How to Find Your Perfect Colors
Photo by Sir_Fish
If you’ve ever picked up the latest issue of Vogue, and read about this season’s “new black”, you know that “it colors” come and go in fashion.
For example, last spring the hot shade in fashion was yellow, and this winter, the “it” color is purple. But if you’ve ever tried to wear one of those colors and found that you just didn’t look right, you need to keep reading.
Regardless of what the trendy colors are, there are some shades that are always going to look good on you, and some that aren’t. No color looks good on everyone, and it’s just a fact. This has to do with your coloring, or the way your eye color, hair, and skin tone combine to give you a look.
Your coloring makes the difference between whether you can wear gold or silver jewelry, whether that bright red halter top will look fabulous or horrible on you, and even what shades of makeup you can pull off. It’s really important to know what your perfect colors are, or you risk looking completely messed up!
So how can you figure out what colors look best on you?
Believe it or not, there’s one old school way to tell what your colors are that is still relevant after many years. Seasonal color analysis, the study of a person’s coloring, is what we’re going to get into today.
What is Color Analysis?
Basically, color analysis is all about your natural coloring (hair, skin, and eyes), and how that combo complements or contrasts with the things you choose to wear (makeup colors, clothing, or even jewelry).
Color analysis breaks people’s colorings down into the four color seasons -Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. These color seasons are broken down even further, into 3 different categories per season. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s really helpful if you want to get a basic idea of what shades work for you.
How to find out which season you are:
So which season are you? Find out with the quick quiz below, courtesy of Cindy Busch Color Analysis.
Now that you know what season you fit into, keep reading to find out what that means for your clothes, shoes, accessories, and makeup!
By the way, If you’re having trouble with the first question, grab a mirror and find a well-lit place. Bring one item of clothing each that’s navy blue, charcoal gray, honey beige, and soft brown. (If you don’t have one of those, don’t worry. Just use what you have.) Put each piece of clothing up near your face, and observe what it does to your skin tone. If the color becomes the focus instead of your face, it’s not right. If it makes you light up, makes your eyes look brighter and your hair look better, you’ve found your winner!
Getting more specific
Now that you know what general category you are, there are three types of coloring within each “season.” Sound confusing? I promise, it’s really not as bad as it sounds.
Find your season below, and read the descriptions to find out which type you are & see your best colors!
UPDATE: As of 10/19 I’ve updated this list to be more accurate and in-depth with info I got from the book Color Me Beautiful
Also, to be more specific, if you are Asian, Latina or African, you will probably be an Autumn or Winter. If you are Caucasian, you will probably be a Spring or Summer. Hope that helps clear up some confusion!
Types of Springs
1. Light Spring:
- Eyes: Blue, green, turquoise, or light hazel.
- Hair: Light to medium golden blonde, ash blonde or light to medium brown.
- Skin: Ivory with peach tones, pink beige.
Best colors for Light Springs:
From Left: Camel, khaki, light gray, blue charcoal, taupe, warm pastel pink, baby pink, clear salmon, coral, watermelon, fuchsia, clear red, creme, light green, bright golden yellow, moss green, blue green, clear aqua, powder blue, light purple, periwinkle, violet.
2. Clear Spring:
- Eyes: Turquoise blue, green, golden brown or topaz.
- Hair: Medium to dark brown, or brown-black. May have red highlights.
- Skin: Bronze, deep warm brown, brown-black, light ivory, light peach, or porcelain.
Best colors for Clear Springs:
From Left: Navy, gray, charcoal, black, light grey, turquoise, yellow, marigold yellow, mint, green, dark green, clear teal, hot turquoise, true blue, purple, purple-gray, peach, salmon, true red, warm pastel pink, hot pink.
3. Warm Spring:
- Eyes: Topaz, olive green, light hazel, or warm turquoise.
- Hair: Light golden brown, red, strawberry blonde, or deep golden blonde.
- Skin: Bronze, golden beige, ivory, or porcelain. May have freckles.
Best colors for Warm Springs:
From Left: Camel, bronze, golden brown, dark brown, stone, gray green, peach, light orange, coral, tomato red, rust, buff, green, light true green, evergreen, emerald turquoise, jade, teal, moss, deep periwinkle.
Types of Summers
1. Light Summer:
- Eyes: Blue, gray or green.
- Hair: Light to medium ash blonde or light to medium ash brown.
- Skin: Pale beige, porcelain, ivory or pink beige. (Usually pink-toned.)
Best colors for Light Summers:
From Left: Light gray, gray blue, cocoa, taupe, powder pink, rose pink, rose, coral pink, clear salmon, clear red, light lemon yellow, light aqua, blue green, spruce, light navy, sky blue, medium blue, lavender, violet.
2. Soft Summer:
- Eyes: Gray-blue, hazel or soft turquoise.
- Hair: Light to medium ash brown, mousy brown. May have blonde in it.
- Skin: Light to medium neutral beige, ivory.
Best colors for Soft Summers:
From Left: Medium gray, light gray, taupe, cocoa, rose, raspberry, rose pink, deep rose, baby pink, soft fuchsia, burgundy, light lemon yellow, light green, turquoise, jade, green, forest green, navy, periwinkle, lavender, dusty purple, teal.
3. Cool Summer:
- Eyes: Gray, blue, or slate.
- Hair: Medium to deep ash brown. Little to no red tones.
- Skin: Ivory, pink beige, gray beige, or neutral beige.
Best colors for Cool Summers:
From Left: Light gray, gray blue, cocoa, buff, light brown, taupe, icy pink, soft fuchsia, deep rose, burgundy, turquoise, jade, green, aqua, light aqua, true aqua, lavender, dusty purple, warm dusty purple, periwinkle, navy.
Types of Autumns
1. Deep Autumn:
- Eyes: Dark brown, dark hazel, black, or dark green.
- Hair: Medium brown, medium to deep auburn, dark brown deep chestnut or black.
- Skin: Warm beige, neutral beige, golden brown, dark brown, olive.
