I'm sure you've already found yourself dull, dark-skinned or pale when wearing a colorful top. You may have also thought that all we could see was the clothing? Well, know that you're not the problem, but the color of your outfit! Colorimetry in fashion is a broad and somewhat complex field. In reality, not all colors suit everyone. Sorry. But of course, nothing prevents you from wearing what you want :)
First: what is colorimetry?
Basically, colorimetry allows you to know which colors to wear in order to enhance your complexion and, above all, to boost your self-confidence.
In detail, it is the study and application of colors in the field of fashion. It encompasses several aspects, including color theory, color combinations, and how colors affect a person's visual perception. In practice, colorimetry consists of choosing the right colors for clothing, accessories and even makeup based on different criteria such as skin tone, natural hair and eye colors but also on personality and individual style.
The different color seasons
Colorimetry is divided into four color palettes: spring, summer, fall and winter. This has nothing to do with wearing spring colors in winter or fall colors in summer. These are four color palettes that allow you to identify and remember your colors. The four seasons are then grouped into two categories: warm and cool (or gold and silver)
A picture is worth a thousand words:
Tu peux toujours porter des couleurs qui ne sont pas dans ta saison mais il vaudra mieux les porter sur des pièces « basses » (pantalons, jupe, chaussures, sacs à main…). Il vaut mieux utiliser tes couleurs près du visage, sur des pièces comme les hauts, les vestes, les robes et les accessoires du haut (foulard, écharpe, chapeau, bandana, serre-tête, etc ..). You can always wear colors that are not in your season but it will be better to wear them on "low" pieces (pants, skirt, shoes, handbags ...). It is better to use your colors near the face, on pieces like tops, jackets, dresses and top accessories (scarf, scarf, hat, bandana, headband, etc.). What is recommended for each season:
SPRING: WARM + SOFT TONES
Warm and soft colors, gold jewelry
SUMMER: COLD + SOFT TONES
Cool and delicate colors, silver jewelry
AUTUMN: WARM + INTENSE TONES
Warm and rich colors, gold jewelry
WINTER: COLD + INTENSE TONES
Cool and bright colors, silver jewelry
If we push the analysis even further, each season has several variants that may suit different people:
Summer: Soft, Bright, Cold
Autumn: Soft, Dark, Warm
Winter: Light, Dark, Cold
Spring: Light, Bright, Warm
I confirm that this part is more complex to understand and I advise you to start with the theory of the 4 seasons without variants, and to do with the colors that you like.
What color season do you belong to?
First, you need to know your undertone: GOLDEN or SILVER (warm or cool)
This may seem a bit complex, but here are some tips to help you determine it:
- Analyze the color of your veins: Look at your veins under natural light. If they appear more blue or purple, you probably have a cool undertone (winter or summer type). If they have a more greenish tint, your undertone is more warm (fall or spring). If you have trouble discerning the color, your skin tone may be neutral and everything suits you more or less well.
- Think about how your skin reacts to the sun: If you tan easily and your skin takes on a golden or olive tint, you probably have a warm undertone (fall or spring). If you tend to blush and get sunburned, you probably have a cool undertone (winter or summer type)
When you know your undertone, it is now possible to know your season! Be careful, these are generalities, you can just as easily be the exception that proves the rule.
You are "SUMMER" if you have:
Hair: rather light, blond, brown with cool and ash undertones
Skin: reddens easily, pink or blue undertones
Eyes: blue, gray, green, hazel (light), black
The darker your hair, the more likely you are to be towards the "Winter" shades
You are "WINTER" if you have:
Hair: rather dark, dark brown, gray, black with cool, blue or ash undertones
Skin: reddens easily, blue or pink undertones
Eyes: blue (intense), gray, purple, brown (dark), black, green (intense)
You are "SPRING" if you have:
Hair: rather light, red, blond and medium brown with warm and golden or red undertones.
Skin: tans easily, yellow undertones, peach undertones
Eyes: blue, green (intense and olive), hazel (light)
You are "AUTUMN" if you have:
Hair: rather dark, blond, brown, red with warm and golden or red undertones
Skin: tans easily, yellow undertones, peach undertones
Eyes: blue, green (dark/olive), brown, hazel
The lighter your hair, the more you will oscillate towards "Spring" shades.
COLORS
You can always wear colors that are not in your season but it will be better to wear them on "low" pieces (pants, skirt, shoes, handbags, etc.). It is better to use your colors close to the face, on pieces like tops, jackets, dresses and top accessories (scarf, scarf, hat, bandana, headband, etc.).
It is sometimes difficult to realize the undertone of a color. A warm color has golden/yellow undertones and a cool color has silver/gray undertones.
Be careful, a color can be warm but also cool:
AUTUMN
If you are autumn, you absolutely must have in your wardrobe dark and warm colors that will bring you more light: orange, mustard yellow, red, rust, saffron, fawn, caramel, honey, petrol blue, duck blue, brown like wood, gold, beige and khaki green. For jewelry, autumn women are highlighted by gold or bronze accessories.
SPRING
If you are spring, warm and bright colors bring you a radiant complexion. Soft green, yellow, orange, red, coral, salmon, cream, ivory, turquoise, powder pink, fuchsia, lavender, lilac enhance your look. In order to keep your pretty radiant complexion, you should ignore cold shades: gray, black, white or silver. Gold and bronze jewelry are perfect.
SUMMER
If you are summer, opt for cool and light colors like sky blue, denim, sea green, off-white, pearl gray, cherry, powder pink or lilac. Warm colors should be avoided in your wardrobe: orange-red, orange or mustard yellow. Go for jewelry in silver, rose gold or white gold.
WINTER
You are winter, you will be sublimated by intense and cold colors. Emerald green, mint, all reds (except warm ones), candy pink, raspberry pink, cherry, burgundy, fuchsia, royal blue, electric blue, duck blue, purple, eggplant, plum, indigo or violet will be perfect. Know that primary colors are your allies. But your palette does not stop there, it has neutral shades like gray, white, navy blue and black. Be careful, no pale colors like pastel tones, nude or beige. The colors to avoid are warm colors, obviously.
That's it! You're ready to shine brightly, to have an illuminated complexion and to bring out your personality with the colors adapted to your season!
