We’ve all been there. A shirt catches your eye on the rack but when you hold it up in the mirror, the color instantly washes you out.
It can be a big bummer, but truly understanding what colors work best for you could be the key to giving you confidence in your personal style. And that is what color analysis is all about.
While the service goes back decades, it has recently gained increased traction while trending on TikTok.
“I’ve been doing this a long time,” says Anne Morgan, a certified fashion and color stylist with Color and Image Insight in Fairfax. “I started back in 1990, but it was really toward the end of 2022 that we started getting a lot more calls about this. And that is because it blew up on TikTok.”
What is Color Analysis?
Color analysis is a process that helps determine which colors are going to be the most flattering for a specific person to wear.
“It is most often broken down by seasons,” says Morgan. “But that is really just a title that helps capture of the mood of the colors you will find in that palette.”
For instance, autumn colors are typically going to be rich, harvest colors, while winter are cooler and contrasting.
Spring colors, while warm like autumn, tend to be lighter and brighter, while summer colors are a bit more muted.
Morgan takes it one step further.
“I use the Color Alliance system that is based on the seasons but is more individualized,” Morgan says.
She starts by using color coordinate chips to match a client’s underlying skin tone, hair color, and eye color with hundreds of potential color options in a computerized system, and then compares how the skin tone responds to sets of hue level drapes in shades of red/red-purple, red, yellow-red, and yellow.
After that is determined, she then uses seasonal drapes to ensure the person is placed into the correct season.
“With this, I’m looking for colors that make their face the focal point, colors that make their skin tone look healthy and lively, and colors that make their eyes and hair stand out,” says Morgan. “It’s all about the coherent look and choosing colors that make the best of their natural coloring.”
All of that is then entered into the computer to create a custom, personalized color palette for the client.
There are typically 40 colors included in each palette, Morgan says, including metallics and neutrals.
The analysis is often followed by a cosmetic lesson for those who wear makeup.
“Not that you have to wear makeup, but if you do, those colors are on your face and they matter just as much as clothing colors do,” Morgan says.
Who Should Use Color Analysis?
While truly anyone could benefit from getting a color analysis done, Morgan says she tends to get a lot of clients who are in a transitional phase of their life — either professionally or personally.
Color analysis could be a great option for a recent graduate who wants to build a professional wardrobe or someone who would like to get a great photo to upload to a dating profile.
“It can also be helpful for people who feel like they just need a little refresher,” says Morgan. “Youth can be very forgiving and as you get older, what used to work for you may not work as much anymore.”
She says the guidance can “save you from making a lot of mistakes or spending money on clothing that doesn’t end up working for you.”
Preparing for an Appointment
There is no special attire necessary as far as what color to wear to the appointment since what you wear will be covered to minimize any distractions.
“And if they are wearing any makeup when they come in, we will take that off here in order to get the best results,” Morgan says.
Morgan currently charges $175 for the color analysis service, including the custom-created clothing color palette.
She also offers other styling services to help determine what works best for your face and body shape.
“I have one of the most fun jobs you could have,” says Morgan. “I get to know so many people who I would never meet otherwise and have the pleasure of watching them discover how simple changes can really bring out their best appearance.
“And because every client is unique, fashion is always changing and cosmetic technology evolves, I never get bored.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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