Best colors for Deep Autumns:
From Left: Black brown, black, light yellow, marigold, peach, terracotta, salmon pink, tomato red, deep red, true red, dark rose, lemon yellow, camel, jade, moss, lime bronze, hot turquoise, cerulean, chinese blue, evergreen, dark purple, purple.
2. Soft Autumn:
- Eyes: Light brown, soft hazel, blue, or gray-green.
- Hair: Golden blonde to medium brown or mousy brown. May have blonde or red highlights.
- Skin: Ivory, neutral beige, warm beige, golden brown.
Best colors for Soft Autumns:
From Left: Mahogany, brown, medium gray, camel, khaki, gray, light peach, deep rose, light coral, dusty pink, coral, terracotta, buttermilk, mint, emerald turquoise, turquoise, jade, evergreen, purple, dark purple aubergine.
3. Warm Autumn:
- Eyes: Brown, olive green, hazel or topaz.
- Hair: Medium golden brown, red, auburn, strawberry blonde or golden blonde.
- Skin: Bronze, golden brown, golden beige, ivory, or warm beige.
Best colors for Warm Autumns:
From Left: Camel, khaki, coffee brown, cream, medium brown, dark brown, light salmon, dark peach, salmon, pumpkin, rust, terracotta, aubergine, light yellow, light moss, evergreen, marigold, emerald turquoise, teal, forest green, deep periwinkle, purple.
Types of Winters
1. Deep Winter:
- Eyes: Black, black-brown, or dark hazel.
- Hair: Black-brown, medium brown, steel gray, or salt & pepper.
- Skin: Black, medium beige, black-brown, or olive with no pink or peach undertones.
Best colors for Deep Winters:
From Left: Black, charcoal, black-brown, red-brown, icy gray, gray, hot pink, true red, rust, aubergine, blue red, mint, lemon yellow, light green, emerald green, olive, purple, clear teal, bright periwinkle, blue, navy, chinese blue.
2. Clear Winter:
- Eyes: Bright blue, hazel, violet, or green.
- Hair: Black, chestnut, medium brown, or dark brown hair.
- Skin: Black, deep brown, neutral beige, pale olive, milky white. (Usually translucent.)
Best colors for Clear Winters:
From Left: Medium gray, charcoal, black, dark taupe, icy gray, taupe, icy blue, icy lavender, lavender, icy pink, clear red, raspberry, raspberry pink, aubergine, icy yellow, bright golden yellow, hot turquoise, emerald turquoise, purple, dark purple, royal blue, navy.
3. Cool Winter:
- Eyes: Charcoal gray, blue, dark brown or violet.
- Hair: Blue-black, silver, salt & pepper. No red tones.
- Skin: Cool brown, olive, or neutral beige.
Best colors for Cool Winters:
From Left: Light gray, medium gray, dark gray, black, charcoal, taupe, rose pink, hot pink, purple, blue red, deep rose, burgundy, icy blue, icy pink, lemon yellow, emerald turquoise, hot turquoise, bright periwinkle, royal blue, purple, navy, dark purple.
A few more tips
Bear in mind that the colors above are not an all-inclusive list of the colors that will work for you, but they are some of the best colors that you should definitely try to incorporate into your wardrobe! Even just a few new tops in those colors will make a huge difference.
Also, you may fit into a couple different categories. That’s okay, it’s normal and no big deal. The seasons are just supposed to give you a general idea of your colors – they’re not supposed to be strict rules that you need to follow religiously.
If you try on some clothes in your colors, you’ll quickly learn that wearing the right colors makes a huge difference in the way you look. I encourage you to experiment with different shades and see which ones look best on you, as well as which ones you like the most! Then buy these colors up whenever you spot them in stores. If you want, you can print this article out and take it shopping with you, so you’ll always have your colors at hand.
Your Thoughts?
What do you think of seasonal color analysis? Is it lame or helpful? What about your personal colors – are they a fit for what you already have in your wardrobe, or do you need to go buy some new pieces?
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Posted on on September 29, 2008 / Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: Color Analysis, Colors, Makeup Colors, Seasons, Skin, Wardrobe
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Jess
What an awesome post! I can tell you put a lot of thought and effort into this. You really have to consider everyone to make something so detailed like this. Thanks for all of your work!
Brridget
I COMPLETELY agree with Jess. The post looks great. The new layout of CF is even better! You did an ah-mazing job. Congrats! :)
Brridget
Oh and btw- I found I was a clear winter (milky white skin, darkdarkdark brown hair, green eyes) & you were RIGHT! Those colors look great on me. Thanks again.
Alie
This is a great post! I found your blog through fuel my blog. I just found out I am a warm Spring. Very cool! I like your colors, they are similar to my blog. check out my blog at thesugaredlotus.com
Cheers!
Alie
Nat
Love this post! I always second guess myself when it comes to one colour vs. another because I’ve always found my tones hard to compliment (light olive/ warm beige, medium golden brown hair and v. dark brown eyes). Figuring out I’m warm autum has just simplified my winter wardrobe shopping tremendously!
Thanks. Really practical and well-written article.
Nikki
Thanks for the post! I’m a Deep Winter and the post totally reassured me that my wardrobe is great for me! Thank you!
Lyd
What about ladies like me that have black hair and brown skin?? but other than that, this is a great guide otherwise.. :D
Lyd
oh wait nvm about the previous post haha XD
Candace
Well, looks like I’m in between Deep Autumn and Soft Autumn. I have dark brown eyes, ivory skin, and medium brown hair. At least now I have a better idea of what colors would look good on me. Time for shopping? hehe
Candace
Nevermind. I’m definitely Deep Autumn.
Nadia
This is a great article but I’m totally confused. No category matches my type. My eyes are brown, my skin is white/pale (not very pale but normal – but nowhere nearbronze) and my natural hair colour is brown. I can’t find a category that matches all of these.
Katelyn
This was so helpful! I’m Soft Summer, and the colors really confirmed my suspicions about what colors I can wear. I can’t wear any shade of orange, because it gives my skin a greenish tinge, and I don’t look too good in red either. Neither of those colors were included in the list, so I know it really works! Very cool!
