IDEALIST STYLE
  • Blog
  • Overview
  • INSTAGRAM
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • ABOUT
  • SUPPORT THE WORK

THE RULES OF WEARING COLORS

28/11/2014

205 Comments

 
THE RULES OF WEARING COLORS
INTRODUCTION TO THE RULES AND COLOR GROUPS
Picture
There are many different Color Analysis systems to help you determine which colors best suit your natural palette, but unfortunately, both myself and many of my slightly "mixed" looking friends, don't fit into any of them. And if one fits me, it certainly won't work for some of the others, and so on. I always feel like something is missing, and it seems that the typical color seasons are based on the more typical color combinations. So, in other words, if you have the "wrong" combination or intensity, you will have a hard time finding your group.  

Take me, as an example. My contrast level is in the middle range, I have golden brown hair (the lighting in the photo makes it look a little red), an olive undertone to my skin, peachy pink areas, and cold green eyes (which means they can appear blue-ish, but if you hold something blue next to them, you can tell that they are green in comparison). 
My dominant feature is warm (so that would rule out "Winter and Summer"), and I have noticed that I need contrast to look my best. Colors of brighter (but not too bright) or equal intensity makes me "pop", and pale hues other than white and grey, does nothing for me. 
I get compliments in both (some) earthy and golden shades, as well as warm and bright, sunny colors. But olive green, dirty and cool colors wash me out, or make me look grey-ish orange (so that would rule out anything in the typical "Autumn" family). Just from reading up on the subject I would say that I actually look more like a "Soft Autumn" (what my brother is), "Warm Spring", or a "True Spring", but many of those colors are too pale, cool, and/or dirty and "autumn" for me. 
I am better in green than blue, and my truly best colors are mint, aqua, ivory, sunny golden yellow, bright peachy pink and tomato red. In conclusion, I suit clear and warm enough colors to be a Spring. But, now the problem is that none of the groups that already exist, are quite right (There were several colors in the charts that made me think, "no way" or "not my best").
After that, I discovered an Elements color system that determined that I am a "Fire" (sort of a Spring), but that system neglected some other combinations. Confusing? I know. Which brings me to my next step.

To figure this out (with inspiration from the already well researched rules of Color Analysis), I created my own 10 Color Groups system, with a total of 30 varieties. 
The 10 Groups system is created to identify what type of colors you generally look good in. 
The 30 Add on's determines your group within the group, ergo, which other types you border to. This will help you specify which hues will be best for your intensity (to give you that right glow), and let you know which other groups you can "borrow" some colors from (without looking bad). Last but not least, which ones to stay away from. 
Instead of separating everything into a large number of divisions, I wanted to give you an understanding of your colors in such a way that it would be possible to "play" with your hues on a larger scale (or narrow it down). Because we all know we want to wear the colors we like, not only the ones we look good in. The key is to know how to get away with it, so you don't have to end up looking blend in your favorite black dress.
Picture
DETERMINE YOU COLOR GROUP IN 5 STEPS

1. WARM OR COOL UNDERTONE
First determine if you are warm or cold. 
If you suit gold best, orange-red, ivory, green with yellow in it, and in general warm colors , such as golden browns or other earthy tones, peachy hues, or sunny yellows, you are WARM.
If you suit silver best, blueish red, pure or soft white, and in general cold colors, such as jewel tones, icy hues, powdery or bright blue, and berry colors, you are COOL.
You also may be NEUTRAL. So if you suit both gold and silver, your next step would be to determine if you look better in warm colors or the cool colors (listed above). A neutral will still have a general preference towards either the warm og cool colors. It just means that you are almost in between groups. 

2. CONTRAST LEVEL
Now, you are going to decide if your overall coloring is 
DEEP (very saturated and dark, has a high contrast level, and can handle deep and dark colors well)
LIGHT (very delicate, fair, and has a low contrast level. Usually very sensitive to colors, and best in light and delicate tones)
CLEAR (very high in contrast or can handle bright colors even if you have a medium contrast level or light hair)
PURE (You may have a clear or soft look, but your contrast level is in the middle range, and on top of that you're still a little sensitive to bright, dark or earthy colors)
SOFT (neither dark nor light, or all warm nor all cold. Just in the middle to low contrast range. Usually suits soft-muted tones with a little grey or earthiness in them)
MUTED (You may have a strong and earthy coloring, but you're contrast level is in the middle range. Also, sensitive to colors that aren't toned down). 
Kim Kardashian is a DEEP, and has a naturally high level of contrast. Her dark hair, eyes and eyebrows offer that sharp black and white contrast, even with her tan skin. 
Angelina Jolie is a SOFT, and has a medium level of contrast. Even though she has fair skin and somewhat dark hair, this picture appear to be more grey scale than black and white.
January Jones is a LIGHT, and has an overall low contrast level. Her hair, skin and eyes are all similarly light, which makes her look all light grey.
(If you have a dark coloring, but have a medium to low contrast level, you probably belong in one of the pure, muted, or soft groups). 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Your choices are
DEEP COOL or DEEP WARM, 
CLEAR COOL or CLEAR WARM
PURE COOL or MUTED WARM
LIGHT COOL or LIGHT WARM
SOFT COOL or SOFT WARM as in the charts below. 
This represent your main colors, or season if you may. This are the groups that tell you which colors that are good on you and will get you compliments, what hair color you can or cannot dye your hair, and which colors that are your worst enemies. 
These combinations are based on contrast level, intensity and undertone of your hair, eyes and skin. 
Use the charts underneath as a guide for more specific information. 
It could be helpful  to try and think about what element you are. If the colors you look good in remind you of FIRE (warm and clear), ICE (deep, cool and clear), EARTH (warm and muted, deep or soft), or AIR (cool, and light, soft and pure), or maybe you are NEUTRAL (both warm and cold features)? If you are WARM or a mix between WARM and COOL, but look bad in yellow, look at the SOFT groups.

COOL

deep cool
If you suit silver best, but gold is fine. Blueish red, pure pink, ink black and pure white, icy colors, jewel tones, deep, and vibrant primary colors are fantastic on you. Your natural coloring is vibrant, deep and distinctive. The overall coloring of your eyes and hair, is dark, rich and intense. Your best colors are high in contrast to your dark hues, and always bold, fully saturated and pure. Some Deep Cool can flow into Deep Warm, and wear some Deep Warm colors. Dusty, warm and muted tones, and wishy washy pastels, such as dirty browns and soft peachy tones, does not do you justice. Try to keep your look rich, and remember, a true DEEP COOL, can wear dark red lipstick, black eyeliner and a dark blue dress without looking goth.

​
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Usually very dark, but can be any color. Normally, black, black-brown, dark hazel, and in some instances medium brown eyes, which is a sign that you're flowing into Deep Autumn. 
Hair: Usually very dark, and you natural color is most likely deep brown, black, or black-brown. But it also may be medium brown, steel gray, or salt & pepper.
Skin: Can be quite pale, very dark, or anywhere in between. Black, black-brown, olive, beige, very pale beige, golden, light skin with a blue or pink undertone, or even fair skin with a yellow undertone. Cool skin tones usually have a blue, red, pure golden or pink undertone, but your skin may also have some warmth which is a sign that you are flowing into DEEP WARM.

CLEAR COOL
If you suit silver best, and blue is your best color. Blueish red, bright pink, ink black, pure white, jewel tones and clear bold or icy colors, flatter you the best. Your natural coloring is crisp, distinctive and high in contrast. Your eye and hair color is usually rich, clear and intense, but some may have a slight ashy look. Your best colors are always clear, bold, icy and rich, and your best color should mirror or be in contrast to your eye color. Those with the brightest coloring in this group can sometimes flow into CLEAR WARM bright, look ok in gold, and need a lot of contrast. The purer cool types is best to stick with silver, and the other perfectly clear and cool colors. Dusty, muted, and wishy washy pastels, does neither of these types justice, so try to keep your look sharp. ​
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Bright blue, blue, violet, emerald green, charcoal gray, soft dark brown, icy hazel, dark brown and black. 
Hair: Black, blue-black, black-brown, ashy, medium or dark brown. May have some faint warm highlights. Whitish blonde hair can also occur, silver, ashy white-blonde, salt & pepper. Absolutely no red or golden tones 
Skin: Black, deep brown, light/neutral beige, pale olive, milky white. Often translucent, rose beige, neutral beige, soft-cool olive to black skin. Pink or blue undertone.

PURE COOL
If you suit silver best, powdery blue, blueish reds and pinks, and in general cool and delicate, powdery, dusty colors. Your natural coloring is usually ashy, and one of the most sophisticated and understated of all the groups. You receive compliments in pure and powdery cool colors, delicate pastels, and overall light tones. Your best color will be cool and mirror your natural delicate coloring. Bold, warm and too dark and overpowering colors does not do you justice, so try to keep your look calm and in harmony. A true PURE COOL will usually suit a classy and simple look, and often come of as elegant and proper.
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Gray, blue, green, cool hazel, or slate 
Hair: Medium, to deep ash blond, dirty blonds, medium to deep and almost dark ash brown. Little or no red tones.
Skin: Cool beige, blue-black, gray beige, neutral beige, pale neutral beige or soft beige. Pink or blue undertone.
May have freckles.

light COOL
If you suit silver best, but gold is ok. Blueish reds and pinks, and in general delicate, light, powdery, dusty, and cool colors are your best shades. Your natural coloring is the most delicate and understated of all the groups. You receive compliments in pastel shades and overall light, bright, delicate, and cool tones. Your best color will probably be light blue, because it mirrors your naturally cool and delicate look. This type is the typical cool and fair skinned blonde, and even though their skin can seem a little warm, it's actually beige with a pink undertone. They can be naturally dark blonde, light brown, or have red hair too. For this type, the most important thing is to keep it light, because bold, earthy, too dark and overpowering colors, does not do you justice. Try to keep your look calm and in harmony. ​
Picture
Picture
​Eyes: Gray, blue, green, soft brown, or slate. 
Hair: Light, medium, to deep ash blond and brown. Little or no red tones or pale and soft red-haired. 
Skin: Cool beige, gray beige, neutral beige, pale neutral beige or soft beige. Pink or blue undertone. Sometimes blue and green veins.
May have freckles.

soft COOL
If you suit silver best, but gold is actually just as good. It's hard to decide if you look best in warm or cold colors, because you suit some of both. But in general, blueish red, and overall light, soft-muted, cool and ashy tones, that mirror the softness of your overall intensity, will get you the most compliments. A touch of earthy warmth to your colors can also good. Your natural coloring is slightly neutral, and overall soft and cool, with a slightly warmer tone to either your hair, skin or eyes (which can mean that you are flowing into SOFT WARM). The most important thing for a SOFT is to mirror your natural softness, and your best color is probably powder blue or one of the berry colors. The deeper SOFT COOLS, can get away with some deeper and brighter colors as well (without it looking bad), and is often mistaken for CLEAR WARMS or MUTED WARMS. The lighter ones, and if without makeup, it is best to avoid avoid harsh contrasts, such as electric clear colors and keep your look calm and in harmony.
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Blue, gray-blue, green, or hazel.
Hair: Light to medium or deep ash brown. 
May have blonde in it, like a soft blond hair, or a slight golden brown-ashy mix.
Skin: Light to medium neutral beige, golden beige and light olive. May have dark but ashy skin tone. Blue-black. May have freckles. 
If you have a deeper skin-tone, the skin color is less important than eyes and hair, so don't think about that too much.
Green, yellow, golden, pink, and red undertone.
WARM

DEEP WARM
If you suit gold or bronze best, but silver can work as well. Bright orange-red, ivory, chocolate colors, bright peach, golden yellow and forest green are your best colors. In general, vibrant, pure, deep, warm, bold, golden colors are fantastic on you. Black can look quite good on you, but it's not your best color. Your natural coloring is deep, dark, earthy, golden and warm. The color of your eyes and hair, and at least the undertone of your skin, is rich and warm. Some Deep Warm can flow into Deep Cool, and wear some Deep Cool colors. Dusty, cool tones and soft, cool pastels, does not do you justice. Keep your look bold and warm, and remember, a true DEEP WARM is earthy with a high contrast level. A typically good look for a DEEP WARM is the classic, stylish, warm and glowing, 70's glam-look. 
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Dark brown, black-brown, dark hazel, dark green and some instances a very, deep and dark shade of blue
Hair: Black-brown, black, dark to deep chestnut, medium brown. 
Skin: Can be quite pale, very dark, or anywhere in between. Bronze, black, olive, golden, golden beige and ivory. May have freckles. Usually a neutral or warm undertone, and if you have some cool undertones it may indicate that you flow towards Deep Winter. ​

MUTED WARM
If you suit bronze or gold best, tomato red, olive and forest green, and other golden, dirty, burnt, earthy, spice colors in rich and muted tones. Your natural coloring is either fiery or muted, and your best hues are those who remind you of an autumn landscape and enhance your natural warm and glow. Dusty cool pastels and cool intense colors, does not do you justice. So, try to keep your look in harmony with your naturally muted intensity. On a true MUTED WARM there will always be a dramatic difference between when wearing right and wrong colors, and they have a hard time borrowing colors from other groups without looking washed out. Some of the more saturated and darker toned MUTED WARMS can sometimes borrow colors from other warm groups. But never go cold.
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Medium brown or lighter, olive green, dark hazel, blue, mixed blue, gray-green, mixed green, and (very rarely) dark brown.
Hair: Medium to deep golden brown, medium chestnut, rich and warm red, auburn, strawberry blond, or golden dirty blond.
Skin: Bronze, golden beige, neutral beige, warm beige, ivory, pale olive-skin (golden or greenish undertone). May have freckles. Green, pink, yellow, golden, red, and bronze undertone.

CLEAR WARM
If you suit gold best, but silver is ok. Orange-red, lemon yellow, bright peach, ivory, turquoise, and other warm, medium strength, bright colors make you pop. A CLEAR WARM needs more color and brightness than they appear to have naturally, and the right colors gives them a sunny and fresh look. The higher intensity CLEAR WARMS can get away with some CLEAR COOL colors because of their similar need for a bright hues, but never without makeup. Your best color will mirror your eyes, and you will receive the most compliments when wearing sunny and warm shades. Berry colors and dark, dusty, cool colors, or faded colors in general, are not for you. ​
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Blue, turquoise, mixed blue, green, gray-green, mixed green, cold green, olive green, topaz (brownish), light hazel, soft hazel, light pale brown, or light brown eyes. Sometimes even deep brown eyes.
Hair: Light to medium golden blonde, very bright, golden and deep blonde hair, light brown, medium brown, or medium to dark golden brown, deep golden brown or even black-brown. Some may even have coppery red, strawberry blonde, or soft auburn, light and soft red hair. May have a mousy look or blonde or red highlights. Signs of ashiness may indicate that you're a SOFT COOL instead.
Skin: Bronze, deep warm brown, brown-black, brown, olive, golden, golden beige, neutral beige, ivory, light ivory, ivory with warm pink or peach undertones. Light peach, porcelain. May have freckles.

