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Color Me Confident

rachylou

Veteran

So I got me a copy of this book, with the idea of "diagnosing" my colors, and I find I just don't understand a word even though I had color theory in school.

I think I could be a "deep & cool" or a "clear & cool."

A Clinique lady told me I had blue undertones when I was a teen... I think I look terrible in colors with yellowy undertones - like olive and peach. I don't think I look great in whites and pastels. A fuschia or bluish red or emerald green or a dark violet are stand-up-and-notice colors for me. I also feel "clear colors" are best for me; drab or muddy dyes look off on me IMO. Brown is not my best color per se.

Anyways, anybody familiar with these terms? What does "deep" sound like to y'all in terms of coloring. (Michelle Obama, btw, was an example of "deep" and Courtney Cox - along with an anonymous Asian chick - an example of "clear." Could I be, like, an anonymous Asian chick?)

I could probably get rid of a lot clothing based on color, which would be helpful...

General

20 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I haven't seen this particular book. But it drives me crazy the way they all use their own sub-classifications, and what one means by "deep" is not necessarily what another does!

It sounds as if you have a fairly accurate perception of what looks good on you, so does the label really matter in the end? Why not just donate the stuff that doesn't feel fab on you?

Anonymous

Forget the label. I bought this book a while back and never did figure out exactly which category I fit into. The same has been true with all the other color analysis books I've purchased. I think that after many years of experimenting, I have a good idea of what colors (and what color combinations) look best on me; the label doesn't really matter. Besides that, each color analysis sytem is slightly different, so I probably won't have a completely perfect palette of colors unless I pay a hefty fee to see a color analyst. And even then, the color analyst could be wrong. I've been told by various "experts" (2 in person; 1 based on a photo I submitted) that I'm a Summer, a Spring, and a Clear Winter. Those are three completely different seasons with completely different colors, folks! In the end, I had to just use the common sense God gave me. I can say, however, that having a certain color palette helps me coordinate my wardrobe and keep expenses under control. Hope this helps!

rae

(website)

Veteran

The closest celebs to match me were "deep winters" - cool undertones, but not the classic "snow white" coloring of a clear winter. *However* - do I remember that you are mixed-ethnicity? I am (basically Russian and Hawaiian), and I know that throws the coloring thing off a lot. You end up with both cool and warm undertones that quite simply like some colors and hate others. Like skin color, it's not a 50/50 mix and it varies by person, so the only real way to find your colors is to try them on...

Anonymous

Hi Rachylou, I too have this book and I agree with you it's really difficult to work out what you are. I ended up going to a proper colour analysis lady and had a full two hour session with her including make up. Yes it is quite expensive ( mine was a birthday treat 4 years ago) but I found that it was worth it. I was given a swatch wallet with about 40 shades in it that I can take shopping with me and it helps narrow down the choices. Maybe put on a birthday wish list?

Meredith1953

Veteran

I know very little about color theory but I do think that different people have different levels of intensity and contrast they wear. The cheapest way I know to figure out what you like on you is go to a department store that has a great selection of scarves and try different ones on till you find the ones that look good on you WITHOUT MAKEUP. This could also help you determine what level of contrast you are comfortable with.

rachylou

Veteran

@ Suz - you're right, I could totally get going now on the weeding out by color. I do have my basic ideas of what works and doesn't.

@ Ruth - I know, it's true, everybody's got their own take (!!) No wonder the confusion.

@ Rae - Ya, the mixed heritage doesn't help. You never really look like any of the pictures! Also not helpful is the deep deep tan I've acquired this summer. (Btw, Russian and Hawaiian is very interesting... and "snow white" a very illuminating term for a clear winter.)

@ Diane G. - I guess what I was hoping for was something like that, a "swatchbook of colors", something that might expand my color imagination. How did you find the color analyst you saw?

@ Meredith - Intensity and contrast, those are two whole concepts I have not thought about at all. Not beyond the general nature of pastels on me, in any case. Hmm...

I also can't figure out body type, which the book has section on after color. I know I'm short-waisted, miss the mark on the golden ratio (waist too wide), and have slopey shoulders. But I don't really have a boyish or waif-slender figure either...

Kate

Veteran

If pastels are out and warm tones are out, it sounds like you're some variation of a "winter". I wouldn't worry about getting too much more specific than that at this stage. Just start focusing on colors that you know do work well for you, and getting rid of the ones that you know don't. I also recommend checking out this blog for comparisons of real people in different color palettes (air=summer and ice=winter for this guy): http://fireiceearthandair.wordpress.com/

I'm an autumn and I tend to follow that pretty precisely, but I don't get too caught up in the variations within autumn. I think once things get too specific there are diminishing returns, if I can even find any perfect colors for sale!

