YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Colour Analysis one year in.

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Colour Analysis one year in. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:01:52 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Sal on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392873 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:47:06 +0000 Sal 2392873@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Suz - that makes sense!!  Our natural hair colours are probably similar.  It has been a while since my hair was totally natural.    Suz on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392785 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:40:32 +0000 Suz 2392785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sal, on hair colour -- for sure in my case it has changed my preferences but still within my generally cool palette. I had sort of warmish honey blonde hair (I was born a strawberry blonde and then turned dark dishwater blonde in high school and then, ahem, highlighted/ supplemented the colour for a number of decades...) but there was always also a cool undertone, almost a charcoal to my hair threaded through. Anyway....as a blonde I looked good in some version of Summer's palette. I dyed my hair red for a few years in my 30s and again, looked good in Summer colours -- just a different set -- included more browns, greens, and purples than I would wear as a blonde. And now, as a silver haired person, I wear slightly clearer versions of my blues, reds, etc. and look better in the winter whites, greys, etc. than I used to. But they are all cooler colours and always were.  I think I'm probably quite "cool" dominant. It would be possible to be more neutral and have the colour palette slide more into autumn or spring or something...it just hasn't been the case for me with the change of hair colour.  Sal on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392781 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:25:24 +0000 Sal 2392781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I know Jenni - but I can see that we do suit many of the same colours although I think you are closer to winter than I am. It's just a guide. I love the greens but they are not always available.  I am pleased I got the matching top and shoes last year, it does make a nice cohesive outfit on occasions but I also like both as a pop of colour. Jenni NZ on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392611 Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:32:11 +0000 Jenni NZ 2392611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I found it fun when I was typed the same season as you! But it’s interesting because I don’t think you and I look very much alike at all, and yet we supposedly suit the same colours. It’s a bit like Kibbe in that way, two people of the same Kibbe “type” might not necessarily both look great in the same clothing? I have not changed what I am doing all that much but I do bear it in mind and take the swatches with me if shopping. I am possibly keen to add more of the beautiful greens like in your Finds, if I see some that would otherwise mix in with my existing clothes. Sal on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392578 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:16:29 +0000 Sal 2392578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Helena!  You are right indeed. I would have thought you were a soft summer but I think you could wear some of the winter shades as well - and probably some autumn.  Maybe the opposite of me almost!! Lisa - I love red but it can read a bit too "school" at times so I know the feeling.  Slightly more interesting neutrals are great for outerwear.  And yes black is a great base colour, probably easier than anything else to be honest.   Jaime - yes that probably is right.  I like mixing cool and warm anyway to be honest. I think we could change JAileen, and as Lise mentions further along in the thread, hair colour makes a big difference.  I know Suz went from a blonde to the white and it has changed her preferences, and if my hair was natural (ashy dark blonde/brown) I think it would change my preferences further.  You are probably one of the neutral leaning seasons like soft autumn? You are right Angie, you cannot wear colours you do not like.  And the interesting thing is mustard is good on me, but not citron so much.  I can wear colours that are a bit cool as long as they are clear, and I can wear softer muted colours as long as they are warm.  Charcoal and warm muted olive are both good on me, whereas icy or muted taupes and stones and pastel blues are definitely not.   Thanks Lisa - it is fun getting the analysis.  You have a good eye for colour anyway so it may be redundant.  And yes contrast is energising. Thanks Dee.  Some of my favourite colours are coral, warm reds and kelly greens so I do look out for them.  Some seasons are better than others. Ket - to me you are clearly a deep autumn - these are your best shades and I think they look so natural on you.  Interesting how you knew that intuitively.  Listening to your own intuition is powerful - but not always easy to do. Thanks Suz!  I have experimented a bit more and tried some new things so that has been fun.   Lise - yes I can see the hair colour thing too.  And interesting that you were right intuitively on colour.  