LIGHT WARM
If you suit gold best, but silver is ok. Tomato-red, lemon yellow, and other warm, medium to light colors gives you a bright and fresh look. A LIGHT WARM is best when they match their natural warmth and intensity. Too much contrast will be distracting, and monochromatic color schemes and delicate patterns and prints, compliment their own low contrast level much better. Some LIGHT WARMS are a little neutral, and flow into LIGHT COOL. Some are so warm they can get away with some earthy colors because they are borderline SOFT/MUTED, but remember to keep it on the fresh and bright side as it's still a LIGHT WARM. Your best color will mirror your eyes, and you will receive the most compliments when wearing sunny and warm shades. Berry colors and dark, dusty, colors, are not for you. 
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Turquoise, blue, green, cold green, olive green, topaz, light hazel, light pale brown.
Hair: Usually a natural brunette or dirty blonde, but also light to medium golden blonde. Medium to deep golden brown. A very bright, golden and deep blonde hair. Or coppery red to strawberry blonde.
Skin: Golden beige, golden olive, ivory, light ivory, ivory with warm pink or peach undertones. Light peach, porcelain. May have freckles. Green, peach, yellow, golden, and red undertone.

soft WARM
If you suit both gold best, but silver is actually just as good. It's hard to decide if you look best in warm or cold colors, because you suit some of both. But in general, tomato-red and warm, dirty, soft-muted colors that mirror the softness of your overall intensity, will get you the most compliments. Your natural coloration is slightly neutral, soft and warm, with a medium intensity. You may have a slightly cooler tone to either your hair, skin or eyes (which can mean that you are flowing into SOFT COOL). Your best colors are probably olive green and light browns. But powdery blue can be good as well.  
The deeper SOFT WARMS, can get away with some deeper and brighter colors, and is often mistaken for a MUTED WARM or CLEAR COOL, but these brighter and darker colors will not be as flattering as those in the SOFT WARM hues. For the lighter ones, and if without makeup, it is best to avoid intense cool colors, especially bright yellow. Try to keep your look calm and in harmony. 
Picture
Picture
Eyes: Light brown, light hazel, soft hazel, blue, mixed blue, gray-green, green, mixed green.
Hair: Golden blonde to medium and deep brown, soft auburn, strawberry blonde, very light and soft red hair.
Signs of ashiness may indicate that you are more of a SOFT COOL.
Skin: Ivory, neutral beige, light neutral beige, medium neutral beige, olive, golden, and bronze. May have freckles.
If you have a deeper skin-tone, the skin color is less important than eyes and hair, so don't think about that too much.
Green, peach, yellow, golden, and red undertone.

 3. INDIVIDUAL NTENSITY  
The next step is to determine whether you are a "true" (of whatever group you belong to), or if you need an "add on" to your existing group, such as if you are softer, brighter, deeper than the typical look, and so on. 
If you intensity is slightly cusping towards another group, it would widen your palette, which means that you can borrow some colors from "name-friend" groups, as long as they fit your "profile" (NB! These are not considered makeup free colors though, and is best to use when you look fresh (as if in, not when you need a vacation and haven't seen the sun in more than 6 months). This also means that you can figure out exactly which colors that are the most incredible on you, within your own group. 
I have discovered 30 variations, but not all groups mix. 
For example you can be a DEEP COOL dark (dark skin, hair and eyes), DEEP cool true (true, means that you are simply just deep and cool), DEEP COOL soft (your hair or eyes are slightly softer than the typical DEEP COOL) and DEEP COOL neutral (For those who are a both warm and cold, and cusping on the neighboring season). 

Now, how can you be both soft and deep, you say? Take Ginnifer Goodwin for an example. She looks best in DEEP COOL colors, but she has hazel eyes (slightly softer than brown and black), and her natural hair color is slightly lighter than dark brown. It also appear to be a little ashy. So, combined it makes her overall, a bit softer. These days, she colors her hair darker, which makes her look even deeper, and that makes her more true to her color group.
(This doesn't mean that you must color your hair. Being a little off is very interesting and beautiful in a less stereotypical way). 
Or, maybe you have found your group, but you still feel that you can wear more or less colors than your group offers.
A MUTED WARM such as Rachel Weisz, can still be cute in some clear colors, which makes her a MUTED WARM clear, and a CLEAR WARM such Lauren Conrad is often pegged as a SOFT WARM, but looks her best in clear colors. Which makes her a CLEAR WARM soft. 
People usually fit in two categories. 
1. You can handle warmer colors better when you get tan in the summer, and cooler color when you are pale in the winter (Typical for the more neutral DEEP and SOFT), or the other way around.
2. You can only handle other colors outside of your own group when you are tan, wearing makeup, and look fresh 
(Typical CLEAR, MUTED, PURE and LIGHT).
For example, DEEP COOL's such as Kim Kardashian, that are flowing into DEEP WARM, can use DEEP WARM colors when they have a tan (She usually spray tan these days), but naturally, she has a cooler and lighter skin tone, which makes her a DEEP COOL neutral). 

THE ADD ON'S
As we have established before, your dominant or secondary feature can be either WARM, COOL, LIGHT, SOFT, CLEAR, PURE, MUTED or DEEP. The add on is just that extra word that helps you understand you coloring and intensity, to a point. 
neutral, means that you are so close to another group, cusping right on the edge, so much that you are both groups.
(Such as Kim Kardashian in DEEP COOL, Olivia Munn in DEEP WARM, Naomi Watts in LIGHT COOL, Heather Graham in LIGHT WARM).
true, means that you are the poster girl for your group. All the rules flatter you perfectly. A real, pure and true.....
(Such as Sandra Bullock in DEEP COOL, Julia Roberts in DEEP WARM, Zooey Deschanel in CLEAR COOL, Julianne Moore in MUTED WARM, Maggie Gyllenhaal in PURE COOL, Cameron Diaz in CLEAR WARM, and Busy Philipps in LIGHT WARM).
soft, means that you have a softer than usual (for your group), intensity (or contrast level) to your (natural) eyes, skin or hair. You need a little dash of grey to the brightest of your colors to look perfect. It can also mean that you are flowing into one another similar but less intense group. Basically you are slightly warmer and more muted then the rest of your group.
(Such as, Ginnifer Goodwin in DEEP COOL, Kristin Kreuk in DEEP WARM, Jamie Lee Curtis in CLEAR COOL, Lily Cole in MUTED WARM, Elisabeth Hurley in PURE COOL, Leslie Mann in CLEAR WARM, Michelle Pfeiffer in LIGHT COOL, Amy Adams in LIGHT WARM).
bright, means that you have a high tolerance and need for contrast, such as features that can compete with bright colors and stark contrasts. Can sometimes flow over in a warmer or cooler neighboring group. (Such as, Megan Fox in CLEAR COOL, and Beyonce in CLEAR WARM)
clear, means that you can handle some clearer colors, such as some of the CLEAR COOL or CLEAR WARM colors, because you have features that can compete with some more intense hues. But you will always stay on your side of warm and cool. (Such as Eva Marcille in MUTED WARM, and Jennifer Garner in LIGHT COOL). 
deep, means that you have either deeper and darker eyes, skin or hair, than what is normal for your group 
(Such as Nicole Richie and Angelina Jolie in SOFT WARM, and Rashida Jones and Leona Lewis in SOFT COOL)
dark, means that your overall coring is so "dark", that it seems lower in contrast (but it's not). Even pure colors will be very dramatic on you (and give you a fresh look), in comparison to you dark and sharp coloring. It's a little bit of an optical illusion. (Such as Oprah Winfrey and Eva Longoria, in DEEP COOL, or Solange and Mindy Kaling, in DEEP WARM).

E.g. If you are a SOFT WARM deep, CLEAR WARM bright or MUTED WARM clear, you have a higher intensity than what is common for your group, and can pull of darker and brighter colors as well. If you end up being CLEAR COOL true, then you can only use colors that are in fact, clear and cool. And so on...
Picture
Picture
5. AD IT UP
First, think about which colors suit you best. Looks can be deceiving, and only a guideline to help you recognize your group. Your main group, is your "solid", and tells you what colors are the absolute best for you. The add on's are just hints in other directions. Such as if you need a little more of this or that...
So, now we know wether you are a 
DEEP COOL or DEEP WARM, with the slight angle towards being neutral, soft or dark. 
CLEAR COOL or CLEAR WARM, with the slight angle towards soft or bright.
PURE COOL or MUTED WARM, with the slight angle towards soft or clear.
LIGHT COOL or LIGHT WARM with the slight angle toward being neutral or soft.
SOFT COOL or SOFT WARM, with the slight angle towards deep or light.

RESULT
Ok! So, this might seem a little confusing at this point. But basically, it is like this. 
I am a CLEAR WARM soft (without makeup on). My olive skin color goes from a deep tan to light a tan, maybe even grey-green if I am particularly un-fresh. So, since I always have a tan, light eyes and a medium dark hair color, my overall contrast level is medium. Being a softer CLEAR WARM also means that my "makeup free look" should be, CLEAR WARM colors that are slightly muted (has a touch of grey in it), and that you can have a little earthiness to you and therefore suit some earthy and golden shades as well (but never too dirty, dusty or muted). But being a CLEAR WARM and needing contrast, I can look great in really bright colors as well, when wearing makeup to match. 
The best color for a CLEAR WARM will mirror your eye color, which in my case is, cold green. Also, the soft intensity means that the softer colors, will mirror my clear-soft eyes the best. 
Conclusion: My best color is a clear but slightly soft, aqua or mint green (blue and a green with a lot of lightness, brightness and yellow in them, so they appear to be both clear, warm and soft).

If you like Beyonce is a CLEAR WARM with brown eyes, and a bright intensity, go for the shade of aqua-blue or turquoise that best suits the rest (hair and skin). Blue will bring out the brown in your eyes. 
If in doubt, yellow and ivory is always great on a CLEAR WARM. They are both clear and warm, and lighter than your skin color, which will give you a ("tan") fresh glow. (These four are my go to makeup free colors. They always save the day)
Remember that your biggest no colors are the ones that will clash with either your eye, skin or hair color, no matter if everything else tells you it should be great (e.g. Blue looks great with my skin and hair, but not my eyes)
Picture
Me, showing that a CLEAR WARM soft has a slight warmth to the eyes, (or) hair and skin, even when (winter) pale.
Picture
My light eyes make me softer than, also tan (CLEAR WARM bright) Beyonce. Her eyes and hair is deep brown.
Picture
Katy Perry with minimal makeup (because no one should be judged by how they look without makeup).
Picture
As you can see, I have a medium contrast level, because of my light tan skin, light eyes, and medium brown hair.
Picture
Beyonce, proving that ivory gives a fresh glow 
to CLEAR WARM's. 
Picture
Katy Perry looks like a CLEAR COOL with dyed hair and strong makeup. Purple is beeaauutiiiful on her though!

Keep in mind, that the people that have been used for these charts, all have makeup on, and possibly colored hair, so they may (cheat a little) look a as if they are a different type than they really are. 
Katy Perry is an excellent example of that, if you have ever seen her without makeup and black hair (it's a little washed out, and her features disappear). Here in the picture above, she has a little bit of makeup on (skin, eyebrows, mascara at least). With little to no makeup, the black hair is a bit too harsh for her, but with full makeup she looks sharp and clear. 
Also, it is very difficult to make one chart that includes every variation of the color combinations there is, so use the guide, because nothing can replace a good old fashion color analysis. Without it you cannot be absolutely certain of what group you belong to. Find a good size mirror, some color samples (clothes, accessories, fabric samples in colors representing all the groups (pure colors, dark colors, golden colors, muted colors, bright colors, light colors, soft colors, warm colors, cold colors and so on). Make sure you have on no (or very little) makeup, good lighting (day light. Indoor lighting can be yellow and change the appearance of colors), and also best to have a friend with you to get an objective opinion. Good luck :)

If my system doesn't find you, then I would recommend the basic four elements (FIRE, EARTH, ICE and AIR). No fuzz and a wide range of colors (The only group I could identify with before, was "FIRE"). For more options and many details, you should try the 16 seasons color analysis system. They even have a Soft Spring (which is new), but the problem with that one was that the soft spring colors didn't suit me. Needless to say, I felt the need to create my own system...version, or what to call it.


Stay tuned for the 10 following, detailed COLOR GROUP posts.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE COLOR GROUPS, click here

Photography of me is by www.camillastorvollen.no

(My sources are "Color me beautiful", thechicfashionista.com, http://visual.ly/, http://www.truth-is-beauty.com/, the 12 seasons system, the 16 season system, and the basic four element system. I have made alterations and created my own system. Photos in this post are random pictures from Tumbler, Pinterest or borrowed from Google. Unknown source.)

205 Comments
Camilla link
27/11/2014 08:50:11 pm

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, Sunniva! :) Really inspirational reading! :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
27/11/2014 09:22:35 pm

Takk til deg for hyggelig tilbakemelding, Camilla <3 :)

Reply
K
29/1/2015 05:16:14 am

Just wanted to comment and say that I love your system and how many different categories it has, plus the add-ons make it super versatile and customizable. (: I am Asian and I understand that there aren't very many Asian celebrities in Western media/pop culture, but I wish you could've included more Asian celebrity examples, especially for the muted and soft categories!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/2/2015 11:29:37 pm

Hi K :) Thank you so much. I'm glad to hear that you like my system.

I take it that you are a soft/muted? About the asian celebrities, I have some in the groups that I could find a representative of the type. It is most common to find Asian coloring in the DEEP WARM, DEEP COOL, and sometimes CLEAR COOL groups (I have a vietnamese friend that is a CLEAR COOL true, but could't find a celebrity to represent. He has similar coloring to Michelle Williams). Sometimes, (but rarely) also in CLEAR WARM (Ni Ni, Chinese actress), and then I found that Aishwarya Rai is a SOFT WARM (Her type is also know as an Indian summer).
As far as I could find, I don't know of many Asian MUTED WARM or SOFT COOL, but if you have someone in mind, I would love for you to send me their name so I can check it out. I do want to cover as many variations of a look as possible, so that everyone can find their group.

I am a big Bollywood fan, but my knowledge of Asian celebrities (other than from India) it still limited compared to the western one, so it is very possible that I have missed some obvious candidates.
:) Thanx for the feedback. I will keep my eyes open, and welcome any tips.

Xxx from Sun

Reply
Elizabeth link
9/10/2015 03:05:25 am

What a fabulous site! I'm so glad I discovered your site and your descriptions, because they make so much sense and are so easy to understand. I am one of those mixed types that are not supposed to exist, being light, warm but soft. I'm always classified as a warm spring or warm autumn, but warm spring is often too bright and warm autumn too muted. So now I understand where I should be placed in your system, and am looking forward to reading more about all the colour types. Thank you!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
12/12/2015 05:36:32 am

Hi, Elizabeth! Thank you so much for that lovely feedback. That makes me happy. Thank you for reading, and have a lovely x-mas! ;-*

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Cas
24/2/2016 03:34:15 am

Thank you so much for sharing all of this information on the color groups! I have had the hardest time trying to figure out my color palette and your site is the FIRST one I've found that actually explains it a little better. I've always looked good with both silver and gold jewelry, with gold being slightly better. However, with my dark hair and eyes, with contract, but not looking the greatest in clear bold colors I could never find a palette that suited me properly. It's been trial and error along the way. So, a big thank you for providing the explanations, and examples of which other color group you might flow into, and be able to share with. I believe that I am a Soft Warm. I was wondering if you are going to finish the last few color groups? I really look forward to seeing them! :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
24/2/2016 09:53:21 am

Thank you for so much for that, Cas :-) Makes me so happy that you found my system to be helpful. And yes, It really can be confusing figuring out your color type when you have a "typical" look, but you actually don't.

