Remember when Richard Gilmore told Rory, “I…am an autumn.” after taking a colour analysis quiz in one of her issues of Cosmopolitan? (If you know, you know.) Well, I do—and I’m sure some of you have seen a few of the viral “colour analysis” videos on social media, too. If you haven’t, here’s the short of it: colour analysis is a way of using colour theory based on your skin tones to find your most complementary shade.
TRUE COLOURS
Colour Analysis, The FP Way
By: Jules Boyd
Colour Season Analysis, The FP Way
Ready to find your perfect hue?
THE BASICS OF COLOUR ANALYSIS
Let’s start with the basics. This colour analysis theory is based on the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. To determine your “season”, you have to consider your eye colour, skin tone, and natural hair colour. If you have a cold undertone, bluish or purple veins, and a naturally cool-toned hair colour (without golden undertones), you fall into the “winter” or “summer” categories. If you have a warm undertone, greenish veins, and a golden hair undertone, you fall into the “spring” or “autumn” categories. Winter and spring are associated with high-contrast features, like fair skin and dark hair, while summer and autumn are associated with low-contrast, meaning skin, hair, and eyes are all similar colours. Winter and summer are also more likely to lean towards silver metal tones, while spring and autumn look best with gold metal tones.
Now that you have a jumping-off point, let’s talk colour. If you’ve determined you’re an autumn or summer, lean towards soft colours. If you’re a winter or spring, reach for something bright. If you’re a spring or summer, go for a light hue, and if autumn or winter, lean towards something dark.
Now that you have a jumping-off point, let’s talk colour. If you’ve determined you’re an autumn or summer, lean towards soft colours. If you’re a winter or spring, reach for something bright. If you’re a spring or summer, go for a light hue, and if autumn or winter, lean towards something dark.
SPRING
-Hair colours: Golden blonde, strawberry blonde, red, light to medium golden brown
-Skin tones: Warm and bright, with noticeable redness
-Typical eye colours: Warm blues, aquas, warm greys, warm greens, golden browns
-Colours to try: Peach, warm-toned pinks, apricot, salmon, orange, cream, and red; apple, aquamarine, and golden turquoise
-Colours to avoid: dull, flat colours; bright white, cool-toned pinks, silverish greys, and deep, cool blacks
-Skin tones: Warm and bright, with noticeable redness
-Typical eye colours: Warm blues, aquas, warm greys, warm greens, golden browns
-Colours to try: Peach, warm-toned pinks, apricot, salmon, orange, cream, and red; apple, aquamarine, and golden turquoise
-Colours to avoid: dull, flat colours; bright white, cool-toned pinks, silverish greys, and deep, cool blacks
IF YOU’RE A SPRING, WEAR THESE:
The FP One Blake Thermal in Cornflower
The School Girl Cardigan in Cherry Pop Melange
The We The Free Tahiti Cargo Pants in Grapefruit Seltzer
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Aqua Fur
The Dynamic Duo Long Sleeve in Ivory
The We The Free Ella Roll-Neck Knit Sweater in Pale Peach
The School Girl Cardigan in Cherry Pop Melange
The We The Free Tahiti Cargo Pants in Grapefruit Seltzer
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Aqua Fur
The Dynamic Duo Long Sleeve in Ivory
The We The Free Ella Roll-Neck Knit Sweater in Pale Peach
SUMMER
-Hair colours: Icy blonde, dark ash, taupe blonde, light to medium neutral blonde
-Skin tones: Light porcelain to olive
-Typical eye colours: Light blue, light green, or light grey
-Colours to try: Pastels, light blue, greyish white, silver, pearl, lilac, greige; cool-toned pinks, pinks with purple undertones, powdery pink
-Colours to avoid: Warm-toned oranges, ochre, warm-toned reds, warm-toned greens; avoid true black and white
-Skin tones: Light porcelain to olive
-Typical eye colours: Light blue, light green, or light grey
-Colours to try: Pastels, light blue, greyish white, silver, pearl, lilac, greige; cool-toned pinks, pinks with purple undertones, powdery pink
-Colours to avoid: Warm-toned oranges, ochre, warm-toned reds, warm-toned greens; avoid true black and white
IF YOU’RE A SUMMER, WEAR THESE:
The We The Free Jamie Henley in Pink Quartz
The School Girl Cardigan in Angel Falls Melange
The Balabonnet in Powder Blue
The Porta Cashmere Henley Sweater in Pearl
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Grey Lilac
The School Girl Cardigan in Angel Falls Melange
The Balabonnet in Powder Blue
The Porta Cashmere Henley Sweater in Pearl