Zephyr
Nadia – What about a warm autumn – golden beige is a medium skintone that isn’t too pale. If not, don’t worry about it, you might not always fit perfectly into a category. It’s just supposed to be a guide for some possibilities.
AJ
My roomie and I just decided that our color analyses are both very accurate. I’m a Clear Winter, and she’s a Light Summer.. and neither of us can wear orange.. which is predicted by the analysis. Good find!
J
Wow, this is really helpful!
jules
i don’t fit in any of the descriptions!
My eyes are black, i have brown hair and my skin is very a light peach tone.
what are the best colors for me?
btw, i love your site :)
Krista
I feel like I have been left out. I have very dark brown hair, very dark eyes, and am very pale. I don’t fit into this chart, any ideas?
Lyd
i fall in between deep winter and clear winter, but mostly… deep winter. i think also clear winter because of my hair colour :)
schnorg
I also feel left out although I may be a deep winter.
I have black hair, black eyes, but pale olive skin.
What am I?
Peggy
I second/third/w/e the motion of being left out. There are SOOOO many black-haired people out there and they were totally overlooked. Asians? yes? Blacks? yes? Middle Easterners? yes? There are plenty of others with black hair, including from Latin America and Indians, and I’m sure there’s even some from European countries who have black hair as well. That’s a hefty amount of people to overlook, I must say, especially when you can point out the red-heads (who are apparently going to fall in number, sadly!) but not the black-haired as much. We have one category: clear winter. And I don’t have blue or green or purple eyes.
I know it’s probably not consciously done, not intentional. You do consider different races – I can see that with the skin colors. But it’s just a case in point about how westernized the world’s becoming that we by default think in terms of white people.
Amanda
Let’s not get too easily offended, Peggy. All of the Winter tones suffice for people with black hair and all different skin tones and eye colors. We were told that the charts may not fit each one of us to a T….I know that the autumn tones work best for me, but there is not one that describes me perfectly….I highly doubt that these color charts are a reflection of “how westernized the world’s becoming…”
Zephyr
Peggy – I know that this list might leave some people out. I got most of this from books and researching online, and I do realize that some people might not fit perfectly into a category. It’s not meant to be racist in any way, at least not on my end! I totally apologize if it’s offensive to you.
lauren
awe i hope people cut you some slack! maybe for the people who don’t have a category can come up with some colors that they think are flattering and you can add to the list!
I think the chart is super helpful & i love all of the colors for my group :)
mango
I am Asian Indian and I certainly don’t feel left out. I am a deep winter thanks so much Zephyr for the time you took researching this. Time to go shopping!
Amy
Love the new layout! Straightforward and easy to use. :)
Now, I’m Asian and I can see where Peggy’s coming from–it IS rather difficult to find these kinds of articles that are actually helpful if you’re not Caucasian. And it does become a little frustrating when most of the descriptions call for blue, green, or hazel eyes and blonde, auburn, or brunette hair and everyone who has black hair and brown eyes is lumped into one subset of Winter.
With that said, it’s clear that a lot of time and research has been put into this, and it’s one of the best articles of its type that I’ve seen, both in terms of organization and visuals. Maybe in the future we will begin to see more-inclusive analyses. But for now, great work! :)
maria jose
nice
Shana
I am Hispanic and I was also left out, sort of. I have dark brown hair and eyes and I’m pretty sure that my skin is between pale and medium beige. According to the chart I would be a deep winter but I never wear those colors and I think they would look horrible on me. I wasn’t able to find the exact shades for soft summer to test it out, but the colors that I like to wear and that I think look good on me fit into that category, even though the guidelines don’t include my coloring.
I think that this chart was well-done for the most part and has a category that would work for most people regardless of race, but you wouldn’t know it because the guidelines must have been made for white people. I am very glad that Peggy and Amy left comments because they both make good points. I certainly wouldn’t think that Zephyr made the chart meant to leave anyone out, but I strongly disagree with Amanda’s comment for several reasons.
This chart might not be a perfect fit for everyone, even some caucasian people, but if there are only two categories out of twelve for people with dark hair and eyes when so many people have those characteristics, then there is a large group of people who have been left out because of their race; the comments even provide evidence to back it up. Racism tends upset people, and I think its unreasonable for anyone to expect that it won’t or to insist that people who are upset or disappointed not say anything. Hopefully someone will adjust this chart or make a new one that includes most people with dark hair and eyes, or any other combination that was left out.
Other than that I really liked this post. Keep up the good work, Zephyr.
OzRichie
Great reminder of something first published (to my knowledge) over 20 years ago.
I lost the book I had that extended this, so thanks for posting.
Alyea
I’m not exactly sure what I would be as my skin tone isn’t really any of the ones mentioned. Overall though I think this is an excellent guide!
Me:
light brown hair with gold and red tones
light purple-like yellow tan skin
red brown eyes
I know turquiose looks good on me but that’s about it! I have strange coloring though so I’m not surprised I couldn’t find it exactly.
sharon
LOL… well im chinese asian and im a warm autumn… so i dont think its all about asians being put into one category
cut the girl some slack ay!!
XX
Zephyr
I’ve updated the guide – hope it makes more sense & includes more people now. I also added the note that if you’re Caucasian you will probably be a spring or summer, and if you’re Black, Asian, or Latina you will probably be an autumn or winter. Again I didn’t make this info up, I got it from books & researching online.
MJC
wow people should just relaxxxxx. this website does not dictate this is as a law, it is just a website with some suggestions and tips! people are taking it way too seriously. everybody needs to calm down.
but on a happier note — i found it very helpful and true!
keep up the good work zephyr :)
Florencia
hey, i was just wondering if i can translate this article (awesome article by the way) to spanish. I have this website about fashion tips and it would be great if you let me publish this in spanish. of course i will put credits for you, beacuase is your article. plz answer me.