Anonymous

No matter which color system I read about, I find myself stuck trying to figure out if I'm a Soft Summer or a Cool Summer. At least I have it narrowed down that far, though, thanks to a personal color analysis I had done many moons ago. Unfortunately, that analysis was done when there was only a 4-season system. Figuring out exactly which type of Summer I am has been difficult. Maybe another professional consultation would clear things up for me, but I'm not willing to shell out the money for it.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

I read this book while back and I think its kind of hard to figure out what category you fall into. What I have learned that simplest way to "diagnose" is this-put a piece of silver and gold fabric next to your face and see which one looks better. Personally, I look horrid in gold so that was my clue that I fall into cool category. Then, you can try to categorize into Fall, Winter, Summer or Autumn(that was the "old way" to do it and I find that it works most of the time).
winter-jewel tones and icy pastels
fall-deep warm shades, like rust and olive green
summer-muted cool shades and cool pastels
Spring-warm bright colors
When this book speaks about deep, I believe it refers to jewel tones and darker skintones
There are some people who can wear both cool and warm shades, though but generally most women fall into one out of these 4 categories

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Ruth: if I remember correctly, the only difference was whether you look better in muted cool colors or pastels. I guess one way to figure this out, is to try one of each and see which one looks better. For example, dusty rose or muted mauve as opposed to icy lavender or pink

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou: to add, I think you are "clear and cool"

rachylou

Veteran

@ Kate & Victoris - Great tips!

Is soft the opposite of clear?

I'm pretty sure I'm "cool", but I don't know as to whether deep or clear. My first guess would have been "deep", but that seems to include brown-y colors (which I don't think are me). I think clear doesn't have the tans and brown so much...?

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

rach: clear means bright clear colors, soft means muted(at least that's how I am translating this;))

rachylou

Veteran

Mmm. That make sense.

I think I'm a clear and cool after looking at some pics. But I have to check and see if there's such a thing as clear and warm now, to make sure I get it.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

"I think I look terrible in colors with yellowy undertones - like olive and peach. I don't think I look great in whites and pastels. A fuschia or bluish red or emerald green or a dark violet are stand-up-and-notice colors for me. I also feel "clear colors" are best for me; drab or muddy dyes look off on me IMO. Brown is not my best color per se."

I could have written these words myself (apart from the bit about whites). I mostly stick to very clearly defined colors, from black and white as my main neutrals, to rich jewel tones of red and purple, then blue and teal. Anything that looks or feels "in between" does not look good on me or I don't feel good in that.

Admittedly, once I discovered colors that I truly felt in tune with, I did start feeling a bit more brave and branched out just a bit - but I never wear those 'other' colors too close to my face. But whenever in doubt, I just fall back to those colors I know work for me and with the rest of my wardrobe.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, that's me too, Ornella. I find it interesting that every now and then I go into Dress Barn, and there's something about their palette that's not "clear". Something will be purple but not a jewel-toned purple. I feel I can look very drab in their clothing.

---
On another note: I googled "color analysis asian" and found this site - http://donnafujii.com/color-a-.....sians.html

I think I'd be a "midnight", which I think is again "clear and cool."

Anonymous

I know I look dreadful in obviously warm colors, as well as in pastels and in bright colors. This leaves me with soft (muted), which I interpret to mean toned down. If I veer too cool, though, I also don't look quite right. This is especially true of pink. I've pretty much narrowed myself down to Soft Summer. My coloring resembles that of Jennifer Anniston, but my hair is darker. Didn't she have darker hair in her youth? Just wondering...

According to the Donna Fujii system, I am a High Contrast Summer. I have her book, and think it makes more sense than most color analysis books.

rachylou

Veteran

@ Victoria - Oh! Must have been posting at the same time and missed it... Serious appreciation for the feedback as to whether I'm a cool and clear or not! Helps a lot to know if what I'm reading into this book makes any sense.

@ Ruth - I think that's interesting about going too cool and being High Contrast. I think I need to brush up on the theory of undertones. A person can wear just about any color well, but much depends on undertone. Maybe I will check out Donna Fujii's book.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Oh I love the Asian coloring link! Very helpful. I think I am a "horizon" in fall/winter and more of a "sunset" in the summer - great analogy since I really love orange, a color that comes out in the sunset. I don't know if I agree with the "best colors" she suggests on the website, though.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, I think you'd be a horizon or sunset too, Rae. I'm thinking I really do like you a lot in warm, slightly muted tones.

Color is so tough to talk about, unless we all have a Pantone swatch book to reference... and even then...