in winter. I’ll bet it’s as accurate as looking at your viens to see if they are green or blue.
Super interesting! I’m a May baby and your info rings true for me.
Same as me ( May). What colors suit you, if you don’t don’t mind sharing. I love spring green and blues . Dislike pink . More natural lip. Thanks .
That’s fascinating Eve! I never looked at it that way
At one time I would have believed this to be exactly true… but….. this is what I experienced….. I am an October baby, so my wardrobe was mainly camel/taupe/black. I colored my hair, and depending on the season it was caramel brown to reddish brown. Then as I began to really go gray these colors made me look washed out. People would often ask is I was feeling ok because I looked tired. The color wouldn’t adhere and I was sitting with the dye on my head for way too long. Driving home my poor sore scalp would be irritated and itching. I had enough! I went natural, and my hair is not gray but white with a few dark streaks in the front and nape. My skin changed to having more pink undertones as well. So now I wear more raspberry, royal and navy blue items. No more nude lipsticks either. Rose shades looks so much better.
My February baby was born into white snow, with gray, leafless trees. No brown anywhere at that time of year, just gray and white bark and white snow. Baby is a winter! His father, born in winter, has warm skin and looks good in autumn colors.
February Florida babies are born into what is our northern summer, maybe even warmer.
I am tending toward summer now as a June baby, but I am a spring.
i think indian summer ( or spring ) colors look best on me, i was born in december.