I have to confess something… colour analysis gives me a headache.
As a stylist, I know I should be interested in it, maybe even offer it to clients, but the truth is I've always struggled to make sense of it. There are too many rules, too many sub-seasons and too many nuances to ever arrive at one clear answer. And the whole ritual of holding coloured drapes under someone's face ("Aha! See how yellow makes you look ill?") can either leave you feeling reassured... but mostly more confused.
The reel below is exactly how I feel about it!
I’ve never seen myself in a single season. Light Spring? Warm Spring? Soft Summer? Depending on who you ask, I could probably be all three.
And I don’t know how many make up artists have told me that I definitely have cool undertones because I have very light blue eyes and my skin is fair, but I tan very well in the summer, so I’ve never been truly convinced… So maybe I am neutral or almost warm? See? Confusing!
So, to help explain what I mean, I decided to create this series. It’s not really about colour analysis, but about understanding what colour can actually do for you.
I’m going to use my own face as a bit of an experiment, taking pictures in different colours and seeing what changes — if anything.
But mostly, I want to prove that understanding colour doesn’t need to be complicated. Maybe instead of trying to fit ourselves into a season or follow a fixed set of rules, we just need to get better at noticing how we feel in different colours.
So for this first part I took a few pictures wearing four different colours, all around the same time of day, in the same spot and with no makeup.
Have a look and see what you think before I tell you what I see.
To be honest, I don’t see an overwhelming difference in the way these colours affect my face, but I do notice that red and green bring more life and energy.
My skin looks warmer, my eyes look brighter and, even though they are both quite strong colours, I don’t feel like they are overpowering me.
The black and white are a bit more meh. White feels softer and less lively; it doesn’t add much energy or warmth to my face. Black creates more contrast, but I don’t think it looks bad on me at all.
Is this rocket science? No. But understanding what a colour ‘does’ to you, it’s quite valuable. Especially when you are having one of those days where nothing seem to work: a colour that makes your eyes pop might just be the answer!
Do you need to go to a colour analyst for this? I don’t think you do.
You probably already know more than you think. You know the colours that make you look more awake, healthier or even more energetic. And then there are colours that, well... aren’t necessarily bad, they just don’t do quite as much for you.
As you can probably guess, I don’t offer traditional colour analysis to my styling clients. Of course, we talk about colour. I ask about the colours they are naturally drawn to, the ones they avoid, the outfits they get complimented on, and the shades that have been sitting unworn in their wardrobe for years. If they are feeling lost, I’ll help them understand the patterns I’m seeing.
But I don’t hand them a colour palette and tell them to avoid everything else. Because I believe the first rule of colour is to trust yourself.
Long before anyone told you you were an Autumn or a Winter, you probably already had a favourite jumper that made you feel incredible. A dress that always earned compliments. A lipstick that made you look brighter and like you slept a full eight hours. For me, that lipstick is coral — apparently a bit of a no-no for cool undertones!
That’s all you need to know, those are your clues. Colour isn't about looking perfect. It's about understanding the effect different colours have on you.
So this series isn’t about finding your season or giving you another set of fashion rules to follow. Hell no!
It’s about learning to see yourself.
It’s about understanding why certain colours seem to bring you to life while others quietly take the attention away from you. Because once you can recognise those patterns, shopping becomes easier, getting dressed becomes more fun, and you start making decisions with confidence instead of second-guessing yourself.
But first, before we get into the more “technical” part (jokes, we’re never going to get technical!) let’s understand what to actually look for in your own face and complexion.
Because when we think about colour, we always ask:
“Does this colour suit me?”
But I want you to start asking this instead:
What changes when I wear this colour?
A little homework
In every part of this series, I am going to give you some little homework to do, nothing too complicated, and always something you can do in front of the mirror without needing 350 different colour swatches and perfect lighting.
Just pick a few tops in noticeably different colours and take a quick photo of yourself in the same light, with no make up on.
Then compare the photos and ask:
Does my skin look healthier?
Do my eyes stand out more?
Do I look more awake?
Does the colour seem to overpower me?
Do I notice my face first, or the top?
Don’t worry about whether the colour is “right” or “wrong”. You’re just noticing what changes.
Start looking for patterns. These are your clues, and they’ll help you understand which colours you naturally feel good in and are drawn to.
We’ll go into much more detail in the next parts of the series, so keep an eye out!
Love,
Noelia x
As someone who hates colour analysis, I love this article. Do different colours make you look different? Absolutely. But I don't think we need a stranger to tell us what our colours are. I think we should be able to decide that for ourselves.
And so many of the reasons a certain colour supposedly “looks better” often just boil down to current beauty standards. It's subjective. This idea that something “washes us out” or “highlights the colour of our eyes” shouldn't be something we base our entire outfit around.
I much prefer to go with the vibe. What do I like? What feels like me? What do I want to wear today? That's much more useful to me than being told which colours I am “allowed” to wear.
I’ve always thought pastels look great on blondes. I’ve just bought a lilac shirt and I’m not blonde! I am not sure at all if it suits me. I’ll have a go at your colour analysis and see what I think 🤔 Great post Noelia xx