Colour Analysis: Friend or Foe?
Photo by Jacob Lawrence
My thoughts and feelings on this styling practice.
I’ve been in a bit of a style rut recently.
From constantly re-wearing my old favourites to choosing simple, dark looks over my more colourful pieces, my outfits have been feeling a little lack lustre lately. So, in an effort to shake things up, I turned to the internet to find some new inspiration. And that’s how I ended up down a TikTok rabbit hole all about Colour Analysis.
In case you’re out of the loop, colour analysis is a method that looks at your skin tone, your hair and your eye colour to find the best colours you should be wearing. These are broken down into colour families, named after the four seasons: Autumn, Spring, Summer and Winter.
You can do it yourself at home or get a professional appointment - which can cost a few hundred pounds - and once you know your season, you’ll have a pre-made colour palette to guide your styling and shopping. But all of this got me thinking. How important is it to ‘find your colours’? Is this just another fad contributing to the rapid trend cycle? Or is it a styling tool that can genuinely help inspire some creativity in our wardrobes?
Rochas Fall 2016 Ready to Wear / Vogue Runway
Starting from scratch
One thing that I don’t love about the colour analysis trend is the way that it encourages and endorses fast-fashion culture. Once you’ve got your custom colour palette, of course, you’ll want to use it immediately. And because most of us are on a budget, the only way to buy lots of new things that match our new colours is to buy cheap clothes rather than investment pieces. It’s also less risky if we find that we actually don’t love our new palette a few months down the line.
Colour analysts aren’t telling people to shop at Shein and buy a whole new wardrobe right after their appointment. But the way it’s spoken about online by influences, alongside hauls and sponsored videos, is planting the seed for this kind of shopping, even if unintentionally.
Does it last?
That’s the other thing. How long-term is colour analysis? Are you only supposed to get it done once and then that’s it? What about if you change your hair or you get a tan? From what I’ve seen online, people are just talking about the buzz of their analysis right afterwards and how they’re making immediate changes to their clothing and makeup. But no one seems to be creating content around revisiting their colour analysis after some time has passed. I also think that because the media keep talking about it as a new trend, that’s what people are seeing it as. But it doesn’t have to be.
I think that if you take some time to really consider the analysis you’ve been given and then use the info to make more informed decisions, you can use the insights long after your appointment. Say you choose to invest in some pieces that match the colours that really stood out for you in your assessment - that’s already one way to make the results more long-term as (hopefully) you’ll have these pieces for longer.
You could also take a ‘try before you buy’ approach and maybe rent an item in a key colour that’s a bit different from what you usually wear. That way you can see if you really do like wearing it and can then bake it into your current wardrobe.
Balenciaga Resort 2028 / Vogue Runway
What does flattering mean, anyway?
My final problem with this trend is the idea that everything we wear has to be flattering. As a curvy woman who grew up in the 2010s, I’ve spent enough years trying to dress in a way that would flatter my figure according to fashion magazines, bloggers and TV interviews. Now that I’m a little older - and wiser - I’m starting to dress more for myself, finding silhouettes and clothes that make me feel comfortable and confident.
Colour analysis reminds me of some of these older styling tips in the way that it’s so preoccupied with finding things that suit you and look flattering on you. There are plenty of videos of people getting their colours done and being told that their favourite piece - or even what they’re currently wearing - doesn’t suit them. But that is the point of the analysis, it’s supposed to be objective.
So, I’m not saying colour analysis is like the old-school styling rules that dictated every detail and stripped our individuality. I suppose I’m just weary of going down the same slippery slope many of us fell down when we were growing up and ending up with things I don’t even like, just because someone told me they’re meant to look good.
Photo by Jacob Lawrence
A silver lining
Despite my ranting, there is something I love about this trend: the creativity. I know I’ve just said it can be restrictive, but I also think it can help us break out of old patterns and empower us to try new things.
If someone gives us the basics (i.e. the colours) then we’ve still got lots of room to play and find our own ways to use this information. I think having some guidelines to follow can actually pave the way for more freedom of expression and creativity in our styling. Wouldn’t you be more likely to try something new if you already knew it’s probably going to suit you in one way or another?
Plus, in a world where we have access to thousands of clothes at the click of a button, having a palette to follow makes everything a little less overwhelming. Yes, getting colour analysis can lead to some reckless spending, but maybe it can also lead to more thoughtful and considered shopping. And if people don’t refer back to their analysis months or years afterwards, is that such a bad thing? Our bodies, preferences and styles do change over time, so it’d be pretty unrealistic to get your colour palette in your 20s and stick to it until your 40s.
Photo by Adaeze Okaro
My Final Thoughts
To wrap this up, I guess I’m still on the fence about whether I’m for or against colour analysis.
Thinking about what colours you’re wearing can be great for being more mindful about building a wardrobe you love. But, in my opinion, looking at what colours you already know you wear a lot - and that you like - is more valuable than getting a second opinion. You know yourself best. If you think you look good in blue, that’s all that matters.
Of course, we all think about what others think of us now and then, but I know I think the people who are the best dressed are the ones who look comfortable and confident in what they’re wearing.
