Color Analysis, The FP Way

Remember when Richard Gilmore told Rory, “I…am an autumn.” after taking a color 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 “color analysis” videos on social media, too. If you haven’t, here’s the short of it: color analysis is a way of using color theory based on your skin tones to find your most complementary shade.

Let’s start with the basics. This color analysis theory is based on the four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. To determine your “season,” you have to consider your eye color, skin tone, and natural hair color. If you have a cold undertone, bluish or purple veins, and a naturally cool-toned hair color (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 colors. 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 color. If you’ve determined you’re an autumn or summer, lean towards soft colors. 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.