Shana
Thank you for updating the chart, Brianna. I really appreciate it. According the new chart I am a deep autumn. I haven’t tried wearing those colors yet, but I’m eager to see how they work out for me.
However, I would also appreciate it if people wouldn’t tell others to “calm down.” When people tell me to calm down it just makes me more upset because I think that those kinds of comments are rude and condescending.
I don’t want to end my comment on a bad note, though, so I’ll end my comment with this instead: “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” -Coco Chanel
Zephyr
Florencia – You can translate it, but please give me credit for the original article and a link to the original. Glad you liked it!
Shana – No problem, hope the new colors work for you! Also, I’m sure the people who said those things didn’t mean to offend you or talk down to you, but I apologize if you were upset about it! Also, love that quote :)
Florencia
thanks a lot zephyr, u r great
Chocolata
Hi … I think that seasonal color analysis is very helpful
I didn’t get my personal colors yet but I would love to …
Nice article .. ;-) keep it up
Spring
Wow, what a great post! It really helped me :)
I love ur site, keep up the great work ;)
Diana
can you please help me i am so confuzzeled
i have brown black eyes
blonde ish hair
and a bit darker than fair skin color
HELP
e mail me please!!!!
Denise Chumley
In answer to your questions
What do you think of seasonal color analysis? Is it lame or helpful? What about your personal colors – are they a fit for what you already have in your wardrobe, or do you need to go buy some new pieces?
About 26 years ago I paid to have a colour analysis done for me and my (then) 10 year old daughter. I also bought two sets of colour swatches which I at least still take shopping with me.
It’s been worth every cent of the $200 I spent because it eliminated the “it looked good in the shop but now it’s horrible” mistakes, and even more importantly because the colours go with each other, things that I bought years ago still look good with the latest season’s fashion colours. This means that I have saved money over the years.
Deanna
Hey Zephyr,
I’m having a lot of trouble figuring out which category I fit into. My hair is blonde, eyes dark brown, and skin is pale/medium with goldenish undertones. If you could just email me letting me know, I’d really appreciate it! By the way, I love CollegeFashion. :)
High Street Fashion
I have a very fair complexion and this article helps me a lot to find out my perfect color.
brista
Thank you for making this “what’s your color season?” thing easy to understand. It turns out I was RIGHT when I thought gem/jewel tones look good with my coloring.
Jackie
Wow, I never knew I was a soft autumn. This will help me shop. Thanks!
Nataliieee
This was really helpful and actually really interesting!
I found that lime green actually works really well with my colouring (lightbrown and blonde hair, “topaz” eyes, pale olive skin) and tried alot of the colours recomended thank youuu xxx
Jenny
I LOVE seasonal color analysis. I got me the book “Color Me Beautiful” by Carole Jackson. I sure wish I knew of this a long time ago. It would’ve saved me a lot of time, energy, and expense through out the years. And most of all, I started trying on colors from the winter palette that I never thought of before. For instance, one day I showed up to work in a Chinese blue blouse. EVERYONE complimented me on it. All day I heard how great I looked in it. That’s never happened to me before. I already had mostly black, grays, and navy blues (the winter neutrals), but I didn’t know what color colors were for me. I’ve always liked some colors that are in the winter palette, but never had the confidence to get clothes in those colors until I started reading web sites on color seasons and then finally “Color Me Beautiful”. This has also helped me out tremendously with my cosmetic purchases. No more spending tons and tons of money on brown and beige eye shadows, blushes, and lipsticks that never look right on me. I really do wish that I had this knowledge since my teens.
Hana
I don’t like how you stated “black” and “black-brown” as skin colours for Winter and also included “beige”. By beige, you obviously mean white skin, but no one’s skin is literally white so it’s understandable that you would say beige. But then you also said black…. No one’s skin colour is actually black or black-brown. I did find that offensive. All black people have brown skin. Even the darkest of us still have brown skin.
Keli
What about asians? you say blond and brunette.. i just feel like you are leaving some people out.
Venus
Oh, come on, people! This guide is not intended as a racial thing. Nobody is being intentionally left out, and certainly not by the blog author because she copied it out of a book.
I’m sure the use of ‘black’ and ‘black-brown’ isn’t that much of a problem – especially since ‘white’ IS also used as a descriptor, not only ‘beige’. Besides, there are many different tones listed here other than those, all trying to represent the enormously varied hues of a whole world of different skin types. There are many kinds of white and many kinds of black and many kinds of every other colour! Just because you don’t feel yours is listed here doesn’t mena there’s been any offence – just pick the one that is CLOSEST to your own skin. This is hardly an exact science; it’s trying to compartmentalise every colour scheme on the planet! The same goes for eye and hair colour – pick the one that’s closest to yours.
I don’t fit into a category, either – I have very dark brown hair (with red highlights in the summer), very very pale white skin and blue-grey eyes, which would seem to make me a clear spring except that those colours are the ones poeple tell me aren’t great on me e.g. pink, yellow, turqouise. I get much more praise for warm spring colours, which apparently don’t suit those with dark hair.
But I don’t care, ’cause it’s all in fun after all :-)
Bet Eilie
What if you’re Blue-eyed, auburn/brown hair, and pink-based skin with light brown freckles?
rl b
thanks a lot! that was totally helpful… now i know how to stop buying those clothes that i never wear!
Grace
YESH. I am a Clear Winter, and its totally correct. I look best in bright jewel tones. I have deep bluey-greeny hazel eyes. Super dark brown hair and pretty fair/pale skin. :) and my BFF is a deep autumn, with dark brown eyes, dark brown hair and olive skin. Hers is only off by the 2 blues. She CANNOT work blues : /
darren
Much of this confusion over seasons stems from the prepackaged seasonal catagories. The original creator of seasons was Suzzane Caygill who hand picked each color for her client. Then after analysing the colors she selected she declared the person a particular season. It wasnt the other way around. There are still good color consultants out there who hand pick colors. I had mine done some years ago and it was impressive and acurrate. I encourage others to look into it. By ‘seasonal’ standards I would be a Spring type with recessive Autumn and Winter leanings which modify my colors deeper, and takes the edge off the bright pastels. Anyway, this method works for eveyone since it is individalized and doesnt put people in boxes. I’m African American btw.
