Help Picking My Color Season..... - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Help Picking My Color Season.....

Kafe

I am really curious as to what season I am and what colors I should stick to. Generally I have really light skin, but my face looks red as I've gotten older. My eyes are blue - not a bright, clear blue.... just regular blue.

I know I look best in pinks, peaches, and purples. Muted colors are great for me and I rarely like to wear brights (based on how they look on me). I even think I look decent in colled fall-ish colors like pumpkin, and olive green.

However, any warm color I wear must be on the cool side. Cooler colors can edge towards the warmer side.

I don't like to wear greens and some blues because they emphasize my redness on my face.

Finally, I think a white is best on me, but I wonder about black. There is a black sweater I want to get but now am second guessing myself. Would black look ok on me?

Ok, and now the time for the photos I don't really want to post. ; ) Sorry for the dorky-ness!

Thank you so much for any help you can offer. I'm trying to build a nice wardrobe as a MOTG and knowing what I should aim for in colors will surely help and, also as important, what colors to avoid.

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Astrid

Veteran

Here are two polyvore closets I got about a post about color in another community:

#1 Cool colors (summer): http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/br.....uid=121000

#2 Warm colors (autumn): http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/br.....id=1428746

What is your first reaction when you see these two different closets? Which one would you prefer to wear?

I think you're definitely cool if you say you like yourself best in pink and purple. When you say peaches , is it a warm peach (http://www.polyvore.com/james_.....d=27407017) or a cool peach (http://www.freepeople.com/shop.....-_-Primary)?
Muted colors would mean that you're probably a summer or an autumn, not a spring or winter. Now if you say you don't like to wear blue, I would think that tells me you're warm colored. That you don't like green isn't a clear indicator though, there are plenty of warm and cool greens, so the color for itself isn't really a criterion. Have you pics or links to pieces of the colors you like? Of your pics I like the third picture with the black and warm green the least.

I think it's better to analyze with 12 categories instead of 4 though. Do you know this link? http://www.thechicfashionista......sis-2.html Maybe this could help you a little bit. I'm a soft summer for example. But I can also wear deep and light cool tones, although they are not my best. For me it's most important not to wear warm colors.

Hair and eye color can be an indicator, but there are many people that fall a little outside of the categories that you read about on most websites.

celia

Veteran

Astrid has this down to an art
I have a dificult time pinpointing my 'season' because if for the most part I'm a 'Autumn' I cannot wear very warm colors or very warm color combinations.
What I found out is that if there is a color I know for sure it suits me( for me is a warmer teal) usually the colors that go with it or have the same kind of deepness also suits me.

ETA: I had asked in the other post if the color would suit you , and it surely does

Zoe

Oh Astrid! Thanks for the link. I've never been able to figure this out before but that info was terrific!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Celia! Zoe, glad I could help.

I had one thing I forgot to say above. You said you wanted to get a black sweater and only winter, deep autumn and clear spring can wear black well. When you're soft and muted, black normally isn't the thing for you. I would try to avoid it near the face.

Kafe

Thanks, Astrid! I am trying to figure this out with your links. It's hard for me to differentiate between colors I love (which would be all fall colors) and colors that look good on me.

I *love* the warm colored polyvore closet.

In the cool color set: the purple of the purse would look bad on me, I think. The darker blues would look good on me but the two brighter blues on the bottom two rows would look not as good. As for the reds there.... I don't know, probably because I don't particularly like that red.

In the warm color set: Yellows look bad on me. The warmer greens might be too warm. The oranges, being all cooler warms, would look good, I think.

As for the shirt's you linked to: the polyvore one would look good, the bright free people one would look awful.

Hmmmm..... maybe I will need to rethink that black sweater I was looking at.

I'm going to do the 12 categories right now......

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I tried but couldn't nail down anything with those links! Guess I'm just an all season gal ha ha. I suppose it doesn't really matter as long as I know the colors I like and that look good on me [shrug].

Astrid

Veteran

Mo, I personally think that's perfectly alright. You don't have to know your season as long as you know what suits you. I'm the type that fits a category and it helped me to buy better colors for me, because I didn't have a feel for colors at all.