So, to your question. Yes, I will definitely continue writing about all the color groups. But, since I am creating a new system and my goal is been to include everyone, then I sometimes need to take "thinking and testing" breaks to make sure that all the details are on point for the explanation part. I am in the final editing parts of the CLEAR WARM post, so that will be published pretty soon. It might take i little while before they are all published. But, as soon as possible :-)

Xxx. Sun.

Reply
Tara
1/3/2016 02:52:35 am

I finally found my colors! Thank you so much, I am very excited to go find new pieces that will compliment me. Best to you!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
3/3/2016 07:18:41 am

Thank you so much for that lovely feedback, Tara. That makes me so happy. Best of luck to you on your color hunt.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Olga
1/6/2016 02:13:26 am

No, you must handle your colors without makeup. That's your seasonal color palette.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
1/6/2016 06:29:41 am

Hi, Olga. Yes, that is correct. Your best colors are those which suit you without makeup. I'm not sure why you got the impression it wasn't, but in case... The mention of "with makeup", is only to underline that your apperance can change with makeup, and you can get away with more for those who want that. Whitout makeup you have one group. You can be borderline other types, and look ok in the colors of your sister group. But, you will still be slightly closer to one of them, and that is your group. I have added info to show how people can borrow colors from other types close to their's, but as specified, with the help of makeup and or hair color.
I hope this clarified the text above :-)

Best regards, Sun.

Reply
Colleen
6/6/2016 09:33:42 am

Amazing work! I've been working for awhile to understand how more neutral types could fit into the existing colour category systems (including myself). Lora Alexander, of prettyyourworld, typed me quite well as a "Dusty Soft Spring." In your system, I think I would be either a Clear Warm Soft or Clear Warm True. But, I'm also bordering on light. So close to a neutral all ways. Looking forward to when you post the best wardrobe looks for these types!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
9/6/2016 01:53:38 pm

Hi, Colleen. Thank you so much for that.
Dusty Soft Spring, does sound like it could be similar to the CLEAR WARM soft, or maybe LIGHT WARM soft. Maybe you are the LIGHT WARM neutral or a SOFT WARM light, even?
An example of a CLEAR WARM soft, bordering on LIGHT is Leslie Mann, so you should check her out. Or maybe Gisele Bundchen, Drew Barrymore, or Katherine Heigl as SOFT WARM light. I often see Heigh and Barrymore typed as types similar to CLEAR WARM soft, so it can sometimes be a little difficult to pin point, at least until you truly know your best colors, and worst for that matter.
The SOFT's are the typical neutrals, while a LIGHT WARM or a CLEAR WARM generally will look a bit faded in cold hues. A SOFT WARM can tolerate cold hues (such as burgundy) quite well as long as they are soft. But all spring types can handle silver quite well even though gold is the best look for them, so that is in a sense a more neutral tendency than an all warm autumn. So yes, CLEAR, LIGHT or SOFT WARM, I think you are on to something.

The next post I'm working on (although they are alle 70% done) is the PURE COOL, and right after that I'm finishing the LIGHT WARM, so it will hopefully not take that long. I just take breaks in between to test all my theories to make sure it's accurate.

Looking forward to posting them, and hope they'll be helpful to you :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Colleen
11/6/2016 08:24:34 pm

Thank you Sun! Drew Barrymore and Katherine Heigl seem quite like me, so I think Soft Warm light might be the category. I'll check back for your ongoing blog posts. Cheers, Colleen.

Colleen
4/8/2016 09:02:56 pm

I'm curious, what category do you think Joanne Froggatt fits into? She has an interesting colouring and someone suggested her to me as a close match.

IDEALIST STYLE link
5/8/2016 08:50:48 am

Hi, again Colleen! :-)
I think Joanne Froggatt could be a SOFT WARM light, too. She looks like a typical LIGHT COOL, but on closer inspection she looks better in WARM colors. Yellow is too bright for her so that makes it unrealistic for her to be a LIGHT WARM as they look amazing in yellow, and since she looks great as a blonde, It adds up to a SOFT WARM light. SOFT COOL's aren't great as blondes. She could still be a LIGHT, because there was a limit to how many photos in different colors I could find of her, and she was wearing makeup in most of them. It's not 100% safe to do a color analysis from photos, and with makeup, as the light can change an appearance and makeup can make you look different from your natural self.
But that aside, my gut says "SOFT WARM light", as she looked good in all of the SOFT WARM colors I found, and the fact that there were several LIGHT COOL and LIGHT WARM colors that were a little too much, or too cold for her.

:-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Colleen
5/8/2016 07:44:07 pm

Thank you! : ) That all makes sense.

Colleen
12/3/2017 03:28:04 pm

I had an analysis by one of the top professionals in Toronto. She typed me as Light leaning toward summer. However, the browns in the mini palette she gave me are too cool, the peach & pink too faded and perhaps some purples and greens too cool. The white, light grey and most aquas/turquoises are great. I'm still looking forward to your extended palette posts! Thank you for doing this work.

IDEALIST STYLE link
16/3/2017 03:15:29 pm

Hi again, Colleen :-) It sounds like she might have typed you as something resembling a LIGHT COOL neutral, but you felt summer colors are too cold, and or faded for you. SOFT WARM light might also be to dull for you then, so still sounds like a LIGHT WARM soft. Maybe even a LIGHT WARM neutral, which can explain the summer-spring/warm-cold mix. I have now finished the LIGHT WARM post, and working in the LIGHT COOl, so check it out and see :-) http://www.idealiststyle.com/the-rules-of-wearing-colors.html

Xxx, Sun

Reply
Colleen
16/3/2017 06:03:07 pm

Oh, so exciting! You've included such lovely outfit ideas and mentioned pretty much all of my good colours which didn't seem to make sense together up to this point - light orange, warmer reds and yet, many blues, some warmer & some cooler greens algae to mint, robin's egg blue, pink & peach both, a soft cream, peachy beige, light grey and warmer brown. And those periwinkle/cornflower blues! Gorgeous and perfect. Still tilting a little toward Light Warm soft I think. Thank you again for sharing your passion and talent this way. : )

IDEALIST STYLE link
18/3/2017 01:56:55 pm

I'm so glad you feel like you have found your color group, Colleen. Being a LIGHT WARM, and soft even, can be a little confusing, because of the color combinations. A LIGHT WARM is not very far from a LIGTH COOL, and not as warm in a typical way, even thought you're a soft. The soft, just adds another layer of hints of autumn, but in a fresh way. So, in a way you could say that you, as a LIGHT WARM soft, is first and foremost a LIGHT, then a WARM, both bordering on LIGHT COOL and SOFT WARM (summer and autumn). The most important thing for this type, is LIGHT and bright colors. The other features defines what then would be your absolute best, out of all light colors. I hope that explanation made sense to you, and that I'm not confusing you further. Color analysis can sometimes be difficult to explain, but becomes very clear once seen.
Thank you for the lovely feedback, and you are very welcome.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Alex
18/6/2016 11:50:47 am

Thank you for posting this! It was quite helpful and cleared up my confusion. Beautiful pictures by the way

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
18/6/2016 04:51:03 pm

Thank you for the lovely feedback, Alex :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Sue
13/7/2016 03:19:45 pm

Thanks for all your work on this! I especially like the black and white photos to help see contrast levels.

I've been labeled as variations of spring, summer, and autumn by analysts in different systems. The autumn analysis and a friend's guess at summer took into account my soft-muted coloring. Spring was done hastily and the palette was too "pure"--clear and bright. None of the palettes satisfied me. After reading Zyla, I took some natural-light photos of my eyes and hair and picked those that showed the colors I see. Then I uploaded the images to http://www.coolphptools.com/color_extract, changed number of colors to 80, set "no" on both color-changing options, and copied the results to a spreadsheet. I did the same with the sample Caygill palettes at http://expressingyourtruth.net/caygill/ and http://www.colorstylepdx.com/happy-palette-owners/. Yep, the colors extracted from my photos matched the palettes of tawny autumn and dusky summer, similar to dusty soft autumn and toasted soft summer in Lora Alexander's color breeze system. The design of my eye also matched Kentner's 3/2 autumn-summer example at http://seasonalcolor.yuku.com/reply/4139/CMAS-Color-Me-A-Season#reply-4139. Caygill's Sandy Spring is close and has many matching colors, but the yellow-greens and light blues don't fit.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
14/7/2016 01:16:49 pm

Hi, Sue. Thank you so much for the lovely feedback. It's nice to hear it has been helpful.
Yes, it can sometimes be tricky to pin point your exact group, and it was a really clever trick to use the Image Color Extract tool. I'm impressed :-) It sounds like you fit into the SOFT COOL or the SOFT WARM, possibly even LIGHT WARM soft on my color system.

Have a nice summer,
Xxx, Sun

Reply
Bec
23/7/2016 07:00:48 am

You say in step 2 to determining your colour that there are six options to for "dominant colouring", which are pure, clear, soft, light, muted and deep. Then why is this not so, i.e. why do I see no option for "muted cool" or "pure warm"? Have you accidentally left these options out, or are simply nonexistent because "muted cool" and "pure warm" oxymorons? If the latter is the case, perhaps you should state that more clearly in the text, and could you also please explain why there are no "muted cool" and "pure warm" in the options?

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
23/7/2016 07:56:17 am

Hi, Bec :-)
Thank you for your input. There is a deeper explaination in the close up parts, but I see I might have to add it to the main post as well. I Picked the names that best Illustrate the colouring. The pure warm, would be the one named clear warm then, but since the actual pure warm is an autumn type, this name would be inacurate, hence the clear warm instead. The muted cool, is the same as the soft cool, and as muted and soft have a similar meaning it was more explanatory for the system to name the sister groups soft Warm and soft cool the same, as they are a summer with a hint of autumn and autumn with a hint of summer, and the muted warm is a pure autumn, and could also be named pure warm as is has no particular mix and is a muted type, so again pure would be a little too bright again.

I hope this explaines it for you, and I will go though the post again and try to be more spesific.
I'm glad you let me know that it might not be perfectly clear, as I want the system to be as used friendly as possible.

Have a lovely summer :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Bec
5/8/2016 04:51:11 am

Thank you so much, that did clear it up for me. And thanks for all the work you do on this site, x

Sarah
4/8/2016 12:31:33 pm

This is such a great post! I love the categories and descriptors you've added to traditional color analysis systems since so many of us don't quite fit into 12 or even 16 season systems. Lovely images as well. Are you planning on writing a Light Warm post? I know it's been a while since the other posts, but I for one would love to read it!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/8/2016 08:55:35 am

Hi, Sarah! Thank you so much for that lovely feedback. I'm glad it works for you too :-)
Yes, I am actually working on the LIGHT WARM right now, and hope to post sometime soon. I do take my time and a lot of breaks to think, so that I am sure that everything I post is as correct as possible. But, the LIGHT WARM is next in line, and I hope it will be worth the wait. :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Leha Carpenter link
23/8/2016 01:34:21 pm

Darn it! I could not find myself in any of these. It was so fun to read, but I seem to be a color misfit. It doesn't help that my coloring seems to have changed with age. I think I started out more cool and intense and then got kind of... combination? But I have always looked best in blues, browns, muted greens, black, or white. And I look horrible in any wine, pink, bright red, bright green, grays, and sadly, most yellows. I was born with dark brown hair and can't keep that up anymore, so stuck with lighter shades. Ashy and coppery look equally awful. Sigh.

So my question is: where would a fair-skinned Dane with dark hair and some blue-toned skin and some peachy, fit? (BTW I look best in green contact lenses.)

I am asking because I'm wanting to go lighter in hair color and can't seem to find a good shade. Orange is not happening.

(Sorry this is so long. Any help appreciated.)

Reply
Leha Carpenter
23/8/2016 02:17:56 pm

Okay, I spent some more time letting the words soak in, and I am now thinking I'm a CLEAR COOL on the CLEAR WARM side. Because all of my best colors are represented by one of these two groups, but it's just not that situation where you get more choices by being in two groups. It's like I'm straddling, and have fewer choices from either group. Still have no idea what to do with my hair, though...

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
23/8/2016 03:29:06 pm

Hi, Leha. I would recommend taking pictures of yourself in daylight and sending them to me on idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com, so that I can help you pin point your group. If there is no place for you in the system, I would have to upgrade the system, as my goal is to create one where everyone fits :-)

From your description, I actually think that you might be a neutral type, such as SOFT. The SOFT is a PURE COOL with a little MUTED WARM (summer with a little autumn), or a MUTED WARM with a little PURE COOL (an autumn with a little summer), and can be found in two versions, the light and the deep. The light is easier to place as they have a more traditional summer coloring, but the the deep can sometimes appear to be more like a CLEAR COOL, DEEP COOL, PURE COOL, MUTED WARM, DEEP WARM or even CLEAR WARM.
The SOFT and deep, have a saturated coloring, but will still have some softness to some of their features, such as lighter that usual eyes or hair for a cool and intense type, for example. Some examples of this is Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes (SOFT WARM deep), Rashida Jones, and Rihanna (SOFT COOL deep).
Since I have not finished the "close up" posts on these types yet, it might be more difficult for people to figure it out, since there is less information available online.
One of the typical features for a SOFT is that many autumn colors work for them, but yellow doesn't, and cool colors work as well, which can be confusing. The SOFT colors can sometimes appear saturated, but be a little muted in reality, or the other way around.

It is natural that your colors would change with time, as skin, hair and eyes does change slightly with age. Usually it won't change dramatically, but rather fade a little in saturation and warmth.

If you turn out to be a SOFT COOL deep, blonde and very light hair would not be your best look, but caramel hues and deeper would be better. I have also found that orange hair can be difficult for the SOFT COOL as well, even though if they have some earthy colors to them. Copper is too warm, and mahogany would be better,
I would say that a SOFT COOL deep, would look their best in neutral hair colors. Not too cold and ashy, and not too warm and golden. Slightly warm colors work well, such as golden brown, caramel, chocolate, and cooler hues such as icy chocolate and neutral brown.
A SOFT WARM is better at getting away with light hair, but for the SOFT COOL, nothing lighter than Jennifer Aniston and Sarah Jessica Parker. And even they go too blonde for their own good sometimes.

So, to your next comment. If what you have concluded with is correct, then a CLEAR COOL towards CLEAR WARM would be the CLEAR COOL bright. The CLEAR COOL bright should be able to handle a lot of bright colors, and can even look pretty good in CLEAR WARM colors. There is one shade of yellow that should work for this type, and that would be that bright lemon yellow with a slightly green undertone on the CLEAR COOL chart.
But, taking in consideration your age altered colors, including the fact you don't feel great in yellow, I would say there is a possibility that you could be a CLEAR COOL soft as well. This is a type of winter that is borderline too delicate for their own best coloring and have to approach their colors in a less bold way. They often have some lighter than expected features for a CLEAR COOL (winter type), but is still a winter and look great in black and so on).
A CLEAR COOL soft or a CLEAR WARM soft, would be more in a position where they would have less good colors to choose from, as being softer would make you more delicate, but a CLEAR WARM soft looks good in yellow. I'm a CLEAR WARM soft myself, and felt pink was not my color before I discovered the right shade of pink.