It's just hard when you mix in what is available, what works for your environment, and trying to ignore trends.  I guess with coloured hair you are maybe warming everything up so you can lean into both cool and warm colours, whereas when natural everything is cool.   Star (Lise) on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392571 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 20:38:29 +0000 Star (Lise) 2392571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love these tools that assist us with style decisions.  I just wrote a thread about Kibbe.  One of the colour analysis programmes I first read advised not to take into account dyed hair colour, only your natural colour.  I was always a Winter but could wear almost any colour without looking ghastly so I never gave it that much consideration.  When I let my natural silver come through I became strictly Winter.  Wow all of a sudden other seasons made me look sick, it was so obvious.  Now my hair colour is warm and I look good in most warm colours.  So in my case hair colour has really played a big role.  What I know is that it is quite obvious to my own eye what works and what doesnt.  When I was in my early 20s not so much.  I recall I was gifted three blouses from the same person and I kept rewearing the one.  The gifter noticed and said that I clearly prefer the one.  I had not noticed or realised that.  The one I was wearing was the perfect cool yellow for a Winter, the other two were pastels that I now know make me look washed out.  It just came about naturally being drawn to the more flattering colour, even though in theory I liked the other two. Suz on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392567 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 19:00:51 +0000 Suz 2392567@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sal, I give you an A+ too because the colour analysis led you to experiment more with brights, with warm tones, and just with different colours in general, and you leaned into your warm, breezy, 70s glam style even more, which is your personal signature!  Ket on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392536 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 12:26:55 +0000 Ket 2392536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You look beautiful in spring!!! And I love how you've listened to your own eyes and heart and chosen what works for YOU! That is the key. I love color analysis, though I heartily agree with Angie and others that it's not as definitive as we are always lead to believe. Color is just too nuanced. We are too nuanced as individuals. Our livestyles and likes and dislikes all shift. And that all plays a role. Even our emotions change how we feel in certain colors.<div> I self draped a few years ago after being misanalysed as a winter twice. (Winter felt very off to me and I just didn't have the physical or emotional energy to wear it anymore.) Turned out, I am a dark/deep AUTUMN. What's funny is these are the colors I have always loved and been drawn to to wear all of my adult life. So I think our gut and heart tell us a lot. :) </div> Dee on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392530 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 10:51:39 +0000 Dee 2392530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Always interesting to hear about colour analysis and how well you felt about it all afterwards. Those warm medium tone spring colours are lovely for you and they can be quite helpful in guiding you in further colour choices but I wouldn't hold strict adherence to them if you enjoy wearing other colours as well. Its your personal style afterall. Lisa on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392512 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:43:04 +0000 Lisa 2392512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ How fun that you had your colors analyzed (I've never done this but was always curious). It seems like a great way to have a jumping off point for colors to select for one's wardrobe. I especially like that you are including more contrast in your wardrobe. I find contrast outfits energizing, especially when they are done with all color instead of a color and a neutral.  Angie on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392507 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:26:56 +0000 Angie 2392507@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What Jaime said! Colour analysis helps us understand the nuances of colour - and as Helena mentioned - a helpful jumping off point!  So, Sal, I give you an A+! You absorbed what the analysis concluded, worked with it as a guide, AND threw in your personal stamp and feelings. The most important part! Experimental is fun Please carry on!  I say - you cannot see colours in isolation - and colour analysis isolates colours. We have to take things further by: <ul> <li>understanding that colours affect one another, and </li> <li>we can't wear a colour we don't like! </li> </ul> You look great in warm colours! The blue is cooler than you would normally wear - but wear it with a warm colour, and Bob's your Uncle. The greens are cool-toned here, and yet you wear them with panache! YES to wearing toffee with bright reds and yellows!!! Like you, I am a Spring. A Warm Spring, True Spring, Bright Spring, or Clear Spring (it can differ depending on the source!). I look best in warm colours with yellow in them. Clear colours that are acidic. The blues I wear need yellow in them too. Yet, I wear a lot of navy, denim blue, and whites. And earthy toffee and cognac is on the rise in my wardrobe.  