It makes sense that you couldn't wear the two blues and the purple in the cool closet, because they probably aren't soft enough for you. These two closest don't make a difference between muted and bright, they work only in the four seasons system.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Makes sense, Astrid! I do know I prefer stronger jewel tones over faded out ones and purple, red, cobalt and green dominate the closet these days I rarely post face pics, but here's a goofy one with a mouth full of mudslide 2 summers ago. I figure being out in direct sunlight is the best indicator of true coloring.

EDIT: also I think our hair changes (dark over winter for me) make a huge difference as seen here last Mother's day

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Kafe

Hmmmm..... I came up with "soft autumn," "soft summer," and "cool summer."

This is really tough to nail down! I see I am not alone.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was about to ask if you'd figured yours out! I'm flummoxed as well!

Kafe

Totally not a help, Mo, but I love how your shirt matches your eyes. You have beautiful green eyes!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

thanks Do you have trouble finding what colors flatter you? Or are you just curious as to labeling a season for guidance in trying new colors?

Astrid

Veteran

Kafe, would the bright free people one look awful because of the tone or because of the intesety? This one isn't muted either, so that may influence your reaction.

Mo, I'm trying to figure something out, but you're right, it's not clear-cut.

Kafe

I need ideas on what other colors to get besides the peach and burnt oranges that I seem to be racking up since I discovered that color range looks good on me. I have the potential of being a one-trick-pony in peaches.

I'm thinking narrowing down to a season will help. It's good I've discovered muted tones are good so I will stay away from brights and, sadly, black. Black is so good with everything that I like it and wear it. But maybe no more.

Astrid

Veteran

I don't think you're a cool summer, because cool summer is totally lacking yellow. If you like the polyvore peach and burnt orange you're not a cool summer. Have you read that it's common to flow between a soft summer and a soft autumn palette? You may have to pick your best colors from both. Have you done the gold silver test?

Kafe

Astrid, I think the intensity mostly. I'm having a hard time seeing how it would look more muted to know how it would look on me.

Kafe

Ok, I added white to the color and, yes, this color would look good on me. It's funny how pinks are not my favorite color but one of the colors that looks good on me.

Photo 1 - yes.
Photo 2 - no

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those who have a strong colour sense can probably go by their own impulses. But I had my colours "done" even though I think I'm pretty good on colour, and I found it an interesting and useful experience.

First of all, it's even hard for trained professionals, sometimes, because so many variables come into play. The system is based mainly on skin tone and eye colour. To be really strict about picking your "season" you need to get your hair off your face and covered. But then again, hair colour DOES influence what looks best on us. And skin can be more or less tan, depending on the season and our use of sunscreen and time outdoors (or not). Or we might look paler due to recent illness.

The person who pegged me had a really tough time. When I first came in (sans makeup but with a light tan) and some rather too-coppery highlights, she thought I might be autumn. Then she put yellow next to my skin and we both almost threw up!

Then, given my low contrast appearance, she figured I might be a soft summer. But no. The softer, paler versions of summer's colours washed me totally out and I could take SOME of spring's bright, true tones pretty well (but not all). In the end she called me a cool summer, and gave me some colours from the cool wallet and some from the spring wallet (mostly turquoises and a clear red, which I can pull off). She also told me that I was right in my assumption that I can get away with some black; it's not ideal, but it's not as bad on me as it would be on a warmer complected pale-skinned person.

In an earlier thread on this some people said that your choice of decor colours often indicates your personal "season." But I prefer warm colours in my home. So that doesn't wash too well.

Kafe, it is really tough to tell from the pictures you've shown; you are looking for the skin's undertones, and how colours reflect against the face. Greenish veins usually indicate warm toned skin; blue veins a cooler look.

But you are probably a "soft" or "muted" and perhaps that is your dominant characteristic. Those people are hardest of all to classify. I am guessing you are on the cool side but I could be wrong.

