Focus: Color

Recently a co-worker got me into looking at color analysis based on skin tone, hair and eye color, etc., which determines the best colors to wear. Here's a good overview, and here's more in-depth description about individual analysis.

So here's my question. We determined that my coloring is warm, and the first guess was light (light spring; see the first color palette). But I'm not sure; would the warm and soft color palette (soft autumn; see below) be a better match?

Anyone else get kind of hooked on this stuff? I've been analyzing co-workers, friends, family, and actors for their color characteristics. It seems easier to analyze others than myself.

Bill's coloring is cool, with an overall light complexion — definitely a summer. He could be either soft summer or light summer. I'm leaning toward soft summer. Minus the pinks and purples, he already wears many of these colors. (And yes, Mom, he would look great in burgundy, if you could ever get him into it.)

















Matt's coloring is much like mine, though his eyes are a lighter blue. He is certainly warm, which is why white doesn't look great on him. For warm complexions, cream or khaki are better neutrals. Bright, warm greens and blues are probably his best bets, in addition to warm neutrals that aren't too dark.





















Bonus: Bonnie and Michèle are easier. Bonnie is definitely cool winter, as she probably already knows.






















And Michèle has to be light summer — with cool tones but, unusually, freckles. Unlike Matt and I, she looks great in white.

Comments

[Leah]

This stuff always fails me -- I just am not good at it. On the rare occasion (every decade or so) I decide to buy makeup, I just trust the ladies at the makeup counter that they understand my skin tone and hair color. Maybe I will try and read your links and learn more. But I have to ask: isn't it okay to have more than one palette? Maybe not at the same time, but still.

[Bill]

Thank goodness makeup isn't an issue. I think you're Soft Autumn.
You only analyze in person, right?

[Matt]

I like the second set of colors more.

Can you analyze me? So far I know that I look okay in black, blue, green and some reds. When I have a tan I can wear white, but otherwise it makes me look more ghost-like.

I don't look good in yellow or orange, and in general I've never found a pastel color that I thought looked any good on me.

I also noticed that your links were entirely feminine, I didn't see a single guy anywhere. Hrm. :-)

[April]

It's not necessarily the colors you like best, but the colors that look best on you. I think overall the light spring colors look best on me (and Matt - you can totally do orange), but I/we could also wear many of the soft autumn colors.

Once you have an idea the general colors that look best, and especially whether you appear cool or warm, it's easier to pick out the best options. It's pretty obvious when a color looks bad, and also when it looks great. It's the in-between ones that are harder to figure out.

[mums]

I still have the little make-up kit I got when Darlene Frank and I went into Spokane and met a lady. I can't even remember why but I know I didn't pay for it. How come my teeth aren't the right color?