We know that colors can have a good deal of impact on our perceptions, emotions, and even behavior.  So I’m curious what kind of impact wearing the wrong colors might have on a person.

With clothing getting more and more expensive (and very small sizes getting harder and harder to find, except at high-end stores), I want to be very sure the clothing I do purchase is “just right” and will, therefore, get worn rather than sitting in the closet.  So I’ve been doing some hefty investigation into the best colors for me, my body shape/type, and the best clothing styles for me.

The Options

A quick run-down of my research: There are two general categories of color analysis systems — “body colors” and seasonal systems.”  In my opinion, a good “body color” system should be able to be integrated pretty seamlessly into one’s “seasonal” color palette.  Many of them (the body color systems)  are really hard to use, though.  I like David Zyla’s book, The Color of Style.  It’s simple and practical. (Color Your Style is the same book. For whatever reason, the paperback and hardcover have different titles.)

As far as seasonal systems go, Sci/Art is hands-down the best, in my opinion.  Unfortunately, Sci/Art is no longer.  What’s left (unless you happen to live near a previously Sci/Art-trained analyst) is to either use a different system (and most of them fall short because they don’t use any concrete standard) or to familiarize yourself with Sci/Art principles and then do your best to sort out where you fall within that structure.

Thinking About Personal Color

A few important points to consider are:

1. You cannot tell entirely by looking at someone, or by coloring digitally on a photograph, what season someone is (although his appearance might provide a good starting point).  The skin reacts to colors against which it is displayed, and it isn’t always predictable.  You can help someone determine her season online, but only if she wears a variety of colors in real life, and shares that variety of photographs.

2. For most people, 4 seasons aren’t enough.  It used to be that people were classified as either warm/dark, warm/light, cool/dark, or cool/light (typically referred to as Autumn, Spring, Winter, and Summer, respectively).  The problem is this neglected the third primary aspect of color, “chroma” (or “saturation” — that is how clear or muted a color is), and assumed that everyone is distinctly cool or warm.  About 2/3 of the population actually falls somewhere in between (in “neutral” territory), and were never quite happy with the “seasons” they were designated as under the old 4-season system, because they weren’t quite right!

3. No system is absolutely perfect.  These are tools, not slave-drivers. 🙂

4. For some reason, most color systems (and body-type systems) connect your coloring (or body type) to your personality.  I thought we disproved this sort of connection many years ago, and believe this to be bunk.  Ignore the personality stuff in any color/style books I reference, please!

Finally, there are body-type systems galore.  I’m not sure if there’s an overwhelming benefit to one versus another, but the ones I’m using is from David Kibbe’s Metamorphosis, because it’s what’s familiar to the ladies on the color/style forum where I was getting help. (By the way, I don’t recommend paying $40 for it. Wait ’til there’s a cheaper copy, or find it at the library.) [UPDATE: As of 2025, David has a bran-new book: David Kibbe’s Power of Style!]

I Know You Are, But What Am I?

So what am I?  Well, I’m only about 90% confident of my body type, but I think I’m what Kibbe classifies as a “Gamine.”  That means I’m small, with a combination of more “dramatic” features like angularity, and “feminine” features like curviness.  There are specific recommendations in his book for what I would wear best, but I’m still learning them. [UPDATE: After further exploration, and having also worked through the newer book, I now think, despite my size, I’m a “Flamboyant Natural.”]

I couldn’t get officially color-draped, for various reasons, but based on my self-analysis and extensive help from color-savvy online friends, I believe I am a “Bright Spring.”  Bright Spring is neutral/warm (that is, mostly neutral, with a slight tendency toward warm, but not able to handle extreme warmth or coolness well), high chroma (that is, best in very clear, pure colors), and medium value (not too light, not too dark). [UPDATE: I was wrong about this, too — by a long shot. I really don’t seem to fit neatly into any of the four basic seasons, which is why I had so much trouble finding my “place.” I ended up getting a personalized palette, which pegs me as the equivalent of Summer — but my palette doesn’t look like a typical Summer palette. I’m somewhere in the Dark Winter/Dark Autumn space, with colors that overall have a rich feel typically found in Autumn, but leaning moderately cool, not warm.]

And this is what has me wondering about the effects of color.  Of course, we all feel better when we look better, anyway.  (It makes us feel good to feel attractive!)  But I wonder about the overall effect of the colors, as well.  For years, I’ve been told (based on the old 4-season system) that I’m a “Winter.”  (This is not totally unreasonable, as the Winter is the only one of the 4 seasons to wear such bold colors.)  But a winter is cool and dark, while a spring is warm and bright.  I wonder what kind of emotional impact it has to wear dark, heavy colors when one’s inherent design calls for bright!

Originally published 1 Mar 2012. Updated 12 Mar 2025.