For several months I've been watching the Color thread on the Cruise Critic fashion board where posters have been analyzing one another. One of the posters put up his own website to help figure out our best colors. He calls the "seasons" Fire, Ice, Earth and Air, but they correspond to the Color Me Beautiful seasons. He's pretty dogmatic, but you don't have to register to look at his site.

http://fireiceearthandair.wordpress.com/

I've had my colors "done" several times. The first time was a class taught by an official CMB person who said I was a Spring. I dutifully tried to wear spring colors that fit on my color swatches, but I wasn't happy with it. I've been analyzed at a spa (The Oaks at Ojai) on two different occasions: Autumn and Summer. Neither one was right.

Then I read a book or article on color (can't remember what) and it said some people are more neutral--and the coloring described matched mine. So that made me happy. I've also read that you become more "blue" toned as you age. The owner of the website I linked to above claims this isn't true.

In the last years I've gone by what I feel good in, what looks good to me in the mirror, and what people compliment me on. There are colors I should be able to wear such as rust, but I hate rust. I proceed on a case by case basis. My coloring is muted, and I look best in slightly muted colors, not too bright, not too pale or powdery, and not too muddy. Sometimes DH or a friend has urged me to try a color that shouldn't work, but it does.

The color categories are fine as a general guide, but are just a starting place. I think a lot depends on the fabric, how much skin shows, and accessories.