Can you identify if the colors you listed above as yes and no colors for you, have a cold (blue) or warm (yellow) undertone? A pink isn't just a pink and red not just a red. The undertone will determine if the color will work on which skin tone, and the saturation will determine what contrast level it fits.

The SOFT COOL deep would also have a better tolerance for some brighter colors that aren't too far away from their preferences, because they are "deep", which makes their contrast level higher. Black and white can still look pretty good on them, but berry colors and muted cold hues would be even better.

If you are a SOFT WARM deep, most of this will still apply, as that is the warm and earthy type that can't handle most types of yellow.

There are still a lot of elements missing before I can make a more educated guess, such as what kind of yellow does work for you?
Are the type of blue soft and dirty, or bold and bright, light or dark? And the same goes for the red, pink and so on, that you felt was not your color.

Don't worry about long questions. The more information I have, the better I can help you. :-)
I hope this clarified some things for you. If not let me know.
Xxx, Sun

Leha Carpenter
23/8/2016 05:49:28 pm

Thank you SO much!! I sent you an email. :)

Sue d
6/11/2016 06:35:48 am

This is very informative, particularly for someone like me who doesn't fit neatly into a color box. Right now I'm trying to decide if I am pure cool soft or soft cool deep. My hair color is a medium to dark ashy brown, but there seems to be a small amount of reddish brown though the ashy is far more obvious than when I was younger (especially with the silver gray). My eyes are deep soft gray green with a touch of copper near the pupil and my skin color seems to be a neutral beige (appears to have a slight yellow overcast). All of the pure cool soft colors work, but I can wear light gold jewelry. I can wear most of the soft cool, but brown is not my best color, except some of the cooler browns and maybe chestnut brown. I can , also wear some cool leaning terra cotta colors. Blues and berries probably are my best colors, but I can wear lemon yellows and I think rich pastels (mint, peachy pink) look good on me and cherry red. I can look dull in some grayed colors, but charcoal gray is my best neutral. Am I confusing you yet? :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
11/11/2016 10:50:06 am

Hi, Sue d. Thank you so much for the feedback. If you'd like, you can send me some photos on idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com, and I can help you figure it out. From your physical description, you do sound like a SOFT COOL deep, and maybe just borderline/cusping towards the PURE COOL. From your observations about what works for you, the door opens for both of them again. But, just because SOFT COOL deep, is the stereotype for your look, doesn't mean that you can't be a PURE COOL soft, cusping on the SOFT COOL instead. Also, the color of your skin, hair and eyes can change a little throughout a persons life, so it is possible to end up something a little different than what you started out as. It won't be a huge change and mostly just a change of sub-group.
I have also seen SOFT COOL types that can pull off some CLEAR colors such as mint green and peach when they have a tan. It won't look soft and natural, but it can work with the skin tone.
The fact that berry colors look great on you and the yellow overcast to your neutral skin tone, is another point for the SOFT COOL, as the SOFT COOL is a neutral group. So, if I had to make a decision only based on this information, I think you lean more towards the SOFT COOL deep.

I hope this helped :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Sue d
13/11/2016 04:38:20 pm

Thanks for your feedback. It confirms that I fall in between these color groups and I'm fine with that. Great site!

IDEALIST STYLE link
15/11/2016 07:25:56 am

You are very welcome Sue d, glad I could help :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
erin
11/11/2016 08:39:21 am

Thank you. I am a mixture of Light Warm Neutral and Soft Cool Light. haha The "light" part of me is slightly warm and the "soft" part of me is slightly cool!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
11/11/2016 10:32:31 am

Hi, Erin. That's very interesting. A LIGHT WARM neutral soft. One of those will probably be the dominating one. So, if the LIGHT WARM neutral is the dominating one, it means that you can borrow colors from both the SOFT COOL and LIGHT WARM. More color fun for you :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
15/11/2016 07:23:46 am

Glad I could help :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Andrea
19/11/2016 07:13:43 am

Hey Sun,

Hope you are good. Your website is an invaluable resource for me, I love how considered your methodical approach is and how you so kindly share your passion, thank you!

So i have always thought of myself of being a Katy Perry/ Zooey Deschanel type high contrast colouring. However, I decided to stop dying my hair the darkest brown before black and let the mid brown colour do its thing... I'm intrigued what my actual colouring is (not the vanity colour i'd aspired to) because it is all about working with what you have got, RIGHT?!

So... I have mid brown hair, the palest skin possible, with some freckles and an ambiguous eye colour - slate/ green with honey in them? Maybe if i send you a pic you might be able to help?

Thanks so much, and have a fab day,
Andrea.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
20/11/2016 02:51:24 pm

Hi, Andrea. Thank you so much for your lovely feedback :-) Makes me happy to hear that it's helpful.

Yes, it's absolutely about working with what you've got, and starting from scratch is the safest way of getting an accurate color analysis. I know people who are a CLEAR COOL soft, with medium brown hair, blue or green eyes, that get that Zoey Deschanel look when they color it darker. So, you can still be a CLEAR COOL type. From your description, it kind of sounds like you're more of a SOFT COOL deep, but only a photo and a color analysis will tell.
You can send me a photo at idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Dana
3/12/2016 11:23:48 am

Very accurate and interesting descriptions.You really helped me in finding my season type.Thank you!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/12/2016 05:05:11 am

Hi, Dana :-) Thank you so much for that lovely feedback. I'm so glad I could help. Thank you for reading.

Happy Holidays!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Queenie
22/2/2017 06:04:41 pm

Hi, I had my colours done by a 12 colour analize. She said I was dark winter. But I'm 66 and totally gray, eyes and skin cooling down. My question is should I change to a softer tone. My dark has never been super dark. I don't feel like this dark winter is me... I'm more medium tone even when I was younger. I've spent so much on makeup that has been trashed because it's not me. Thank you for your help.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
23/2/2017 01:03:02 pm

Hi, Queenie. Yes, your color season can change with age, but usually not by a lot. You could have changed from a dark winter, to a soft or cool winter (Deep Cool soft, Clear Cool soft), but the dark winter might have been off from the start. You could even be a SOFT COOL deep, CLEAR COOL bright, or a PURE COOL clear (since it seems that you might be cool), but hard to know without seeing you.
The fact that you don't feel like dark winter colors have worked out for you, tells me you might have been given the wrong color group. In the right colors, you should feel great. Looks can be deceiving, but how you look in colors always tells the truth. Just look at the Chinese actress, Ni Ni. She looks like a winter, but is actually a spring. I'ts all about undertones, intensity, and contrast level combined, and most of all, what colors bring out the best in you. If you want, you can send me some photos on: idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com, and I can help you figure it out.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Olivia Brooks -Pendlebury
11/3/2017 07:33:31 am

Lovely to read..over the years..I've been told...I'm summer..age 30............age40.....it was Autumn............at 58...another consultant said..I was..blue Autumn.......now at 62..it's a winter....just given up ..and stick to black....

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
12/3/2017 01:25:30 pm

Hi, Olivia. From your description, it does sound a little bit like a typical mixed group problem. Not all color systems have all the varieties, as there are systems that have anything from four to 16 groups. My system have 30 types. If you add those seasons you've been typed as, you will get a summer-autumn with a higher contrast level. It does sound like you're a mostly cool type, because of the winter and summer. And then someone thought you had some autumn coloring as well. This to me, translates into a SOFT COOL deep. A SOFT WARM deep, could also be possible, but less likely because it sounds like you have more of a cool toned look. The blue autumn, could possibly be a type of summer-autumn/SOFT COOL. Check out the SOFT groups, and especially the SOFT COOL deep, and see if that fits.
http://www.idealiststyle.com/the-rules-of-wearing-colors.html

If you still feel uncertain, you can send me some photos on idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com :-)

I hope this helped.
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Andrea
12/3/2017 01:53:35 pm

I haven't turned notifications off for this post, even though my question was super comprehensively answered ages ago. The reason for this is that it is so cute and heart warming to see your dedication and passion for your subject every time you share your expertise to help somebody else, Sun. You are an inspiration, THANK YOU! :-)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
15/3/2017 04:20:59 pm

Hi, Andrea! :-) Thank you so much for that heart warming feedback. Makes me really happy to hear. You made my day!

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Anna
23/3/2017 10:52:29 am

Hi. This is the most helpful advice about color palettes I've seen, but I'm still stuck! I have olive skin that tans darkly, green eyes and dark ash brown hair. The soft palettes make the most sense. The closest coloring I can think of is Irina Shayk - I'd love to know what you would type her as?
Thank you!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/4/2017 11:36:41 am

Hi, Anna. I'm so glad you like my color system. Thank you for the kind feedback.

Irina Shayk, is a little difficult to type, as she looks good in everything. However, I think she is a SOFT WARM deep. At first glance she looks like a SOFT COOL deep, and then I thought of CLEAR COOL bright/soft. On closer inspection, I found that bright warm colors, were a little too bold for her, and that muted looks were more natural on her. She also has the tendency of looking good in jeans blue, pink, and that yellow can be too much for her, which leads me to a neutral group, such as SOFT COOL or SOFT WARM, and not a typical autumn. I found some photos of her with blonde hair, which looked great on her, on top of that warm and soft colors were just a little bit more calm on her than cold and soft colors, which points to SOFT WARM. She can get away with both, but I think she's a SOFT WARM from the photos I've seen. Couldn't find a photo that I was certain was without makeup and no retouching, so I would say there is room for error. When it comes to your coloring, I think the fact that you have similar colors to Irina, and ash brown hair, I would guess that that makes you a SOFT COOL, because of the signs of ashiness. Olive skin, is also originally cold, but I'm a CLEAR WARM soft with olive skin, so not impossible. It depends on the undertone. A SOFT group is a neutral group, so I would say, figure out if blonde hair is good on you, or just eeeh... (if ok, It does happen that SOFT COOL types still make it work, so not a 100% test), then figure out if gold or silver is better on you. Both should be good, but one should be better. Then try out the rest of the colors on the chart, and see which ones look more calm and natural on you without makeup. A SOFT COOL is a summer with a hint of autumn in it, and a SOFT WARM is an autumn with a hint of summer in it, so if summer tones are better, or it autumn tones are better, but you can still look ok in both. Also, if yellow is a difficult color on you, you have your answer. A SOFT COOL or WARM can only pull of a very specific type of muted and soft yellow. A deep version will have a higher tolerance for it, but too bold yellow will be a tell.

I hope this helped.
Xxx, Sun,

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/4/2017 11:41:02 am

Correction, the CLEAR COOL bright/soft, was supposed to be a CLEAR WARM bright/soft. The last question I answered before this, was still in my fingers, as it was about CLEAR COOL :-)
So CLEAR WARM, which makes more sense as bright warm colors was too much.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Anna
9/4/2017 12:04:02 am

Ah thank you for that great info, you're brilliant.

Irina Shayk's colouring is the closest to mine I've been able to find, though really only in pictures where she's not wearing makeup. I've always used autumn colors, but have had problems particular with light browns/beiges that blend too well with my skin colour. This drove me mad, because I knew that black made me look sick and I wanted a neutral to wear! I've tried colors from your chart and believe greys (and grey/toned medium browns) work best.

Yellow is definitely a problem color for me. I can handle highlights only if the warmth is toned right out of them, to the point of the soft muted yellow you mentioned. Even jewellery is a problem - 24 karat gold is harsh if I don't have a tan. I've clung to bronze for years in a state of denial - turns out that stubbornly telling myself I'm an Autumn won't force bronze to suit me.

My failsafe colors seem to be soft turquoises and dusty blues generally. Autumn colors are usually inoffensive but nothing special. It didn't occur to me until I read your page that there was the soft missing piece and that I could be better suited to cool or borrowing from a soft cool palette.

Anyway, your system & explanations make sense and are the most illuminating, especially for tricky olives. Your answers are incredibly helpful. Brava, and thank you for your consideration Sun! Xox

IDEALIST STYLE link
11/4/2017 11:01:09 am

I'm so glad we figured it out. Your explanation does sound like typical SOFT COOL deep issues and solutions. The one about highlights needing to be warm toned, is so on point. Just look at what happens to Jennifer Aniston when she goes too cold and blonde. Sarah Jessica Parker however, is an expert at picking just the right way of doing blonde, the caramel way. And she has even a higher tolerance for blonde than most SOFT COOLs, especially being a SOFT COOL light.

The SOFT COOL close-up post will hopefully be ready some time this year, and then there will be a lot more information available for you. :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Dani
29/3/2017 10:17:56 am

this is such a great source - i'm curious, how would you link all of these categories to their season counterparts? i'm not familiar enough with color theory in general to be able to figure it all out and i'd love more information from other sources to round out my understanding.

i'd also like some help typing myself if possible, for anyone who might have the time - the best "celeb" match i can find for my coloring might be melanie murphy (the youtuber), although my hair is a touch softer/lighter and my eyes more gray-olive than vivid green. my best guess is that i'm a pure cool, perhaps pure cool clear? my eyes aren't particularly intense, they are very much a muted shade. am i correct in saying i'm in the pure category? it's tricky for me as i'm quite fair and have always seen myself as having very high-contrast features but when comparing myself to celebs like zooey deschanel it's evident to me that i could have more contrast to my overall coloring.

thanks a lot in advance and thanks again for the post~

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/4/2017 11:20:10 am

Hi, Dani. I'm so glad you found my color system to be helpful.
Yes, the color system has 10 main groups, which all border on other groups close to them, called sister-groups. A sister-group, is a group you can borrow some colors from, whitout it looking completely wrong, as opposed to groups that aren't connected to you, and may make you wishy washy. The sub-groups, that are the add on, in non capital letters, is what tells you what direction you are leaning in, and therefore which colors are your absolute best, and which groups you can borrow colors from the best.

Melanie Murphy, looks like a CLEAR COOL true, as she looks great in bold, cold colors, such as royal blue and true red. However, she does come off as a SOFT COOL deep, from just her apperance, so it coul'd also mean that you are a SOFT COOL deep, or as you say a PURE COOL clear. It all comes down to what colors you look your best in. Is it bold and cold colors, such as emerald green, electric blue, true red? Summer colors a.k.a, pure, cool colors, such as baby blue, baby pink, cold and calm green, ture purple? Or baby blue, carnation pink, berry colors, but surprisingly some rust and khaki green as well?

The fact that you feel like your colors are a bit softer and more muted than Zoey and Melanie, but you still look similar to them, might mean that you are either a CLEAR COOL soft, PURE COOL clear, PURE COOL true, or a SOFT COOL deep.

To sum it up. It is possible to be a CLEAR COOL with less high contrast features than Melanie and Zoey, and that would make you a CLEAR COOL soft. Look at the colors on the charts, and hold them up to your face in natural light/daylight, and see what it does to your features. If they makes you shine, or if they look brighter than you. The colors that suits you, should always compliment you, and makes you look fresh. Never steal attention away from your face, or make you appear dull. Trying on makeup in these colors, can also be a good idea, and a very good way of seeing what looks natural on you, what looks too much, and what looks too dull.
Don't focus too much on what you naturally look like, as that's just the start of narrowing it down to a few main groups. The most important thing is what you look like in the different colors. That's how you find your group and sub-group.

