In the world of personal image and style, the seasonal colour analysis system has been around since the 1980s. It has particularly resurged in popularity recently through TikTok by women seeking to undergo a personal transformation and improve their image. It seems simple to apply and many are attracted to the gimmick of their colouring aligning to a weather “season”. But despite its widespread popularity, there are plenty of comments that highlight its limitations. So what are they?
Underpinning design
Some personal stylists use the colour season analysis system categorising people’s colouring into one of four main “seasons” which are obviously Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter. Each season then corresponds to a palette of colours complement the individual’s natural skin, hair, and eye tones. The problem is that the concept of seasons is based on weather patterns in various parts of the world. Whereas human colouring is based on colour theory (as used by artists and designers). Human colouring varies because of the quantity and distribution of melanin, carotene, haemoglobin as determined mainly by genetics and age. The seasonal colour analysis system is trying to fit human design to meteorological concepts. It’s not really a match.
Gaps
One of the main criticisms of the seasonal colour analysis system is it was based on Caucasian colouring. So those with Asian, Subcontinent or African ancestry were automatically assigned to “Winter” but in reality, very few were actually Winter in colouring (cool, bright, deep). Even with the addition of sub-groups to the seasonal colour system, I’ve come across individuals with non-Causcasian colouring that were still wrongly assigned to a Winter category and advised to wear cool colours (completely at odds with their warm undertone)!
We change over time
Our colouring changes throughout our life due to factors such as aging, sun exposure, or hair dyeing. But according to the seasonal colour analysis system, you remain that season palette for life. This simply can’t be true. While we are born with a particular genetic combination, this definitely adjusts over our lifetime. The most obvious one is how our hair loses its pigment but in fact our skin and eye colours also soften in brightness over time.
Just have a look at photos of you or family from 10-20 years ago and I’m sure you’ll notice a colouring that is less sharp/bright. Even if you have had “your colours done” some time ago, be aware that it is likely to change. An easy rule of thumb when you’re not sure: if it has been more than 5 years since you had a colour analysis, or you have changed your hair colour, then it’s time for another review. Have a look at the colour analysis session and other Brisbane-based services I offer in my consultation packages.
Conflicting advice
Another often-heard complaint of a seasonal colour analysis is the variation in interpretation. Just by searching online you can come across many different versions of a particular palette. The lack of consistency is confusing. For example when I searched a celebrity’s colouring (Miranda Kerr) there were conflicting results from personal stylists: soft summer, bright winter, true winter. It makes it difficult to feel confident you have chosen the right colours to highlight your inherent features.
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Misaligned to colour theory
Further online searches reveal advice at complete odds with basic colour theory, such as a “soft summer” (light, muted, cool palette) being recommended a peachy, soft orange colour. No, no, no. Orange is NEVER cool, its colour properties make it impossible. In fact, orange will never harmonise or look good for anyone with a cool undertone, likely distracting and detracting from the wearer’s natural beauty. Have a look at the cool colour palette in the photo below placed against the oranges of a warm palette (of equivalent depth and brightness). Notice how the oranges just don’t belong with the other colours and seem to look out of place. The second image I tried to “include” the orange in the cool palette, but it’s like the children’s song: “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)”. It’s our eyes recognising the principles of colour theory, that orange is always a warm hue and cannot harmonise with cool undertones.
Absolute Colour System
All these limitations made me choose to train and certify with a colour analysis system that was underpinned by colour theory (Absolute Colour System). As an image consultant and personal stylist in Brisbane, the system I use has 18 colour palettes across the colour dimensions of hue, depth, and intensity. The system is divided into 9 Warm and 9 Cool colour directions, then within each of these they are further broken down into light or dark value and then there are options for the different intensities (from bright to smoky).
No more trying to make an individual fit a colour palette. There is one that exists to match you! Book a 15 min chat to find out more.