Nelson Wade
Nice guide and very helpful!
alesia
any suggestions for doing color analysis on a gril socut troop of teens.
Ichi
Please help-
I have dark brown hair, very pale skin (not rosy though) and my eyes are honey-coloured with dark green outer rims.
Can anyone make something out of this? XD
Thank you!!!
Helen
Great tips! Yellow is my color! :)
Grace
Ichi, it seems to me you are a clear winter just like me…
Alethea
Great post. It turns out I’m a clear spring which is really helpful to know as most of my clothes are those colours anyway. I love this post and the site. Good work.
One quick thing, I couldn’t have figured out I was a clear spring from the flow chart because I am the one spring that can’t wear the browns and wears all the grey tones instead.
Ichi
Grace, thank you! :)
Karen
I found this to be very accurate…at least for me. I never put a lot of thought into what colors “were for me”…but I have noticed that the ones I tend towards…are the ones in my group…”Deep Autumn”…Thanks for this because now I know I am on the right path… :)
Stef
Hmmm I have ALWAYS tried to find out which color I was, but I can never get it right with these things. They always point to your eye colour too much, when I think skin tone is more important…
I have very dark brown eyes. But I am naturally dirty blond and quite freckly….
I think I’m a warm spring but I can’t be included in any Summer/Spring since my eyes are dark brown.
This seems to be for people who have coloured eyes… if you have brown eyes, you are assumed to just be tan and have dark hair, which is not true!!
Madison
Helped a lot! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maddy
Love this. I have really light skin with freckles and I have blond hair. I always have trouble finding colors to wear but this helps so much. Especially when I want to wear brighter colors instead of darker colors which I prefer more anyway. :)
Sarah
I think I am a warm Spring. I have true blue eyes which isn’t listed, but otherwise I fit the catagory pretty well and those are the colors that I feel look best on me. Is that possible? My skin is a peachy ivory (not extremely pale), and my natural hair color is a golden dark blond/light brown. I usually dye my hair and I’ve been told that I look very natural as a brunette and that red hair works for me. What do you think?
aish
i think im deep autumn or deep winter
mostly autumn i think!
nice post
Sami
I’m having some trouble figuring out which category I fit into. I have ash blonde hair, and “blue” (they can look more green if I wear green) eyes. The hard part for me is what my skin tone is. I would consider my skin pale… I wear ivory foundation now, but I’ve also worn “porcelain” ones by Cover Girl, and I don’t know what undertones I have… Like if they are peach or pink… And to complicate things, I have a lip gloss I really like called “pink pout” that looks more peachy-orange to me in the container. Ha ha, maybe I just have really poor color-sight, or maybe I’m over analyzing. I’m going to study it a bit more and try some colors I already have, but any category suggestions from anyone would be helpful. :)
And Zephyr, thank you so much for all the hard work you put into this article, and the blog as a whole. I found it a couple days ago (the college wardrobe article pulled me in) and I’m completely addicted. <3
Sami
Nevermind, I’m definitely a Light Summer!
Melanie
I have dark brown eyes, and a golden blonde shine to my brown hair , and my skin is neutral beige…HELP ME!!!!!! I think I’m a soft summer, but my eyes don’t match…PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!! I’ll check back in a couple weeks to see if anyone left me a comment!!!!
~ Melanie
Erin
@Melanie: Have you looked at warm autumn? If that doesn’t seem to suit you, here’s what you can try. Wear your soft summer colors in your main outfit pieces. Then choose your accessories in colors that bring out the shade of your eyes, especially in things around your face like headbands, earrings, necklaces, scarves, etc. Make sure those things don’t overpower your delicate summer colors though — stick to soft pastels like peach, coral, salmon, yellow, and cream, or metals for jewelry like copper.
Taryn
I was really lucky to find out my colours. Recently I was at a holiday camp and there was a woman who does this as a job who worked it out for me (for free). I have blue eyes, pale skin and mousy hair… summer :)
Barbara
Hi, I stumbled on this website today and remembered I had used it last year to change the color palette of my clothes. I had been dressing as a Cool Winter but am actually a Warm Spring. The reaction to the new look was immediate; people said I looked brighter, my skin looked great, and my eyes were popping. This really works! Thanks!
Kell
I know that I have cool undertones to my skin but I don’t technically fit perfectly into the cool winter category because I have brown eyes, dark brown hair, which has a little bit of red highlight when in the sun and fair skin. There doesn’t seem to be a spot for fair skin in the winter category. Do you ever see winters with fair skin? Would I be someone who would be between summer and winter? Thank you for the fun site!
Grace
I have warm peach toned fair skin with olive green eyes and natural auburn hair (just think Lindsay Lohan in Just My Luck). I guess that would make me a deep autumn or a warm autumn. Because my coloring is deeper, I guess that would make me a deep autumn. The colors are all basically what I have in my wardrobe along with warm autumn colors. This was really helpful!
Ali
So this really confuses me. I’ve never done the whole “color” thing. I pretty much wear anything I like. And I have no idea whatsoever what I am! I look good in both navy/gray ,and honey/light brown, I have dark brown hair, light brown eyes and fair skin and I don’t really feel I fit in any of the categories….. I suppose I would be a cool summer..
jacke
Hi, enjoyed the article, i do this with drapes (never did turn it into a business) and love to see my friends look 10 years younger with smoother skin. I’ve also counseled friends on hair color – and get lots of compliments on my own hair color — very important to choose correctly between warm and cool colors. Nice article here, just a note of caution, I’m very fair but not a summer, both times someone ‘did’ me, they worked hard to conclude that i was a winter. Nothing beats seeing the drapes done on you. For one thing, I have 25 drapes for each season and you may be doing the best colors for you From What You Have Seen So Far, which may not be the Best Best. (Ali, find someone to use drapes, but make sure they are positive what you are and not just done because of time)
Rook
@Ali: Just from your description, I would think you were a spring or a winter. Check out the light spring or clear winter colors — they have wide ranges, fit the way you’ve outlined your appearance, and give you a few nice bright colors to work with as well as a wide palette of neutrals. I, too, usually dress in whatever I want (people usually gravitate to colors that suit them), and I look equally good in grey or brown, although not navy. Since I have auburn hair and light brown eyes, I put myself in the soft autumn category. Most of the colors I wear anyway, but it encouraged me to try things like a coral tank top that I would never have worn before.
