Is seasonal color analysis a worthwhile approach to personal style?
By JULIE HUANG — arts@theaggie.org
Common sense dictates that specific colors flatter some people while washing out others, but the process of discovering the colors that look good on you can be tedious and time-consuming. Seasonal color analysis seeks to bypass that arduous process by organizing the effects of different colors on different complexions in a systematic and reliable way, assigning every person a color palette that suits them best.
Inspired by the natural colors associated with the yearly seasons, there are four main categories of “color seasons” that one may fall into, depending on a mixture of factors involving one’s natural skin, eye and hair color. These four categories are then broken up into numerous subcategories, which might be called different things depending on which version of the system one is using, but nearly always feature similar concepts and guidelines.
The colors that are most flattering on a person can be found by determining certain qualities of a person’s complexion, such as whether their skin is warm or cool toned, according to seasonal color analysis.
“It definitely shaped the colors I choose to wear, and even how I do my makeup,” Soleil Castro, a third-year biological sciences major, said.
Using color seasons as a starting point, a person can determine the types of clothing, makeup, jewelry and other accessories that, according to the seasonal color theory, suit them best.
“Every person does have a set of colors that complements them the best, and it can be a really good way to maximize your looks,” Castro said.
Daryl Bordelon, a third-year English and ecology, evolution and biodiversity double major, stated that finding one’s personal color season usually consists of a process of trial and error.
“For a long time, I always felt like darker shades looked really bad on me,” Bordelon said. “Once I had the words that color seasons gave me, it gave me a framework for choosing colors that were flattering on me.”
Bordelon considers herself a warm spring. Her complexion is primarily clear and bright, complimenting colors like golden yellow, coral, turquoise and warm greens.
Crossreferencing the many different guides to seasonal color palettes, however, can become a bit tricky, as Bordelon explains.
“Definitions get kind of vague because every source will show slightly different palettes for different seasons,” Bordelon said.
Due to these numerous interpretations of what constitutes a specific season, Bordelon stated that describing certain details that are relevant to color seasons in general may be more useful than using terminology that not everyone is aware of.
“It depends on my audience. If I’m talking to somebody who is really into fashion, maybe I’ll bring up the term ‘color season,’ but a lot of the time I just kind of get away with describing something,” Bordelon said. “Saying I like wearing pastels with warm undertones gets the same point across.”
Despite appearing to place rules and restrictions on the shades and hues that one can wear, the value in seasonal color analysis can be found in its ability to stimulate personal creativity in one’s attitude towards styling themselves.
“Wanting to sort yourself into fun little categories is as old as human nature,” Bordelon said. “Sometimes working from a limited place actually grants room for more creativity.”
As an artist, Bordelon sees similarities between the process of overcoming art block with the everyday decision of choosing something from your wardrobe.
“One of the best ways to break out of [art block] is to give yourself an arbitrary limit, work off of it and see how that pushes you out of your comfort zone,” Bordelon said. “For personal style, color seasons can be that limit.”
The guidelines set by color seasons can also be disregarded or downplayed depending on individual preference, allowing for a more personalized experience.
“I wouldn’t say it’s inherently limiting, especially because it’s not a set of rules that you have to follow. You can find what works for you,” Bordelon said. “For example, I’ve seen some sources say that ‘warm springs’ don’t look good in cool-toned pastels, but I look great in pastel blue, so I don’t necessarily listen to that specific aspect of my season.”
Jessica Alvarez-Cruz, a third-year human development major, agrees that color seasons do not have to become a hindrance in the curation of a unique personal style.
“It’s not like you’re being held at gunpoint to just stay in a certain category,” Alvarez-Cruz said. “You can indulge in other categories and find what works for you.”
Ultimately, seasonal color analysis may operate at its most helpful when treated not as gospel, but as a source of creativity and inspiration.
“Really, it’s just a starting point,” Bordelon said. “To put it simply, it’s not that serious, okay?”
Written by: Julie Huang — arts@theaggie.org