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Grey Lilac
AUTUMN
-Hair colours: Warm-toned golden blonde to golden brown or auburn
-Skin tones: Warm-toned, often with freckles
-Typical eye colours: Warm hazel, warm browns
-Colours to try: Golden blue, azure, emerald, mustard, copper, bronze, champagne; dark purples, poppy, warm-toned orange
-Colours to avoid: snowy white, true black, cool-toned pastels, ultra-vivid colours
-Skin tones: Warm-toned, often with freckles
-Typical eye colours: Warm hazel, warm browns
-Colours to try: Golden blue, azure, emerald, mustard, copper, bronze, champagne; dark purples, poppy, warm-toned orange
-Colours to avoid: snowy white, true black, cool-toned pastels, ultra-vivid colours
IF YOU’RE AN AUTUMN, WEAR THESE:
The Opal Rollneck Knit Sweater in Sweet Potato
The School Girl Cardigan in Purple Potion
The We The Free Tahiti Cargo Pants in California Poppy
The So Many Likes Long Sleeve in Stingray
The Roma Suede Tote Bag in Harvest Gold
The School Girl Cardigan in Purple Potion
The We The Free Tahiti Cargo Pants in California Poppy
The So Many Likes Long Sleeve in Stingray
The Roma Suede Tote Bag in Harvest Gold
WINTER
-Hair colours: Ash or cool-toned brown, blue-black hair
-Skin tones: Light to medium-deep cool tones
-Typical eye colours: Dark blues, greys, greens, or browns, and black
-Colours to try: Snow white, blue-black, cool-toned blues, navy, purple, silver; coffee, hot pink, fuchsia, raspberry, oxblood
-Colours to avoid: Warm orange, pale yellow, reddish brown, earthy or muted tones
-Skin tones: Light to medium-deep cool tones
-Typical eye colours: Dark blues, greys, greens, or browns, and black
-Colours to try: Snow white, blue-black, cool-toned blues, navy, purple, silver; coffee, hot pink, fuchsia, raspberry, oxblood
-Colours to avoid: Warm orange, pale yellow, reddish brown, earthy or muted tones
IF YOU’RE A WINTER, WEAR THESE:
The FP One Blake Thermal in Pink Phenom
The Opal Rollneck Knit Sweater in Hot Pink
The We The Free Jamie Henley in Ivory
The Balabonnet in Cobalt
The So Many Likes Long Sleeve in Black Coffee
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Mochacchino
The Opal Rollneck Knit Sweater in Hot Pink
The We The Free Jamie Henley in Ivory
The Balabonnet in Cobalt
The So Many Likes Long Sleeve in Black Coffee
The Lady Lux Layering Top in Mochacchino
Still having trouble figuring out what season you are? Try taking a few articles of clothing — warm, cool, light, dark, soft, and bright colours — and hold them next to your face. See if your appearance changes at all or if any complement your skin more than others. It’s amazing what a little colour theory can do.
Now, take what you’ve learned and start searching by colour on FP’s site…let us know how it goes!
Explore our Colour Shop to find colours in your season.
...and don’t forget activewear! We have a colour for every season. Shop the Colourful Activewear Collection to find workout clothes in your colour season.
CRAVING COLOUR?
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9/26/25 | BETWEEN-SEASON SWEETNESS
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine my color season?
You need to consider your eye color, skin tone, and natural hair color together. Cold undertones with bluish veins point to winter or summer, while warm undertones with greenish veins indicate spring or autumn.
What's the difference between warm and cool undertones?
Cool undertones have bluish or purple veins and lean towards silver metals, while warm undertones have greenish veins and look best with gold metals.
How do I know if I'm a high-contrast or low-contrast person?
High-contrast features (like fair skin with dark hair) point to winter or spring seasons, while low-contrast coloring (where skin, hair, and eyes are similar tones) indicates summer or autumn.
What colors should I choose based on my season's characteristics?
If you're autumn or summer, lean towards soft colors; if you're winter or spring, reach for bright colors. Spring and summer should go for light hues, while autumn and winter should choose darker shades.
Can I test my color season at home?
Yes, try holding different colored clothing—warm, cool, light, dark, soft, and bright—next to your face to see which ones complement your skin most.
What colors should springs avoid?
Springs should avoid dull, flat colors, bright white, cool-toned pinks, silverish greys, and deep, cool blacks.
What's the best way to shop for my season at Free People?
Use Free People's Color Shop to find colors in your season, and try searching by color on their site to find pieces that complement your seasonal palette."