I look much better in neon yellow and citron, than mustard - which is the cooler colour? I think citron. Sooooooo, colour theorists are not bang on the money. You're the boss!  JAileen on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392506 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:15:30 +0000 JAileen 2392506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I never did an official analysis, but back in the 80s a department store sales associate told me to stop wearing navy and white!!!  She insisted I was an Autumn.  My hair was a medium brown with red and gold highlights, and my eyes hazel.  Well, I did start wearing Autumnal colors, and felt great in olive, pumpkin, chestnut, gold, etc.  Also, those colors always went on sale because fewer people liked wearing them, I suppose.  These many years later, I wear whatever I feel like, primarily grey, blue, and olive, but also pale pink, and of course red.  I started thinking maybe I wasn’t an Autumn, but rather neutral.  Or maybe I changed?  Anyway, I say wear the colors you like! Jaime on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392505 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 23:38:08 +0000 Jaime 2392505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sometimes I think the main use of color analysis is to train our eyes to understand color (if we did not benefit from a good art education). At least that holds for me - I think I entered the fashion zone not even understanding cool vs. warm. Anyway, your pieces and insights are fab. LJP on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392501 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 22:55:27 +0000 LJP 2392501@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree that the warmer colours work well for you.  Every time I think I have personal colour theory figured out , I doubt myself  .  It's hard to move away from black though, isn't it?   I'd love to add some colour/personality to my style but also don't want random one-off pieces that don't work with everything in my closet.  Oh - your parka reminds me that I bought a long cinnamon puffer last winter - seriously having second thoughts about investing in such a weird colour - but it was the best thing I've bought in years.  It was so much more interesting to wear than a plain dark coat - without being obnoxiously bright and childlike.  (like my red North Face which I wear in bitter cold for days I take public transport = I feel like a grade schooler in it, lol) . Helena on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392499 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 22:24:21 +0000 Helena 2392499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like your thinking Sal ... Its a great jumping off point but I think we all need to tweak our palettes. Carol Bailey has me as a deep (yes I've done multiple analysis lol ... I went deep down the rabbit hole at some point, which I learned alot from!!), which goes against my soft summer which was the in person one. I think both work in different ways. I think Sal you wear warm colours beautifully and can go from softer and lighter, to deeper and brighter, and the effect is different but all flattering on you. Sal on "Colour Analysis one year in." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/colour-analysis-one-year-in#post-2392495 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 20:53:19 +0000 Sal 2392495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Last winter I got analysed as a Clear Spring. It was not a total surprise as I suspected I was a spring but did wonder if I could be autumn. It was under the colour me beautiful 12 season system. The analysis picked out some favourites on me - picture 2. I agree these were good. Pic 3 is the ones I am not drawn to and don’t think suit me. Maybe as a small accent or contrast. Black and soft white as in my palette but potentially not my best. Aside from black and navy cycling shorts, here are my additions since. The wrap cardigan has been donated due to fit. Too wide and too short. I give myself a B. Less black, more non black neutrals such as the fawn pants and cardigan. The parka is probably a warm autumn colour but I love it for something cheerful when it is cold. The blue raincoat might be a summer blue but I think it suits me. The cedar/ chartreuse I come and go in whether it suits me or not. Sadly it seems to have got shorter and wider after washes- despite cold wool washes with wool detergent in the machine. The murky olive does suit me but I like it worn with some contrast. So what has changed. I think I am looking for more contrast - maybe not black and white, but fawn and red, or navy and yellow. I have edited out anything too cool and blue based. Incidentally under the 16 colour system ( Carol Brailey is one advocate) where their Bright Spring leans more to winter I think I would be a True Spring. So whilst I love thinking about this - and believe it is useful, I am definitely fairly loose with it. I have got looser in genera with colours that I wear together and I am loving being a bit more experimental. Thanks for reading.