Samantha
I’m of the belief that redheads are *not* always Autumn or Spring. Take myself, for example. I have dark auburn hair, fair skin that glows pink whenever I wear pure white (note *glows* as in healthy look glow, *not* ruddy inflamed), and dark brown eyes that are almost black.
However, I look my best in colors like pure white, black, raspberry, purple, hot pink, turquoise, and a bright, clear, cobalt blue. Gold jewelry does not suit me, in fact it drains any color from me as well as saps me of any energy. But silver jewelry totally suits me, and it gives me the same glow as pure white does.
And as for eye shadows, *never* recommend brown for me. A friend and I went to Walgreen’s and I held a brown eye shadow duo to my eye. Well, she said that the brown eye shadow duo makes my eyes look *entirely black*, and it hides away what little brown you can see in my eyes if you’re not touching noses with me.
So what I’m saying is that me being a natural redhead, and looking good in colors from the Winter palette (but *not* from the Autumn palette), how could I be diagnosed as an Autumn when those colors don’t suit me? If anyone could answer that question, I’d be so thankful.
Breanna
I keep coming back to this article, because I’m really confused. I used to think I’m a light or soft summer, but I’m not that sure anymore. The problem is, I have gray-blue eyes and mousy brown hair (definitely ashy, no golden in it), but my skintone has yellow, not pink undertones. I’ve tested myself with drapes at home, but the problem is that I can’t really say which colors flatter me and which makes me look bad – for me, they all make me look ugly. I’ve read somewhere that you can’t be a mixed type and that it doesn’t exist in nature – and if you are mixed it means you’re dyed your hair the wrong color or tanned to much. But I haven’t dyed my hair and I don’t tan at all (I wear SPF 50+ sunscreen all year round). Does it mean I am some kind of freak of nature?
Erin
Question to the other gingers out there: I find that any shade of red/orange/pink I wear, excepting a very very pale powder pink (which is not flattering to my very very pale skin, lol), makes my hair color look dull by comparison. I even have to be careful which shades of purple and burgundy/maroon I select. Does anyone else have this problem, and what colors do you tend to steer toward or away from? By the way, I have hazel eyes with a lot of amber in them, if that makes a difference. My hair is also on the darker end of the red spectrum (think Julianne Moore). Thanks ladies!
Samantha
Erin (#80):
I’m a natural redhead as well, but with a bit more brown to it. I have that problem with brown and most warm colors — they just make me look dull and watered down. I even have that problem with many clear, light colors. I find that black, more than any other color worn near my face, brings out the red naturally present in my hair.
I don’t know much about your own coloring, but I can tell you to try colors you’ve never tried before to see if those will work with you.
I’m waiting on a direct answer to my question (#78): How am I, as a natural redhead, any form of Autumn when Autumn’s fool-proof color (brown) makes me look dull and lifeless? And when Winter’s fool-proof color (black) makes me glow? I’d really appreciate an answer. Thank you. :)
Erin
@Samantha
Under the listing of hair colors for clear winter, it has “chestnut” as an option. Wikipedia (yeah, I know, but I’m not writing a paper) describes the color chestnut like this:
“Chestnut, also known as Indian red, is a color, a medium brownish shade of red, and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree. As Indian red, it is named after the red laterite soil found in India. It is thus an earth tone as well as a red. It is composed of naturally occurring iron oxides. Other shades of iron oxides include Venetian Red and English Red.”
So perhaps if reddish-brown girls like you and me look at the clear winter palette, that’ll explain to us why we look good in black.
mEE
I think I am a warm spring because:
~My hair is a dark strawberry blonde
~My skin is quie pale with MANY freckles
~My eyes change, sometimes they are a soft light blue with some gray, other times they are like BAMM blue as I wouold like to call it (kinda like ocean blue) and sometimes they get kinda light blue green….
any advice of what category I would fit into??
please help. I am trying to figure out what color dress I’m going to wear to my upcoming banquet :))
Nana
Which am i if i have dark brown eyes and dark blonde hair, gold in sun? Im not warm autumn, i have light skin! And warm autumn says ‘bronze’ eyes, not dark bronze.. Confused.
SONDI13@YAHOO.COM
These are the color choices….
Faye
I totally think this is very helpful to put you in the right direction.
I have hazel green eyes, medium dark chestnut hair with red highlights, skin is a natural beige. I am clear autumn and warm autumn, but i can wear some colors from other seasons. the colors that looks aweful on me is reds, pinks, peach, salmon, light orange, terracotta, rust they make my skin look sickly pale.
unless i use them as a pop of color away from my face ( purse slacks or shoes).
I think the color analysis should be used more often to help others determine their potential season and interseason catagory.
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Nana,
the only way is to try on clothes that fit into the autumn catagory deep, soft and warm. also try the summer cool, soft and light , but if you are also curious about spring then try light, clear and warm.
wright down all the colorsfrom each season and catagory (or copy and paste) and try those colors on and if they look good on and compliments your skin then put a check mark by that color and repeat, if it clashes and makes you skin pastey then cross out. when you are done you will know what season(s) you are. don’t be surprised if you fit under more than one season and catagory.
that is the way i had to figure out what catagory and season i am, but i fit under summer and spring and some winter, but not all colors only a few from each.. no icy colors.
i hope i shed a little light on the subject and swept away the confusion. ;)
Amanda
i have bleach blonde hair crystal blue eyes an a nice tan??? what do i need were
sarah
its really helpful but i look equally good in browns & charcoal so i was slightly confused. i think im an autumm of some sort
Catherine
Why do people with dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin or dark skin feel left out? Did you read the charts wrong?