I hope this answered your question :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Dani
5/4/2017 10:35:01 pm

thanks so much for taking the time to write all this out Sun! i continued my research after my comment here (sort of consumed my life for a few days) and settled on soft cool deep for myself, so i'd say your assessment was pretty bang-on! what really sealed the deal for me was seeing kristen stewart in soft cool everywhere; when her hair is a bit darker and warmer, we could practically be coloring twins. and after looking up soft summer (what i assume to be the seasonal equivalent of your "soft cool"), i found a lot of folks who look very much like me. it also helped to know that the soft cool category was one of the most misdiagnosed. i do feel comfortable there. i look really awful and washed out in oranges and warm browns, at least on my face, and tend to need very soft, delicate makeup unless the more intense colors are isolated to a single, small area. even with my warm hair, i can't pull off warmer shades very well. i think i look good in both deep and soft shades alike, and they seem to play up the medium contrast in my features in a very flattering way. dark lipstick colors in particular really bring out my eyes, which isn't something that happens a lot with clothes that aren't khaki or olive green, ha.

having people always compare me to celebs like zooey and anne hathaway i think really threw me off. my skin is quite fair, and i think that's primarily why people see similarities between us, but the similarities really end there. my eyes are quite muted (though decidedly cool) and my hair is nowhere near deep enough for me to fit comfortably in a deep or clear category.

again, thanks a lot for responding, and for making such an informative resource. i've linked a few friends to it already because i think it's so fun to learn more about color and how adding different ones to what you already naturally have can have such an effect on your features overall.

IDEALIST STYLE link
6/4/2017 09:37:08 am

Hi again, Dani. I'm so glad that we figured it out. Kristen Stewart, yes that makes a lot of sense. I have also seen many SOFT COOL and SOFT WARM typed as DEEP or CLEAR types, as they do have darker coloring, but not really a high enough intensity. Mariah Carey, Rashida Jones, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes, Adriana Lima, are just few of the people I have seen typed as a high intensity group, when they are actually SOFT COOL or SOFT WARM. Yes, soft summer, is pretty much the same as SOFT COOL. You may find that I define some things differently, but it's the same season in most ways that count. Also, you can find that your color group may be named anything from, soft summer, summer-autumn, neutral, soft muted, indian summer, soft muted summer, and so on, depending on the color system.
I haven't posted the close-up on the SOFT COOL yet, but my goal is the get it done somewhere this year. It's PURE COOL first, then the SOFT groups.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Alisa
12/4/2017 11:01:49 pm

Hi!

I'm hoping you would do the soft warm and soft cool sites as soon as possible. I'm having a hard time trying to pick up which one I am..

Your website is absolutely the best I've found by now. I've been categorized as a Spring and then a Soft Summer, which I don't like myself: I have to admit that the pinky and purple shades of Soft Summer palettes are awful. I do like the blues and blue-greens though, and I'm sure that I can't handle too bright or dark colors, or pure white (that might be the worst color ever..) So in that way the Soft feels right.

With this system of yours, I'm wondering if I can be a Soft, because I'm quite fair skinned and my hair is dark blonde. Is there contrast enough? My skin is more yellow than many of my friends', quite fair but not as white as it could be so there's a little saturation. I wouldn't say its peachy though, but it's not ashy or rosy at all. I get tan a bit in the summer, and I would get it more if I liked to be in the sun (but the heat beats me...) My hair is dark blonde with golden highlights especially in the summer, and it looks orange or red when the sunlight hits it. But indoors its, well, quite boring looking, not warm but not cool, maybe mousy is a good word. My eyes are color sifters: in the sunlight they are green with a golden ring around the pupil. Indoors my eyes look more dark, greyish blue.

Am I in the right direction assuming I'm a Soft something? I've thought a long time I'm a cool person, but then many very cool colours don't work for me as my skin looks too yellow and heavy wearing them. I have a scarf that has moss green, turquoise, soft orange and auburn in it, and I love it. And it certainly doesn't belong in the Soft Summer or Spring palettes!

With best regards,
Alisa

Reply
Alisa
12/4/2017 11:42:31 pm

Oh and one more thing, I've also thought that I might be a Light, because of my fair skin and hair (especially when the sun makes it more blonde). I have also quite fair eyebrows so there's little contrast on my face.. Maybe Light warm neutral, since I can do well some blues and depending on the light I look more warm or more cool (for example my hair can look more ashy indoors, but the sun reveals it to be golden and that it has a lot of reddish undertones). It has been always a struggle to decide whether I'm more warm or cool.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
16/4/2017 01:12:25 pm

Hi, Alisa. I'm hoping to finish the SOFT color group posts some time this year, I'm currently working on the PURE COOL, so it's them next after that. Thank you so much for that lovely feedback about the website, that makes me happy to hear :-)

Your comment about pure white being bad on you, is very typical for autumn types, but since you haven't mentioned MUTED WARM, I think we're leaning more towards SOFT WARM. Green/grey/blue mixed eyes, fair skin with a yellow undertone, and dark blonde hair with golden highlights (warm, but somewhat neutral and mousy), sounds like textbook SOFT WARM light actually. The colors you mention, also point to that. If you we're a type of spring, like for example a LIGHT WARM soft/neutral, you would still look good in brighter colors, like yellow. If yellow and orange are particularly bad on you, except maybe really burnt and muted shades, that's another big pointer to SOFT WARM.
A SOFT WARM is a neutral group, with a medium contrast level. Sometimes a little deeper, sometimes a little lighter, but never high contrast and intense. This color group is a mix between summer and autumn, so a mix between warm and cold features, which makes them neutral. The SOFT COOL is a summer with a hint of autumn and more on the cold side, and the SOFT WARM is an autumn with a hint of summer and more on the warm side. It's typical that these two color groups can borrow some colors from eachother, without looking washed out.
The LIGHT WARM soft, is a spring with a hint of autumn, and the LIGTH WARM neutral, is a spring that's borderline a LIGHT COOL, and can look pretty good in colors from both charts.

I would consider the SOFT WARM light, LIGHT WARM neutral, LIGHT WARM soft, MUTED WARM soft, for starters. At least from what you're describing. Most likely, you sound like a SOFT WARM light, or a LIGHT WARM soft/neutral.

I hope this helped :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Alisa
6/5/2017 09:13:44 am

Hi again,

Thanks for your reply, it really helped. I'm pretty certain I'm a SOFT WARM light. Some of the LIGHT WARM palettes colors are a bit too bright, although I do find some shades there I can work out pretty well (those light dusty greens for example). Another solving thing was my hair: it gets quite yellow blonde during the summer, and my darker "winter" hair color suits me better (I don't dye my hair, it just changes its color because of sunlight or the lack of it).

One thing I'm still wondering, is that is there difference between SOFT WARM light individuals? Could some of them lean more to light warm and others light cool? What I'm trying to say is that which palettes I can use to borrow some new shades without looking all bad? And can you give any hair color tips? I know that black and platinum blonde are bad (tried them a long ago), but should I go more towards darker shades because I'm more an autumn than spring type? Should I try to balance my "light" side and try to get a bit darker or to emphasize it?

P.s. I found a fabulous dress for upcoming festivities, and it looks just amazing since it really compliments my skin tone. Thank to you!

IDEALIST STYLE link
7/5/2017 11:16:38 am

Hi again, Alisa! I'm so glad I could help :-)

Yes, there are some differences between SOFT WARM light individuals. You can be a brunette with, blue or green eyes, or a blonde with the same eye colors. As well as a brown eyed blonde. If your dominante features are light you're usually a light, and when eyes and or hair starts to be a little deeper and have an overall medium contrast level, you're usually a deep.
To the next question. If you think of the color types as a box with four sides, you can lean towards the groups on the other sides, often name "twins". A group that have name similarities with any of the three names that describes your type. That plus proximity on the chart is a good indicator of similarities. The SOFT COOL is the group they have the most in common with, as these are sister groups. An autumn with summer in it and a summer with autumn in it. About other groups than the SOFT COOL that they can have qualities in common with, it depends on where in this box they are and which side of it they are closer too (if one side is warm, one cool, one deep, and one light). The SOFT WARM is an autumn with a little summer in it, in classical terms. You are a MUTED WARM with a little LIGHT COOL in it (Usually light eyes and light or dark blonde hair), and a SOFT WARM deep will be a DEEP WARM with a little PURE COOL in it (Usually have dark hair and darker eyes). One can also be a MUTED WARM with a little PURE COOL in it (and so on, and this variation is usually the in the middle dark haired, blue/green eyed type for example). I explain this this way, to highlight the intensity/contrast differences in the different SOFT WARMS and the different combinations of colors one can have. In this system, if you want to borrow some colors from the other groups, you should do so from the group that is closest to you. I'm a CLEAR WARM soft, so CLEAR COOL and MUTED WARM colors aren't horrible on me, as that is a CLEAR WARM/MUTED WARM mix. THE CLEAR groups are sister groups, so that's why that also works. If I picked PURE COOL colors that have nothing in common with me, that looks terrible on me. I hope I'm not confusing you now. Sometimes people like a really thorough answer, and some people like it simple. So, if that just confused you, a more direct answer would be, Yes! Depending on how your autumn(MUTED WARM) to summer (LIGHT/PURE COOL) ratio is. Some can handle brighter colors a little better, some look really bad in them. The worse you look in bright yellow, the closer you are too a true SOFT WARM light, and lean more towards being a true autumn-summer mix. This means that LIGHT WARM colors is not a good choice to borrow from and SOFT COOL is safer. Even PURE COOL or MUTED WARM colors would be better for you in that case. If yellow is not great, but not terrible either, you're leaning a bit more towards MUTED WARM/autumn, and the light add on makes you then closer too and because of that tolerant to some LIGHT WARM colors. If you're a SOFT WARM light that feel like many of the SOFT COOL colors worj for you as well, you have a little more LIGHT COOL/PURE COOL in you without actually having enough to be a cold group, but then borrowing colder colors is not a big problem. You will always look your best in SOFT WARM colors, but for fun with fashion and if wearing makeup, it is possible to pull off some looks that are not too far away from your best colors. For you CLEAR COOL(winter) colors, would be the worst, as that group has nothing in common with your (autumn-summer tones). The reason a LIGHT WARM is not as bad, even thougj a LIGHT WARM (spring) is a different season as well, is that it's warm, and less sharp colors. Sharp colors are very harsh on the SOFT WARM light.
A SOFT WARM deep is more often less sensitive to bright yellow that the light, because they are closer to the MUTED/ DEEP WARM, which are groups that can wear yellow. Basically, SOFT COOL is your "sister group", and so those colors could be ok on you. LIGHT COOL colors will usually be too far away from this group, as it's cold and bright. The LIGHT WARM is a border/cusping group, for the SOFT WARM light, and closer in the way that the colors are too bright, but at least warm. If a SOFT WARM light is leaning towards the LIGHT COOL, I would consider if you're a SOFT COOL light instead. If you are sure it's SOFT WARM light, and yet LIGHT COOL colors are better to borrow from than LIGHT WARM, it can be because you are borderline a SOFT COOL light. Lol! That got long. Now I've described it in all the ways I can think of that will cover that question in a way so that you get the idea behind it as well :-)
As for hair color, a neutral tone is a really safe natural choice for a neutral group. A little warmth can also be really soft and fresh. You don't want to go to dark or light as you mention, and a chocholate brown, strawberry blonde, dark blonde, golden blonde, caramel/toffe hue, auburn can be a great look. For a light, you don't want to go

Coolsummer
7/5/2017 06:35:15 am

I like the way this was set up - now I can compare my tone with real people I google their pictures to see them in different lighting and look at my own pictures and see the depth of the tone, now I know I am definitely cool and not warm. Is it possible to show what colours are the boxes? That would be so helpful, especially with the lighter colours.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
7/5/2017 10:09:38 am

Hi, Cool summer! :-) I'm so glad you found it helpful. Which boxes are you referring too? I didn't quite understand the question. If you mean that the close up on the PURE COOL type "box" doesn't work, it's because I'm unfortunately not done with it, and haven't published all of them yet. Still working on finding photos to illustrate the text and editing it. I'm really hoping to be able to finish it this year, as the one I'm working on finishing right now is LIGHT COOL. So, PURE COOL is next. If you're looking to see the LIGHT COOL post, it's luckily finished soon :-)

I hope this answered your question. If not, don't be afraid to ask again.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Jade
24/5/2017 03:56:15 pm

After a lot of analysing, I have concluded that I might not exist OR I am a CLEAR COOL deep? The reason being I have naturally dark brown hair and eyebrows (like Jennifer Connelly), going grey at the front/ slate grey, dark musky blue eyes (closest to Katy Perry's) and fair skin (with blue, green AND purple veins). The only colour I stick to is black and brown I don't know about. I sometimes think I share colouring like Megan Fox appears to have but I know hers is often dyed darker. Please help, your expertise is very much needed.

Ps. I have recently added blue/ purple/ pink in my hair. However I'm not sure the magenta suits me.

Best, Jade xxx

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
9/6/2017 12:23:47 pm

Hi, Jade :-) The CLEAR COOL and The DEEP COOL are both winter groups, so if you are a CLEAR COOL deep, that would mean that you're probably a DEEP COOL soft, or a DEEP COOL true, or maybe a CLEAR COOL true. CLEAR COOL bright could also be an option.

The fair skin, dark hair and eyebrows, and slate/grey dark eyes, sounds like a DEEP COOL true, DEEP COOL soft, CLEAR COOL true or CLEAR COOL brigth. Megan Fox dyes her hair, but since she is a CLEAR COOL bright she could have been born with it too, as that is natural in that color group. Why it looks so great on her too.

Do you feel like deep colors are your best, of clear color, or wild and bright colors?

Magenta is a cold toned color, so if you're a CLEAR COOL or a DEEP COOL, magenta should suit you. Also, I'm getting a hunch that you could possibly be a SOFT COOL deep as well, so check that out too.

The blue and purple veins are a cold toned skin, green is warm, so it sounds like you have a neutral skin tone. So, that could point to DEEP COOL, CLEAR COOL bright, or SOFT COOL deep, the most. It is possible to have a neutral skin on other types too, but more likely one of these.

I hope this helped.
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Fay
26/5/2017 02:15:22 am

Wow. This is the only website that allowed me to finally find my tone and what my colour ranges are. You have no idea how glad I am.

I can tell you put a lot of work in this. Thank you so much!!!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/6/2017 03:06:18 pm

Hi, Fay! Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, that makes me so happy to hear. You are very welcome, and thank you for reading.

Lots of love, Sun.

Reply
Marielle
23/6/2017 06:19:26 am

Cold olive skin?

You're the best!! Really good site in this topic. But a question…

I have cold olive skin. Green. Can only use silver. Purple veins. I know I am a winter (only possibility.) But where can I fit in here?

Me: Large contrast at young age, about 12, brown hair, light skin. At 14 I discovered the sun :) - easy tan (never burned) and permanents and the sun bleached my hair, much and easy. (In the 80s. Lots of tan.)