Mo, are you usually a bit tanned in your photos? You might be a muted summer or autumn and can probably wear colours from both those seasons pretty well. Wow, you have such beautiful eyes, and they look so stunning with that shirt!

Elly

Veteran

I think that this is about picking out your strongest characteristics and then realizing that some of us can wear from more than one palette. For example, I always had problems with more traditional approaches, because they often ask you to chose whether you look better in salmon or fuchsia/magenta or silver/gold or they do the same with teal or medium blues. I could never get this right, since salmon, magenta, teal, and medium blue, gold and silver are all some of my favorite colors on me. On one hand I have both red and dark ashy tones in my hair and both warm and grey eyes. I have very pale skin, but it actually has olive undertones. The system that Astrid posted is the first one that ever made sense for me. It was pretty easy to narrow down that I was a deep (dark hair, dark eyes-- high contrast). Then I looked carefully at the colors and the celebs they list for warm (autumn) or winter in those palettes. Although I do wear a few of the deep winter colors well and even a few of the warm autumn colors, the deep autumn palette has pretty much every color I look great in. I was shocked-- and it also help explained not liking dusty colors and how versatile my own coloring can be. I look equally good in black, white, and ivory-- which is often another old-fashioned color test.

Kafe-- I really think you are a soft. Based on your own color preferences you seem to be leaning toward soft autumn-- but I do think it is hard to tell from pictures. I think it depends on what shades of pink you like on yourself. I am warm and blue-based hot, pale, bubblegum pinks look like doggie doo on me, but the warmer salmon pinks and very intense deep pinks look good. On me, pink and purple were the colors that really helped me sort out cool palettes from warm ones.

Kafe

Thank you Suz. I'm guessing my veins look bluish, from what I can see of my almost non-existent visible veins. It would help to compare my veins to others to really tell. Ewww.... just talking about veins grosses me out.

For now I will make sure I bring a family member shopping with me so I can get a yea or nay from them on colors. They are quite handy that way.

Sales people just want to make a sale so I can't depend on them. Once one tried to convince me a hideous yellow looked good on me.... even I could see it was awful.

Astrid

Veteran

Kafe, the color of the first pic is a part of Soft autumn. First row, second to the right, no?

Suz, very interesting. I had it done too, but she was a bit unsure. I think soft summer is right though.

Edit: Elly that's great, now you have a name for it! I think the 12 categories really make much more sense.

Kafe

Astrid, yes, I think you are right. In fact, the three colors on the top far right are where I tend to concentrate when picking clothes these days. And maybe this is why I think some olive greens look ok on me too. At least, I think. Many greens, being opposite on the color wheel, make my skin look too red.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, that sounds about right! Maybe you can try to find another color from the soft autumn palette the next time you're shopping? Could be worth a try.

Kafe

Thank you Astrid! You have been super helpful. I will try another color from this palette. I'm hearing this means I should go shopping soon. ; )

Thank you everyone.

Kafe

Elly, thank you too. I seem to have missed your post in between all my postings.

Astrid

Veteran

No problem! I love color and I love figuring it all out...

Kafe

One last question.... Is there a good book for what colors to wear? It would be nice and handy to have a book to refer to.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Kafe, glad you got all figured out!! Happy color shopping!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, the thing that might have confused your consultant is your hair. Some people believe all red heads must be autumns. And I have some warmth in my hair, too, yet am predominantly cool. (Yes, my hair is chemically enhanced, these days, but I was born with reddish blonde hair, not ash blonde; it turned ashier later but always retained some copper bits as well as gold and silvery golden brown.)

What I liked about my consultant was that she wasn't doctrinaire. She said that it's her feeling that our personalities also play a big role. One reason I can wear some of spring's clearer colours is my smile, the way I move, etc. She said I give off an impression of energy. And I can wear black and higher contrasts with my blonde hair now but may have to pull back from that when my hair is completely silver.

With your warm smile and hair, you might also be able to pull off certain warm colours or some brights.

Kafe, I think we're all agreed that you are soft, whether summer or autumn perhaps is less important since there is overlap! So now you can happily shop!

12