To the question about very pale skin and dark hair an eyes, you are a deep winter. If you have dark, hair dark eyes and dark skin look for the undertone! You are either a deep winter or a deep autumn.
Catherine
I’m fairly certain I am a soft autumn.
I have dark, dusty teal eyes, (in low light they look dark and most people who only see me from a distance think my eyes are brown! but in bright light they look dark blue. You have to look up close to see the green flecks)
My hair is odd. It usually looks a medium mousy brown with some gold in most indoor lighting. But in full sun and pictures it looks more auburn. In bright flourescent light it looks blonde. I figure if my coloring is that balanced/neutral, I must a soft autumn.
But my hair color is mystifying. As a child it was blonde, when I hit age 10 until I was 13, my hair was bright, straight up red! After puberty kicked in I started getting mousier. SInce I was briefly a redhead I figure I am autumn but since it is now more muted I must be the soft autumn.
Anyone else experience this pre-teen redhead phase?
Amy
Thanks so much for this post! It was really easy for me to find which colours would suit me best! Some colours I stumbled across accidentally, others I didn’t even think of! Thank you so much!
kata
Hi!
Could you help me please? What típe am i if my skintone is pale, with some pink undertones, and my hair and eyes are dark brown? I thought i am winter, but now i read all the categories and none of them fits me.. :S I am confused
Carol
This was a total change for me, I use to buy just black and white all the time, I would wear all black most of the time and in the summer I would dress in all white. The odd time I would wear black and white, I felt so bland after many years of that.. A friend of mine tried to get me to buy other colors and the only colors I bought were one red item, yellow, pink, brown. When I was wearing different colors other than black or white, my friends wouldn’t recognize me at first. This was an amazing site for me and I feel like a new person, thank you soo much.
Edith
This article its just perfect for me, im always wondering which colors may look better on me and how do i know they are correct and these tips really helped me out.
I think im going to make some changes on the way i look thanks to the articles on this web, they are amazing!! keep the good work!!
Yelena
This is such a wonderful article! I used some of info for my essay about color! Great info! thanks a lot!)
Janet
Fab article. Thanks for taking the time to share this information with everybody!
mr.Kedi
Hello Zephyr:
okay, i know it im a lil bit late, but i have been looking at colour analysis for few years and as a colour person (asian/whatever) i would say the analysis method they were used would applied differently toward non-white person. despite the fact a majority of people of the world have dark hair and dark eyes, the undertone of eyes and hair shift from people to people and the skintone would still have a lot of variety in terms of light or dark, warm or cool.
for example, i have dark ash brown hair and light-brown eyes and pale beige skin with slightly rosy cheeks. the constrast of me is not strong at all, so that would qualify me as a summer. I would look better with soft muted pastels than black/white or icy colours.
Alek Wek and Tyra Banks are both Black, but i would say Alek Wek is winter and Tyra Bank is rather summer.
here are few book that are more gear toward coloured/non-white backround:
Colour for Life (this one is new and I own this myself, which i find it wonderful) is written by two fashion stylist, and have updated example of celebrity plus makeup examples. in stead of “spring/summer/fall/winter”, they use “sun/moon/earth/star” instead.
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Color-Therapy-Perfect-Palette/dp/B0030ILW8I/ref=pd_sim_b_17#_
Women of Colour (which is older as you can tell on cover) is literally applying the principle of colour analysis (light/dark, warm/cool, bright/mute) on colour women according to their own background. If anyone have the problem that they have dark colouring and don’t look good with autumn or winter colouring or simply don’t think the blonde part part do them justice, this might be the book would solved their problem.
http://www.amazon.com/Women-Color-Darlene-Mathis/dp/1892123053/ref=pd_sim_b_33
Dominique
Hi, i’m not really sure where I fall. I have Blue/aqua ish eyes. White tan-ish skin. Hair color between Mousy brown and chestnuty brown. Which doesnt really put me anywhere specific? I look good in brown.. and grey…?
Emily
Thanks so much for this article! It was very very helpful and I’ll be implementing it into my own wardrobe…
karen
this article is mostly accurate :) thanks!! to people having trouble, just choose one close to your own. i am in 3 different categories because i dyed my hair but theyre fairly similar to one another thanks Zephyr :)
Beth
I love the way you layed it out.
Shannon
I see some gals have the same problem I do in identifying their type. I have medium ashy brown hair, light brown eyes with greenish-gold flecks and very pale skin with pinkish undertones and blueish veins. I can’t find one color analysis for pale girls with brown eyes/hair and cool skin?? Are we an alien race, or what? Lol….
Melissa
I love this post! It’s so well thought out! I’ve got light brown skin with yellow understones, dark brown eyes, dark brown hair and I go very golden dark brown in summer (Even in the English sun!). I’m in the Deep Autumn catagory even though I’m English caucasian lol.
Megan
Guys please help me out I have NO idea what I am and can’t distinguish what I am.. I think all the spring and autumns describe me please help
My eyes are a dark green, olive green i guess and sometimes appear hazel? but they are really an olive green. My hair is naturally just a golden-ish medium brown but right now its medium-dark brown a bit golden
my skin tone I have noooooo idea so please look at this picture and tell me what I am if you know? Olive? Beige? Golden or Pink? Maybe even “Ivory” even though I’m extremely pale some of my tan never goes away :(
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs056.snc1/4506_1143077090754_1042269834_424855_2168228_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs249.snc4/39811_1344802102281_1298114774_30785509_3902844_n.jpg
(I’m on the right.. sorry it’s a terrible picture! lol)
Thanks so much for any help
OOH also when choosing a hair colour do we choose our natural colour or current?
Grace
I think I’m a warm spring. I have light golden brown hair with golden highlights, warm turquoise eyes, and ivory skin. I look good in most of the warm spring colors too. So I guess I’m a warm spring.