My eyes are green-blue with a clear dark blue circle around. Big contrast to the white.

I wonder because I'm starting getting grey hairs (49 years old), my hair is getting lighter, and it's hard to go for dark haircolors. I am now thinking about something with less contrast and I don't know which is my real haircolor / contrast level? It's such a big difference between 12 and 14 for exampel and I didn't dye my hair on either of these occasions. I have been dying my hair since 18 years old, so I don't know what my real color I have as grown up. :)

Will you please help me? (Cold olive skin is a skincolor hard to find so much about.) //Marielle

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
24/6/2017 12:36:06 pm

Hi, Marielle! :-) Olive skin is actually in it's true form is usually on cold toned groups. So, you could say that true olive skin is cold. However, it's more of a neutral shade and darker skin tones often have more than one undertone, and typically light skin tones only one. So, olive skin can have both a green undertone and a peachy or yellow one, that can make it warm. If you have a cold toned olive skin, and can only use silver, that sounds about right. If you can only look good in silver and have a high contrast level, you are possibly a CLEAR COOL true/soft or maybe even a PURE COOL clear. A DEEP COOL and SOFT COOL are neutral groups that look their best in silver, but ok in gold. A LIGHT COOL also looks their best in silver, but gold won't be bad. Another option is the DEEP COOL soft, as they would do silver best, bronze ok, and gold can be difficult for many of them (individual). I would say that from your full description, I would say you're likely a DEEP COOL soft, CLEAR COOL true/soft, or a SOFT COOL deep. As all these types can have a look that gives a high contrast level, have olive skin, blue-green eyes with a high contrast (usually in a not in a bright way, but in a slightly deep way). The fact that you're fair skinned, but can tan well, is also a good match for these types. Since very dark hair colors has gotten difficult for you, it points again to the SOFT COOL deep the most, and then a little to the DEEP COOL soft and CLEAR COOL soft. Very dark or light hair can become aging for anyone, but these three are the ones out of the darker groups that would notice that them most, since dark hair should be natural for them (DEEP COOL and CLEAR COOL). Hair color can often change as we age in other ways than just going gray. It can also darken, as most blondes go at least dark blonde, red heads can go lighter or deeper (losing some red is not uncommon for some softer red heads), and light brunettes go darker brown and so on, with age and adulthood. Black hair will stay black until grey, or lighten in the sun, but anyone else can change.

The only way to know for sure which group you belong too, is to take a mirror and hold the different shades of color up to your face wihtout makeup and in natural daylight (not too sunny). Ask a friend for a second opinion in case it's difficult for you too tell the difference, as one can become a bit "blinded" when it comes to our own appearance.
I would say that if you end up as a DEEP COOL soft, go for a natural and neutral shade og brown like a 5.0 or 4.0 (these are color codes for box dye, but ask for help, because box dye is not always like the picture on the box and one 5.0 can be different from one brand to another) that will be not too dark or light. If you end up a CLEAR COOL soft, go for a cold toned medium brown color like a 5.1, which is an ashy medium brown. Soft and cold, not too light and not too dark. If you end up a SOFT COOL deep, I would go for a neutral brown, icy coffee, or anything neutral toned. Not too cold for this group, so a 6.0 or a 5.0 hair dye, or 5.5/6.5 could work. A chocolate brown with mahogany red with is a neutral red. Caramel tones also work. Something neutral is the key. Because of the silver only comment, maybe start with the CLEAR COOL soft. http://www.idealiststyle.com/the-rules-of-wearing-colors.html , and always ask for help to pick the hair dye if you're not sure. Either a hair stylist, hair dresser, or someone working in the shop that sells it. They will all usually have some training enough to guide you a little. :-)

I hope this helped.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Marielle
28/6/2017 10:20:28 am

Thank you so very much for taking time. This is such an interesting topic. I have been reading about colors for so many years and still I have been doing so much "wrong". I learn a lot from your site. Reading more than once. 😍

I just wonder about the contrast level. Will I look at what I look like now, or when I was a kid (4-12) or when I was a teenager? I didn't mention that I had very, very lightbrown hair as a child. Still light Brown at 12. When I think twice. ☺️ I always thought of myself as brownhaired, and dark, because my sister is really blonde. Swedish blonde. But what I think is darkbrown seems to be blonde to my Spanish friend... (My skin is still like I wrote. Fair olive, green. Easy tan. "Never" burn.)

I think Soft Cool is the right one. But I am not sure about deep. I thought I was an autumn for many years. I forget to wright thaœt... But My mother never liked me dressing to beige. She thought I needed contrasts. But... She was a spring herself. A clear one I guess.

My contrastlevel vary a lot during the years so it depends on... I am confused about that. Will you always belong to the same group or can that change?

// Marielle

IDEALIST STYLE link
2/8/2017 03:59:56 am

You're very welcome, and thank you so much for reading :-).

Coloring usually does change through life, and your childhood colors can give you a lot of information too. However, it's the colors you have as an adult and right now that tells you the most. Being blonde as a child can tell you what kind of hair color that can work for you, If you wan't to lighten it, but not all blonde kids grow up to be good blondes. About the blonde vs. Brown hair, that's so true. To the largest part of the world, light brown hair and especially ash tones, is considered to be blonde. It might seem dark for a nordic type, but will seem very light compared to black hair. Anything above a level 5 hair color could be considered a dark blonde (level 6 and up), and all ash tones (colors lacking of red), is also considered a blonde, maybe a dark blonde, but still a blonde. So, you If you have a warmth to your light brown hair, you're a brunette. If it's ash toned, you're a dark blonde :-).
The fact that you look like an autumn to many, combined with how you describe your colors, is also a good indicator that you might be a SOFT COOL. If you have either dark hair or dark eyes, that Will point to deep, and light hair and or light eyes Will point to light. You can have dark eyes and light hair and be a light, just look at Catherine Heigl. She's a natural dark blonde, so overalt coloring does affect the contrast level.
Your contrast level can also change through life, but usually only from childhood into adulthood, and then when you start to become grey. Skin and eyes can also become softer toned with age. Usually, you can color your hair to keep up with the color change, and that Will most likely keep you looking best in your natural colors If You're a warm group. A cold group However, Will usually handle grey hair much better, as it's their color. Another thing that age can affect, is that very dark or very light hair can age you, so a softer version of your hair color can be more flattering at a sertain point. As a SOFT COOL, You're best hair color is already a soft one, and since You're a warm type you Will probably look your best in a neutral to warm shade. For a natural looking color and with age, don't go more than one or two shades darker or lighter than your natural. If you wan't a Wild color, pick one that looks like something on your color chart.

I hope this cleared some things up for you :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
T.G.
6/7/2017 11:12:43 pm

Thanks so much for all the work you put into this!! Was just about to give up on color analysis... but it turns out I am an African-American "DEEP WARM neutral"! I always knew I looked good in coral pink & warm beige! Because I would rarely see others of my skintone wearing those colors, I'd occasionally doubt myself if I really looked good in those shades... But then I would get loads of compliments wherever I went as well. Knew I wasn't crazy!

Are there any other celebrities, besides Olivia Munn, that you believe also fit into this category? The more people I can reference from, the better! Also, what are some striking haircolors for this specific DEEP WARM neutral type? (Olivia Munn keeps her hair brown-black so I have no idea what my options are! Maybe a toffee color?)

Thank you again!!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/8/2017 01:55:02 pm

Hi, T.G. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad I could help. Yes, It is very possible to be a African-American "DEEP WARM neutral". It's actually even more common to be a DEEP neutral, in darker skin tones, as black skin tones usually have more than one undertone. Could be both red and yellow undertone for example. From what you are describing, it does sound like those are your colors too. As for celebrities, I haven't found any I am 100% sure of yet, but I'm working on it. I have however found a DEEP COOL neutral with dark skin. It's the model, Almina Estevao. Maybe that can help you a little? The rules are the same however. You look good in both DEEP COOL and DEEP WARM colors. If you're a DEEP WARM neutral like you and Olivia Munn, the WARM colors will be a little better and more natural looking, and DEEP COOL colors will still look flattering although just a tiny bit off, because they don't blend just as well with your skin tone. So, that's how you can tell.
Here's a google search on her name, so that you can look at some photos. https://www.google.no/search?q=Almina+Estevao&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_iaKo-sDVAhUPL1AKHQe6DDMQ_AUICigB&biw=2560&bih=1273

Here are some candidates that I think might be a DEEP WARM neutral, but haven't been able to fully confirm it yet. Need to look through a lot of photos before I can be sure.

Micaela Reis
https://www.google.no/search?q=Micaela+Reis&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB85T18sDVAhXELhoKHfXgApEQ_AUICigB&biw=2560&bih=1273#imgrc=7HsnTNV5vzWgeM:

Gabrielle Union
https://www.google.no/search?q=Gabrielle+Union&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjp0rqo88DVAhVEBBoKHV86AywQ_AUICigB&biw=2560&bih=1273#imgrc=EPmoqHZRzMQDxM:

and Octavia Spencer
https://www.google.no/search?q=octavia+spencer&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ4qOG-MDVAhXI7hoKHVCCBn4Q_AUICigB&biw=2560&bih=1273#imgrc=mZlQk35WUSTneM:

From the photos I have looked through right now, I would say the odds are good for these three women being a DEEP WARM neutral. Especially Gabrielle Union and Octavia Spencer. So, hopefully this will help a little. :-)

When it comes to hair color, I think you can try both neutral colors (Not cold and not warm, is usually the best), but also DEEP WARM colors like caramel tones and some gentle highlights/ombre effects using medium toned warm colors. Brown-black would be a great option too. Just remeber that you are DEEP above all, so keep it in the DEEP color family. Then secondly, you are a neutral towards WARM. So, depending on your skin tone, I think you can wear both DEEP WARM and DEEP COOL hair colors. I would not recommend going too light, but a toffee tones as you say, should blend well with a neutral DEEP coloring and a dark/medium skin tone. It's hard to know without seeing you, but I know Gabrielle Union looks good with toffee hair, so that's a good point for that direction :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
T.G.
8/8/2017 09:37:09 am

Wow! Thank you SO much- you have no idea how much this helps! You know what's crazy, I was just watching a show with Gabrielle in it & I kept thinking to myself "her wardrobe is so similar to mine"! What's even crazier is that Munn and Union are close friends! So I think you may be right! Sorry to nag... But you are so knowledgeable! What would you recommend makeup-wise? I wear nars annapura (medium neutral peach), bareminerals golden nude, & sephora's cedar foundation (deep tan beige w/ golden undertones). Currently I use Mac's Warm Soul blush, but I'm having the HARDEST time finding a natural looking lipstick (besides those toffee colors). Most are too deep, mauvey, or muted. I would like to find something that's not ridiculously light or contrasting, but isn't just deep brown or loses that warm beige-y undertone that I know flatters me best for my everyday makeup. Thank you again!! Ah.. Being biracial certainly has it's pros and cons!

IDEALIST STYLE link
15/8/2017 02:35:23 pm

You're very welcome, and I'm so glad I could help. The fact that you feel like you and Gabrielle Union have the same colors/look/impression is a really good sign. I think it's safe to say that you can use her as your color muse for inspiration. I think representation is so crucial in self-acceptance and as a source of inspiration. Yeah! That's really fun! :-) If they knew, they could share their wardrobes.

As for makeup tips, it sounds like you have a medium skin tone. The makeup colors you listed sounds perfect for you. When it comes to makeup colors for the DEEP WARM neutral, you can do it all...except dull. Autumn colors can easily be too dirty and muted, so you want to pick colors that look like very saturated warm colors. A bright peach, hot pink, or a nude that has enough peachy pink in it, would be great. Flowing into the DEEP COOL, a deep makeup look can look great too. So, you want your colors to be either dark or saturated, not soft or muted. A good nude example, is NYX matte lipstick, in color "sierra". I use it myself, as I need a pop of color, even when it's a so called nude and natural lipstick. I'm a CLEAR WARM soft, but my sister in law, who is a DEEP WARM uses it too. A darker toned DEEP WARM will make DEEP WARM colors look like they're a CLEAR WARM bright, or a CLEAR COOL bright, and is often mistaken for those types. Especially if you're a DEEP WARM neutral, like you. So, just think saturated warm colors. Not like lightened CLEAR WARM colors, but like fully bold and warm colors. When it comes to makeup, your face will absorbe more color, so anythin very soft will disapear, and something darker/more saturated will look natural. If you shop online, see if you can google yourself to a color swatch on someone with a similar skin tone to your own, as it can appear a lot brighter on a very light colored person. Many lipsticks also don't have enough pigmentation for deeper skin tones. So, buying from brands made by women with darker complexion will usually be a safer bet for getting the richness in color you would need, to make sure it doesn't come off dull. The typical muted earth toned lipstick look is more for a MUTED WARM or DEEP WARM true. You want something either deep or saturated. Always a little contrast.
I the "Sierra" type colors are too light/bright on you, try one is the same peachy pink-brown look, but one shade darker until you find one that has contrast to your skin color. A natural looking lip should be slightly more darke/red/pink than you skin color. Lighter than skin lip colors can also look great, just make sure that these colors too are the right kind of saturated. You could also check out the colors you like on Olivia Munn and Gabrielle Union, and see what they look like on them to find your best shades. Sometimes you think you have the right color, but in reality it just looked like your color on "paper" or on someone else. A color can look different next to different things.
I hope this helped :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
T.G.
15/8/2017 03:45:34 pm

Yes that's exactly the type of shade I'm looking for! Such great starting point- thanks so much!! And what you said about having equal representation is so, so true Sun. (Just for fun, I thought I'd mention that I believe model Jasmine Tookes is a DEEP COOL or WARM neutral as well. At least via my Insta-stalking skills haha 😅)

Thanks so much again for sharing your knowledge! -T.G.

IDEALIST STYLE link
25/8/2017 02:24:58 pm

You're very welcome, I'm so glad I could help! Thank you and your great insta-stalking skills for the tip about Jasmine Tookes. I will add her to my list :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
V.N.
2/8/2017 08:39:06 am

Hi! A deep warm soft here!! Thank you for this because before your blog LITERALLY no color analysis addressed me. Like the commenter above, I would love know if there are any another DEEP WARM soft celebrities I can refer to, as well as what kinds of undertones should I stick to if I want lighten my hair a tiny bit? And of course any makeup recommendation are welcome! Thanks in advance!!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
6/8/2017 12:30:49 pm

Hi, V.N! Thank you so much for that lovely feedback. It makes me really happy to hear that my page has been helpful to you :-)
If you as a DEEP WARM soft, want to lighten you hair, I would stick to either neutral tones (colors with a 0 behind it, like a 5.0 for example), or warm tones like toffee/caramel, auburn, chocolate and so on. Just don't go too light, and breforably not below a 6, because you're still a DEEP.
Some can go lighter, as this is actually easier for a DEEP WARM than it is for MUTED WARM or DEEP COOL. It might not be perfect, but it can look ok. Just always go warm or neutral blonde and not too bright or yellow. That's more for a spring or summer type. A deep haircolor or a medium shade ombre/higlights is usually best for any DEEP type. Also, a dark blonde will usually look blonde a DEEP type. As for makeup, makeup in deep warm tones look good, and bolder and brighter colors can also look really great. So, there is not as much restriction there, since you are actually making your intensity stronger when you put on makeup. Don't go goth kind of deep colors, because that's a DEEP COOL thing, and wild untraditional color on the lips is also to be avoided. So, even though purple is your color, be careful with putting it on the lips. This is a common soft sub-group problem, so there is a difference between what you can wear on your clothes and on your face. Bronze tones and pink and red shades from the DEEP WARM color chart will all be great choices for the face. I think googleing the other DEEP WARM soft and look at what works for them, can be a good pointed to which shades work.

