What is colour analysis and how it can help you determine the most flattering hues for yourself

Colour Analysis is an invaluable tool designed to determine which colours enhance your natural beauty. According to The Concept Wardrobe, the process carefully considers your hair colour, eye shade, and skin tone to identify a shade palette that complements you. We all have colours that never make their way into our wardrobes, either because they “wash us out” or leave us looking dull. Likewise, most of us instinctively know whether gold or silver accents illuminate our features. These insights are the essence of Colour Analysis, guiding you toward a wardrobe that perfectly harmonises with your unique complexion and radiance.

What is colour analysis?

In the 1980s, Carol Jackson’s ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ introduced the revolutionary concept of 12 seasons and distinct palettes. With a resurgence in the 2010s, this theory has found new life on TikTok, where a viral filter matched individuals to their ideal colours. The fusion of tradition and technology reinvigorated Colour Analysis, inspiring a global fashion awakening and reigniting the critical idea of wardrobe planning.

According to experts, a colour is wrong on you if it draws attention to dark circles, uneven skin tone and pigmentation. When in your own colour pallet, you will appear healthy and brighter—who doesn’t want that?

In today’s sustainable fashion landscape, concepts like the ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ simplify the unknowns that we all face trying to just get ready. Ideas such as colour analysis become important to create a curated wardrobe that achieves an array of colour, instead of sticking to neutral shades every season.

Discovering your ideal colour palette not only enhances your wardrobe but also extends to cosmetics and hair colour choices. Understanding your personal palette ensures a cohesive and flattering look across clothing, makeup, and hair, elevating your overall appearance with tailored and harmonious choices.

What are the categories?

Suzanne Caygill, was an artist in the 1940s and 1950s who pioneered the idea of seasonal colour analysis based on the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. This grew into the twelve sub varieties of these seasons such as; Light Spring, Soft Summer, True Winter, to name a few.

The concept is layered and involves many distinctions to achieve a specific and personalised pallet. The Cool vs Warm distinction can also be explained as what is referred to on TikTok as asking yourself if you are a “silver girlie”, cool under-tone, or “gold girlie”, warm under-tone, or if you are a frequent mixed metal enthusiast, neutral under-tone.

Furthermore, contrast refers to the noticeable distinction or difference between an individual’s hair, skin, and eye colours, as explained in the TikTok below. This distinction holds the key to selecting colours that harmonise with natural features, creating a visually appealing and balanced look.

What is the process like in a Style studio?

During an appointment, the stylist will walk you through colour fabric swatches, it is a collaborative effort to teach you what to look for so that your practice of wearing your pallet. By placing these hues under your chin the expert explains why the colour does, or does not work for you, to train your eye.

Colour analysis in Dubai: Where can I get this done in town?

House of Colour, and stylist Julie Grobler based in Dubai is the regions leading experts in Colour Analysis. Julie’s personal mission is rooted in her belief the way we feel about ourselves impacts much bigger pillars of our lives, such as our careers. She has been trained under the House of Colour system, which was founded in 1985 by Carolyn Miller in London. Her expertise is sure to clear up any confusion, and give you a new way of shopping for clothes that make you shine through.

 

This article was featured in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2022 issue.