Madeline
I couldn’t really find myself :(
I have light blue eyes, auburn hair and EXTREMELY pale skin (though I do freckle a bit in the summer – when I don’t burn that is!).
Kitty
Fantabulous.! danx i have olways been lukin for something like but never quite understood what exactly that was.! :D Dis whola website is Fab.! Lub Eet.! <3
Thanx again.!
Luv u Zephyr.!
A.J.
This is fantastic! Best one I’ve found on the web. Was able to determine both me and my husband’s specific colors and clear up some confusion for myself.
A.J.
@Madeline, you are probably a type of Spring, maybe clear. Clears usually have eyes that contrast, however if you tend to be overall light hair, light skin and light eyes, you could be a Light Spring. You should check those colors!
Ana
Does anyone know which one I’d be?? I’m kind of mixed Asian so I have black hair, beige/golden skin, and brown eyes. I cant decide between deep autumn or deep winter… help! =)
Shelby
This is ingenius! ive always wondered! i am a clear winter..i have dark brown hair, blue-green eyes and milky skin..this helps sooooo much..ive always wondered what other colors i could wear besides black, gray, and blue! thnks a lot! :)
Taryn
Say your eye color and skin tone match a type, but your hair color doesn’t, simple fix: dye your hair one of the colors that are listed under that type- it might even be more flattering than your natural color. Or if you wish to dye your hair, and aren’t sure what will flatter, pick one of the other colors listed under your type.
For instance, I’m a deep autumn, and my hair is naturally black, but I could dye it medium brown, medium to deep auburn, dark brown, or deep chestnut and still be a deep autumn.
Emeline
If this type of thing really interests anyone, you should look up a color analysist in your area. It usually is about $100 – 200 to have her look through thousands of colors to find the one that looks best on you. I’ve had it done and it’s awesome. The lady who did mine told me what make up colors to buy, and what colors would be good to dye my hair if I ever wanted to mix it up. It was really fun, too, being a fashion-lover who loves colors :)
LaurenMK
Would love to know what colours suit me best as I’m not on the list of colour sets;
Hair; Meduim to Dark auburn
Eyes; Dark Brown
Skin; Ivory
Thanks
Mik
I liked the article. I have lived a weird life and I’m 15. I don’t know how to match clothes or anything like that. I have med brown hair and up to my elbows have farmer tan but the rest is white. I don’t know which season I am so if someone could help me out I’d appreciate it.
Pearl
I’m Asian and I know that I’m a winter, but I’m not quite positive if I’m clear or deep :/, since I have black hair but pale skin, but not like milky. It’s more like this color: http://www.intobox.com/kstarzone/park_shin_hye.php
runawaystudent14
i agree, this is an excellent post.
Luiza
I thought I was gonna be a winter based on the first part of the test but I couldn’t find myself on the types of winter so I looked in all of them and I think I might be a light summer.
maddy
Hi!
I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. Tomorrow I’m having pictures taken and I’m TOTALLY clueless on what to wear…I have dirty blonde curly hair and grey-blue yes. I’ve heard you’re supposed to wear shirts that match your eye color, but I’m not totally sure! Any help would be fabulous thank you so much!
Mon
Hi guys,
I see a lot of you are really worried because you feel left out, but in fact you are not. I read a book called “Color me Beautiful” a long time ago, which explained in detail a lot of what was commented in this post and what counts for your color analysis is first of all your skin color and its undertones, and then your hair color. Just a few days ago I found out that they have an online site. They have the color test there too. Maybe it might be a good idea to research yourselves because I know there is more out there than just this post. Think of it as your starting point… And by the way I am latina 100%, live in Guatemala, and I do not feel discriminated, I understand that there is more of us with this coloring, we just happen to be a whole continent of people who have similar coloring and so there has to be a big group of us that fit into the winter category, not because of discrimination but genetics ;) Way to go on the post, I loved how you put it all together!
ichi
Mon, thanks for the message but I can’t find any online test on the colormebeautiful website.
I’d actually be surprised because they seem to make money out of the 90 quid ‘consultations’ they advertise.
Do you know if there is actually any online test there? I’d be grateful if you let me know :)
For me the best thing is an online test, and tests from different places can give us the most exact verdict.
daisy
I love how you break these up into seasons. What about the pale girls with dark hair and eyes?????
Laura
This was INSANELY helpful. Dear lord I’ve been trying to figure this out for forever. Loved the colors for me (light summer) thank you SO much!
Selkie
I’m having a bit of difficultly. I’m of mainly Scandinavian, English, and German descent- with a tiny smidgen of NA Creek. I have pale, almost-colorless olive skin with cool brown freckles, and I tan easily; dark silver-olive-amber hazel eyes (what a weird combo!); and dark golden hair that can look intense red or coffee brown in some lighting, with a few blue-black strands running through it (I don’t die my hair).
I look great in black, cranberry, burgundy, blue- and moss-greens, olive, cream, and almost all shades of grey, soft rose and soft blue, and purples running from plum to lightest lavender. Yellow-greens, peaches, warm tans, and oranges suck the life out and make me look like Death. It seems like I’m split between Clear Winter and Soft Summer.
Since I’ve been excellent with color from childhood, I’ve basically ignored the “season” thing and forged my own path, but I thought it might be nice to have a guideline. I own Color Me Beautiful, and it hasn’t really helped any.
Am I missing something?
Selkie
I enlisted my little brother’s help to check out Summer and Winter colors next to my face in pure indirect sunlight and I am definitely Clear Winter. I look best in icy rather than soft- that took a little time- and true clear colors (like royal blue).
Rora
What if you look good in like, almost all colors. what season are you then? And what if you have warm hair, neutral eyes and cool skin?
andrea
im a deep winter
anna
Hi! I have always had some sort of trouble when it comes to this. Because I sometimes fall into winter or into autum category. After reading this (extremely helpful btw) I now belong to both the deep autumn and deep winter.. Like, is that even possible or am I just plain dumb? haha.. love the blog and thanks xoxo
M.Fox
This was wonderful! I am already VERY attracted to these colors already, but it’s good to know!