As for other "DEEP WARM soft" than Kristin Kreuk, I have some ideas, but it's hard to be sure before I've goon through a ton of photos of them.
Here some that I think might be a DEEP WARM soft.
Sarah Hyland, Natalie Portman, Hilary Swank, and Keira Knightley.
You can tell by the fact that deep and warm makeup/colors looks great on them, but they seem to be almost too soft for their own group and need to combine their colors in a softer way. Since they are borderline too soft for their own group, coloring their hair deeper can help adjust their intensity. Or you can just adjust how you use your DEEP WARM colors. "The DEEP WARM soft" can sometimes flow towards the DEEP COOL soft, and sometimes towards the MUTED WARM.

So check these four out, and hopefully that will help you a little :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Sifra
5/8/2017 05:42:59 am

Hi Sun!

Thank you so much for this analysis! Finally someone who knows everything about colors and does realise that there are more than 12 types.

I always have had problems with categorizing myself. I have medium brown hair (slightly gold in the sun), almost neon turquoise eyes and a beige skin tone, which looks neutral to me. Most cool colors suit me well (including almost any shade of blue and pink). This makes me think that I am a CLEAR COOL. However, olive-green and army-green look great on me as well, while stark white washes me out. Do you have any idea what color group I would be?

Thank you so much for your advise. :)

Kind regards,

Sifra

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/8/2017 06:18:25 am

Hi, Sifra! Thank you so much for that lovely feedback. That warms my heart.
It does sound a lot like you're a CLEAR COOL, from what you're describing. My first thought was that you might be a CLEAR COOL bright, because of the olive green. However, the white and the olive green together, does actually point to DEEP COOL soft, as many in this group can't handle pure white. My sister is a DEEP COOL soft, and she looks amazing in olive green, and really terrible in pure white. All the other colors work. A DEEP COOL soft, is like a Winter with a dash of autumn, and so much autumn that the soft white or cream would be better on them that pure white. In some ways the DEEP COOL soft is flowing into the CLEAR COOL a little too, because they usually don'y have very deep eyes, and usually more like green, hazel, mixed, or soft brown. So, this type is kind of a mix of several groups. What is orange and yellow like on you, and what type of orange and yellow work? If orange and yellow is bad on you, you're less likely to be a DEEP. Which brings us to the SOFT COOL deep. This type looks their best in soft white, olive green can work really well as they are a summer with a dash of autumn. Their sister group is the SOFT WARM, so borrowing olive green would not be bad. This type looks great in a lot of types of pink and blue as well, and is often recognized by the fact that blonde hair, yellow and orange can easily look terrible on them. I've seen some people pull If off though. Like a deep version of this group, would handle yellow and orange much better, but it would not blend perfectly with their colors and would be better in their own very soft and light yellow. Leona Lewis is a SOFT COOL that actually looks good with blonde hair. So, it's a bad look for the traditional looks, but some with a off type skin tone flowing into the warm group, can pull it off. I would even consider the PURE COOL clear, and see If this can fit. The close-up on the SOFT COOL and the PURE COOL has not been posted yet, but you can look at the description or try to Google summer, and summer-autumn, soft summer, If you need more info on those particular groups. Or, ask me :-) Mainly, just look at the color charts and try out the different colors to see what suits you and doesn't, that's the only way to be sure.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Sifra
13/8/2017 10:05:06 am

Hi Sun,

Thanks for the good explanation again!

I guess only my eyes are the prototype of CLEAR COOL. When it comes to orange and yellow, I have to be careful for choosing the right tone. Orange-red like scarlet and yellow like lemon or buttercup-yellow are very nice on me. Oranges and yellows that are too brown make me look tired though, and neon orange and yellow are not the best option either. Only with pink, blue and green I can opt for neon colors.

DEEP COOL soft makes sense, because I can wear silver as well as gold. I also recognise the colors in the palette very well as my ‘save choice’ colors :).
I searched on ‘cool summer’ and ‘soft summer’ (PURE COOL and SOFT COOL), and I think I can wear many of the colors of these palets, but it might be a bit too muted. It does not give me an energetic look, like bright red or royal blue does on me.

Considering these colors, what color wedding dress is best to choose? Is it correct that I see champagne in the color palette of DEEP COOL soft?

Warm regards,

Sifra

IDEALIST STYLE link
15/8/2017 03:14:40 pm

You're very welcome! The fact that neon colors, as well as orange and yellow can be difficult, but in general bold shades still look great on you, is another good indicator that you are a DEEP COOL soft. Not all DEEP COOL softs have the same sensitivities, but they all have at least one difficult color that should otherwise look great. Almost always pure white. They can usually use pure white or these colors on accessories, shoes or in prints, but need to avoid large surface areas of the color. This means that the color is right for them, but somehow they're just a bit too soft for a lot of it. It's usually a clash with the skin tone, that's not typical for the type, or could be lighter hair and eyes that usual.
The fact that DEEP COOL colors looks like you're safe colors and gives you a good strong look, and the other groups a bit too dull for you, is another good point for DEEP COOL. I think it's safe to say this is your group. You could say that a "DEEP COOL neutral" is a "more than this" group, and that a "DEEP COOL soft" is a "less than this group". This means you have to be more careful and have more restrictions than the rest of your main group. Coloring your hair, and makeup can help if you wan't to wear a look that normally would be too much, if that's the reason you're a "soft". Some DEEP COOL soft's are flowing into another group, which is usually the reason for their softer coloring. Some into two groups (Usually the DEEP WARM and or CLEAR COOL). So, you can check out if you can replace some of the colors you're loosing from you DEEP COOL chart, with something from the CLEAR COOL/DEEP WARM chart. This is where it get's a bit more complicated and it's much safer to stick to your safe colors. But, it is a good option for those who want more options. :-)

The champagne-like color on the DEEP COOL soft, is a greige color or a ice-yellow, depending on which one you're referring to. Champagne would be too dirty and soft for most DEEP COOL's, but as white is one of your difficult colors (pure white is the best "winter" group white, but many or most DEEP COOL soft's look bad in large surfaces of pure white) I would try on anything from ivory, cream, soft white, greige, ice-grey, blush, and icy pink, icy blue, to find a better white-like color. Which one works comes down to which other group you're flowing into. It kind of sounds like you're not flowing into the WARM side, but rather towards the CLEAR COOL side. So, maybe start with a cold tone, as ivory can possibly be too warm for you then. I would think that a icy-grey or very light greige (grey-beige) could be a good solution. If you go into a wedding dress shop and explain this to them, and tell them about these suggestions, I'm sure they have some experience in finding a shade that looks great on cool-neutral toned people who can't wear pure white. Maybe soft-white would be enough for you? I would also test a pearl white color, and see. My sister who is a DEEP COOL soft, and look terrible in pure white, looks a lot better in a dirty white. She's flowing into both the CLEAR COOL and DEEP WARM, and has ivory skin, light brown eyes, and deep brown hair. So, worth a try.

I hope this helped :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Sifra
16/8/2017 06:21:57 am

Hi Sun,

1000 times thanks for your explanation! I guess DEEP COOL soft, in the direction of CLEAR COOL is very accurate. You made my day!

xxx Sifra

Ptah
5/8/2017 06:17:46 am

Thank you so much, Sun, for putting this enormous effort in collecting and presenting such a detailed and big scope of useful information! It gives much better understanding of the colouring system!

Though I wonder what is your usual timeline for the articles? As I understood this was written a couple of years ago, and I'm very looking forward for the detailed analysis of PURE COOL (clear) type – could you please give an estimate when to expect it? :)

And again, very much appreciate all the time and thoughts you put into this – it's quite amazing :)

Kind regards,
Ptah

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/8/2017 06:41:20 am

Hi, Ptah. Thank you so much for your kind words. That means a lot. Yes, It has taken quite a while to post the first arven groups, and the other three are about half done. I usually take my time and do a lot of reaserch and test things out in real life before I post and finish writing them, so that's why there are such long breaks between each post. I usually post one each six months (sometimes less), also because I work on other things in between. I just finished and posted The LIGHT COOL and the LIGHT COOL best looks. The next one I will post is the PURE COOL, sometime this fall. So, you don'y have to wait for a very long time. I'm currently in the reaserch faze, just making sure all my estimates are accurate and that I didn't miss something. This to make sure that I include all variations, as many races as possible. For example, there are black PURE COOL clears, so I have to find examples of that version too. So, Yeah! I would estimate that it will be posted sometime after the start of september, but before desember. The PURE COOL clear, is a PURE COOL flowing into the CLEAR COOL, and can borrow some colors from that group. Other than that, PURE COOL colors should work perfectly on you. This sub-group have a slightly higher contrast level, can look great with darker hair, but has a sort of softness filter to all their colors, even If they have natural black hair. It's the feeling of that their dark coloring feels softer than they're appear to be. Still they're not a SOFT COOL deep either, because PURE COOL colors and brighter work perfectly on them. I hope this sneak peak helped a little :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Ptah
9/8/2017 01:25:17 pm

Thank you for the sneak peek, Sun ;) Looking forward to the full article!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
15/8/2017 02:03:31 pm

You're very welcome, and thank you for reading :-)

Xxx, Sun.

H.N.
14/9/2017 08:17:22 am

Hi! This is going to be a VERY long post haha! I noticed commenters giving examples, so I'll do the same. I really want to figure this out! I'm half-AfricanAmerican, half-Dominican (Hispanic). Mom with cocoa-y skin & dad with light, almost-pasty yellow skin. I'm inbetween medium-tan and medium-deep, but in photos my skin tone appears either very flaxen/translucent or very saturated & orange. I look darker/tanner than the foundation I wear, if that makes any sense. In foundation, I've been told that I'm: warm yellow, gold/yellow, or yellow/peach, or neutral peach. Overall, warm to warm-neutral. At Sephora I'm matched for #4Y10, the most yellow possible for my skin depth. Twice I've had foundation called caramel, one was bit too brown & red, the other too olive-green. My concealer is LA Girl ProConceal Warm Honey. Keywords in my foundations are: tawnied beige, amber, nude amber, bamboo, etc. I'm also smack inbetween BobbiBrown SkinFoundation shade 5.75 (golden light brown w/ olive & yellow undertones; dark skintones) & 6 (light brown w/ peachy yellow undertones; med to dark skintones). I have deep brown-black eyes that noticeably reflect in photos. Sometimes they don't, but occasionally they reflect somewhat blue-ish like this Afro-Latina blogger here (I'm a bit darker than her): https://www.instagram.com/p/BVAbTSdjxsf/ . Same with my hair. At first glance it looks black but upclose it's a very off or soft black-brown color. In photos, you can see the golden-tint / truffle look. There's no clarity in my eyes but they have a "jelly-ish" look, if that makes any sense. My appearance is textbook DEEP WARM/COOL DARK but none of the DEEPs look natural on me, not even the DEEP neutrals or DEEP softs. I've heard of reverse Clear Winters- those without clarity in eyes but in the hair/skin instead. I am starting to think I'm a similar "wildcard" type, except I'm not cold undertoned.

The best way I can describe is that many colours: 1) Look too dark & heavy on me, despite that I have darker skin. 2) Some colours "drag" down or clash with the my eyes & hair. Even though my eyes+ hair are deeper, the clash is very noticeable. 3) Most colors that are overly bright will either "dim" my skintone or make it turn green (which is confusing as I don't have obvious olive undertones).

As for makeup, almost every blush looks too "red" on me or is too dirty brown. There's literally only 3 blushes that look natural on me. In order of favorite: 1) A medium peachy-orange w/ some soft gold & beige. 2) Urban Decay Video (soft nude) which brought out my eyes ALOT but was still a bit too red. 3) Tarte Peaceful (soft peach), also good but just a touch off. For lips only 2 colors sit on my face right: Mac's Taupe, and Covergirl's Tempting Toffee. Taupe is near perfection, and Tempting Toffee is great unless I use too much of it. Lipliner shades are always too dark/stark brown so I avoid them. Furthermore, I've repeatedly had instances where lip colors that looked natural, almost plain on me, looked starkly light on people shades lighter than me....?

As for bad colors: White is too stark, especially solid white. Black doesn't look ridiculous, but something is always off when I wear it. Either it's dragging me down or it's not colorful enough- I can't figure it out so I just avoid it. Even if only 1 article of black clothing, it appears really "heavy" on me. I love berry colors, but many are too purply and make me look sick. The closest I can get is rose-berry and it's still too strange... Same goes for plum shades. Most dark grays look TERRIBLE on me. Peach/apricot sometimes works, but some are better than others. The mustard and the orange on DEEP WARM DARK are definite no's. Strong/bright orange and some strong corals will turn me green immediately.

But the right orange and coral/coral pink looks really good. Same with blue. Most blues, especially dark blue and colbalt blue, look bad. But I receive many compliments if it's a blue like the woman in the middle here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUFR6ruF8gG/ . A richer navy blue can work too (but not too deep or it'll start to overwhelm me again). The 3rd blue I can wear is like this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BR6e0G9Fzya/ . 4th would be light-medium chambray blue like this: https://d2d00szk9na1qq.cloudfront.net/Product/7c6264d4-5fe5-4a9d-bc02-b5064fe32f5b/Images/Large_0364502.jpg . Medium to medium-deep periwinkle purple/blue is flattering. Most lilacs are good as well. Light to medium gray is really refreshing on me. I look almost as good in silver as I do gold, but a good bronze-gold beats both. Good nail polish colors are: Essie Cute as A Button, Sally Hansen Leapin Lilac, Essie Summit of Style, Essie Spin the bottle & Essie Perennial Chic (I just discovered Margot Robbie wears this shade?). Essie High Class Affair almost looks right but it's a bit too blush-toned for me. Essie Hold the Position (coral pink-peach) sort of works as well. I have yet to find a flattering

Reply
H.N.
14/9/2017 08:25:24 am

Cont'd.....

I have yet to find a flattering red shade on me. I can do yellows, though I haven't tried on any lemon yellows before. Two types of yellows that suit me are this: https://www.instagram.com/p/BYTLGsXl2Ta/ and this https://www.instagram.com/p/BSuZ0fAgxqV/ . (The Instagrammer in this 2nd link wears my foundation and the EXACT same Covergirl Tempting Toffee lipstick I wear).

My safe colors are: seafoam, turquoise, any bluegreen/greenblue, not too strong mint, medium teal, forest-y green, fresh limey-chartreuse green, light to medium taupe, most nudes / medium beige (typically not in makeup), some browns (not too much in makeup), light/medium gray, certain rosy brown shades, certain rosy shades, certain pinks (warm to neutral & usually lighter, though I haven't tried this in makeup yet), most auburns, most tawny & toffee shades, ivory, cream, vanilla cream, orange, creamsicle orange, that 1st blue shade I linked in paragraph above, rusty-orange (https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/52001245?wid=520&hei=520&fmt=pjpeg), and I always receive compliments on this "sunset blush" top (https://cdna.lystit.com/photos/express/06341854-SUNSET%20BLUSH-7c0a5ec9-.jpeg). Overall.... Fresher but not too bright, dark, or earthy? But not overly soft or browned, either. Most anything that looks like it's glowing/iridescent/rainbow is good. Too much of the wrong brown can look too dirty/heavy, but the right brown pops on my skintone. To be honest, even though no one looks like me in these groups, the only ones that seem feasible are: MUTED WARM clear, CLEAR WARM soft, DEEP WARM soft, or honestly, even one of the LIGHT WARMS. I am deeper than Alicia Keys, but I have similar look (very tanned beige with deep looking hair/eyes look), and I stumbled across this article saying she may be a deeper Light Spring (http://www.truth-is-beauty.com/blog/light-spring-makeup-word-cloud). Is it possible for someone to be sitting on the medium end of Light Warm?

For reference, people who wear the most similar colors are on Instagram. In order of most similar to least: @moriahmurrell, @sonjdradeluxe, @aliciakeys, @chaleyrose, @kerrywashington, and @nikishabrunson. Runner ups would be: @trueracheltrue @Joansmalls. (@sonjdradeluxe actually wears my foundation and is who I got the Tarte Peaceful blush & Covergirl Tempting Toffee recommendation from. Though when it comes to lipstick we usually wear similar, but slightly differing shades. I think our contrast levels are a touch different.)

Whatever you find those first 3 Instagrammer's color group to be is likely my color group too! I know this is ALOT so don't feel you have to reply anytime soon!

Really appreciate what you've done!! You've created color analysis for the REAL world! :) Thank you!!!

Reply
Hana N.
15/9/2017 03:51:19 pm

(Whoops! Just realized I made 2 typos... 1- That Tarte Peaceful blush is actually a "soft nude peach", according to Tarte's website. 2- At the top of this post where I said the "the Instagrammer in this 2nd link", I meant to say in the 1st link!) Thanks again for all the time you've spent on this system! It's truly incredible!

Hana N.
20/9/2017 03:30:20 pm

Hi! Hoping that giving more references is helpful (instead of annoying haha)! Here's some wardrobe items I own in real life that flatter me: this purple top, which is a bit more purple in person ( https://tinyurl.com/yazllan8 ). This pink ( https://tinyurl.com/yc2g7nvk ). This pink bra colour. The pants might work too, but it may be pushing it in terms of lightness for my own intensity (https://tinyurl.com/y9agfr9p). Website says the bra shade is "evening blush" but it's more like the pink you have in "light warm". I usually have a harder time with true "blush" shades. This shoe shade (https://tinyurl.com/y9o3tafl). This light gray shoe (https://tinyurl.com/y8t7te4k). Certain medium/medium-deep grays are really good too. This shade of brown jacket ( https://tinyurl.com/ydht2gnb ). I'm undecided about the shade of this purse I have. It's in the right direction, but it can feel a bit overwhelming & too brown at times ( https://tinyurl.com/ydxvzxkt). Planning to purchase this purse instead, which is a bit rosier-gold in person (https://tinyurl.com/y93zcy3y). I have this bralette & it's a flattering army green, without being too dark or dull/dusty (https://tinyurl.com/y8w2376l). I have a sports bra in this EXACT shade Alicia Keys wears here. It's very flattering on me & a go-to shade. (https://tinyurl.com/ycehc9d2). Here's a weird blue-green for you. I have no idea what this shade is called but I just color-matched my favorite chambray shirt to this EXACT shade, which sits so beautifully on me... So hard to find instores though (https://tinyurl.com/yam9u7u3). I have this teal top & love the shade, also gets many compliments (https://tinyurl.com/y77hyln3). LOADS of compliments on this heel, which is ALOT more yellow in person. The shade in person is flattering, but it's that intensity they sits really well on my skin (https://tinyurl.com/ycznrdb7). Actually, I'd say this gold, in-person, is my best gold, and bronzy-gold is RIGHT after. Here's a unique one: I have this tank, and it's almost right, but it's a bit too greyed of a green for me (https://tinyurl.com/ydxnrkhb). I have a green sports bra in similar but slightly different shade. The sports bra runs EXACTLY this shade that Alicia Keys is wearing (https://tinyurl.com/ybnj9p6z), and it's perfect! Not all taupes work for me, but this swimsuit's shade of taupe is gorgeous on me (https://tinyurl.com/y9w9f7v8). Again, very similar to what Alicia Keys wore in a music video (https://tinyurl.com/y742r8eh). Also have this lighter taupe hat, which is a go-to shade for me (https://tinyurl.com/y78zqve7). I get constant compliments on this shirt's color, which is a bit more green in person (https://tinyurl.com/y8mcr5bq). In person it's actually this exact color (https://tinyurl.com/y8r8ojfa), but I'd say my shirt's intensity is more light-medium/medium than what she's wearing here. This shade is somewhat similar to strange green-blue I mentioned earlier. To reiterate- @Aliciakeys, @MoriahMurrell, and possibly @sonjdradeluxe or @nikishabrunson are the closest color group twins I have seen. And that's hard to come by. Thank you again!

IDEALIST STYLE link
8/10/2017 12:54:58 pm

Hi, Hana. Sorry it has taken so long for me to respond, but I wanted to make sure I had the time to go through all of your messages properly. Thank you so much for that lovely compliment. That makes me so happy.

I'm going to go through your messages and let you know my thoughts on your information, and hopefully this will lead til an accurate conclusion where you know there where's and why's.

It sounds like your dad might have an olive skin complexion. I have that myself, and the skin can sometimes appear a bit yellow. Or even have a grey-green tint to it in the winter. The more tan, the less yellow and more "orange" it gets. The description of your skin and the orange tone, sounds like you might have a golden undertone, which is a red undertone. Or perhaps an olive skin, as your foundation colors listed can indicate that too. Without seeing you, it sounds like either golden or olive undertone. Both are neutral skin tones, and can be found in both warm and cool toned people, however usually on darker color types (deep, clear, muted or soft types). The peach and yellow points to warm. The fact that too olive or too red is wrong for you, might indicate two undertones. A lot of darker skin tones actually have more than one undertone, and you could have both olive and red undertones/ or olive with peach. I have olive skin with peach myself (I'm a CLEAR WARM soft), so too yellow steals the glow from my skin, and red/pink undertones are too red/pink. I usually go for the foundation colors named sand or neutral in the winter and sometimes foundation colors named honey or golden in the summer. Not all brands have the right neutral shades for olive and golden skin tones. If both golden and olive is just not a match, it might be a warm beige skin. That skin has mostly yellow undertones. Or a neutral beige skin tone.
Your eye color sounds like it's a deep and dark hazel, as it changes colors and can have a blue look sometimes. That combined with a soft black hair with a brown tint and the fact that deep colors don't work really well on you, sounds like we should look at the CLEAR COOL, MUTED WARM, CLEAR WARM, SOFT WARM, SOFT COOL, and maybe even the PURE COOL. Since you might have a neutral skin tone, it could be both warm and cold. However, you have been typed as a warm before, maybe start with the CLEAR WARM, SOFT WARM deep and MUTED WARM. The SOFT groups are neutral, so both can fit with a warm looking, neutral skin tone. If you're thinking of a reverse winter type, that could mean a CLEAR COOL true, a CLEAR COOL bright (this can look good in warm shades too, flowing into the CLEAR WARM9. Also, the CLEAR WARM bright, is the warm version of the CLEAR COOL in a way, so that might also be what you're thinking of. It really depends on if bright and clear, fresh looking colors look the best on you, or if softer and more muted tones does. From your description of how you look in colors, It sounds like a CLEAR COOL or bright look might be too much on you, and maybe a CLEAR WARM soft/true, or a SOFT WARM/ SOFT COOL or PURE COOL might be more likely. There are black and latina pure cool's too, they just aren't the stereoptype. Those I have seen, does have a similar coloring to what you are describing. Your blush and lipstick colors indicate that soft but fresh look is better on you, and warm shades, and that dirty colors don't work. This points us to a CLEAR WARM soft/true or SOFT WARM deep. Maybe even a LIGHT WARM too. I look good in the same colors myself, so that's a good point for a CLEAR WARM soft, or if you are more neutral a SOFT WARM deep. The fact that a lip color could look natural on you and brighter and lighter on someone lighter than you, make it sound like you can handle some bright colors. If we are in the right direction at this point. CLEAR WARM yellow and orange looks bad on a SOFT WARM, so that would narrow things down. The fact that stark white and black are just not quite right, supports this as ivory is better and black needs to be worn with some fresh or soft colors for a CLEAR WARM or a SOFT WARM deep. For LIGHT WARM black is even more difficult, but would be best if softened by using other colors Many people with deep or dark looks are actually CLEAR WARMs or SOFT's, like Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Mariah Carey, Nicole Richie, Angelina Jolie, Aishwarya Rai. I've seen these people types as anything from a dark autumn to a clear winter, which they are not. The fact that berry colors that look too purple make you look sick, means that we can probably cross of the cold groups, such as PURE COOL and SOFT COOL. Which again leaves us with the CLEAR WARM, LIGHT WARM, and SOFT WARM. If orange and and red's that are too orange is bad on you, this points us too the SOFT WARM deep. The type of yellow, orange and red this type wears, is incredibly specific. The same goes for the bold shades of blue that are too much on you. The reason why some brighter colors than what's on the SOFT WARM chart can work, is that a S

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
8/10/2017 12:58:47 pm

Part 2. of reply.

is that a SOFT WARM deep, can handle a bit more than the SOFT WARM light, and borrow some colors from other color groups. You could be a SOFT WARM deep, flowing into the CLEAR WARM, MUTED WARM, or LIGHT WARM. So, the trick is to start with your best colors and then add on the ones you know you can handle that are borrowed to create your own personal palette. The SOFT WARM is also a neutral group and the sister-group of the SOFT COOL, so some of those colors can also look pretty good on you. Which ones, is very individual. About the dark grey, notice that the very dark grey on the SOFT WARM chart has a slightly green tint to it, so any dark grey would not be the same to you. Undertones matter, even on neutral shades. A LIGHT WARM would also be better in light colors. Silver and gold both being good is another solid point for a neutral group, and this points to the fact that you might also have a neutral beige skin tone, and that's why too olive or too golden doesn't work for you. Very typical for this type. The two types of yellow and one rust orange you mentioned that works for you, is very typical for SOFT WARM deep, but also a match for MUTED WARM, LIGHT WARM and CLEAR WARM. However, if those are the only types of yellow and orange you can wear, that probably means SOFT WARM deep.

You mention that you feel like DEEP WARM soft (but that was too dark for you), MUTED WARM clear (should be able to handle dirty warm and bold yellow and orange), or LIGHT WARM neutral (should look great in light and brigt, fresh toned, yellow and orange) might be an option. It absolutely might be. The things your meantioned above, points a lot to a SOFT WARM deep or a CLEAR WARM soft, but I have seen people who have this combination ending up being a LIGHT WARM soft or a LIGHT WARM neutral actually. No matter how dark your coloring is, the only thing that really matters is what colors look the best on you. And if that is LIGHT WARM colors, that's the color group for you. I haven't looked at enough photos of Alicia Keys to be sure of her color group yet, but she is definitely not a DEEP WARM, DEEP COOL or a CLEAR COOL. So, she might be a LIGHT WARM. Usually you should have a low contrast level to fit in that group, but a medium contrast level is not impossible. If blonde hair suits you as good or better than dark hair, it could be an option.

The people on instagram you mentioned also look to be anything from a MUTED WARM, CLEAR WARM, LIGHT WARM to SOFT WARM.
A lot of the colors you sent in the final comment, are very LIGHT WARM and SOFT WARM. The fact that blush might not be great, points more towards LIGHT WARM soft/neutral.
If light and fresh colors are the most important, that points to LIGHT WARM. If saturated and fresh colors that are a little softened are your best, that points to the CLEAR WARM soft. If yellow and orange is bad on you and soft and not too dark is more correct, that points to SOFT WARM deep. It really sounds like you're one of these three groups. Depending on what your bad colors are, as these have many similar good colors.
Since the fresh medium golden brown bad was too much on you, it's less likely that you are a MUTED WARM at least.

To sum it up. Your coloring in mind, and the colors you have said suits your, and not suited you. The most likely first place would be the SOFT WARM deep, and that you are flowing into brighter groups, so that you can borrow LIGHT WARM colors and some others, because of your higher than typical for this type contrast level. A SOFT WARM deep is an autumn with a drop of summer in it and a medium to high contrast level. Your sister group in your scenario would most likely be the LIGHT WARM.
Second place, because of all the light and warm colors (even though there was an even bigger match with SOFT WARM colors), the LIGHT WARM soft (if extra warm and earthy can work. Most likely because cold colors have not been mentioned a lot), or maybe even the LIGHT WARM neutral (if you feel like LIGHT COOL colors sometimes suit you (since you mentioned this type).The LIGHT WARM soft, is a low contrast, light spring with a drop of autumn in it.
Finally, because of your contrast level and liking to spring colors, the CLEAR WARM could also be a logical choice. The CLEAR WARM soft, is a medium to high contrast spring with a drop o autumn in it.

So, from your descriptions, I would say SOFT WARM deep, but since you yourself feel like it might be a spring group, the other two are good options too, and yes possible for your coloring.
I can't be a lot more specific than this without seeing a photo, but hopefully this helped and you've figured it out :-).

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Hana N.
9/10/2017 11:09:20 pm

Wow, THANK YOU!! You're so insightful!! And don't apologize for not replying immediately! I dropped such a truck load of random information on you -with absolutely no pictures of myself- and you still brought SOOO much clarity. We're getting really close now!

Looking at S.W. Deep, it's definitely headed the right direction, but I'm still not quite at home with them. These colors still appear a bit too dulled for me, and it's missing some of my go to pinks, peaches, purples, and lavender-y shades. Lavender as in this shirt (https://tinyurl.com/ya2kxby3) and the bottom of this dress (https://tinyurl.com/y7un758v). Some of the colors also look too dusty or bronzed. BUT some of these resemble my "cheat" colors. Especially that aubergine square on the top left. "Cheat" colors don't exactly clear my skin, but are my secondary not-terribly-clashing shades I can settle for when shopping in stores. I can pull off the pink & peach on S.W. Deep, but the pinks that suit me more are like: this hat (https://tinyurl.com/y8tblmjy), this top (https://tinyurl.com/ycybzuw7 ), this jacket (https://tinyurl.com/y7o79yhe), this pink top (https://tinyurl.com/ybtygy3z), this pantsuit (https://tinyurl.com/ybwzhclw), and this (https://tinyurl.com/y85466lt). But not this pink: https://tinyurl.com/y7tkjqzo. Most peach/oranges like this (https://tinyurl.com/yavdbmj5) and Alicia's hair here (https://tinyurl.com/y88qa9jv) are good. But the wrong peach/orange ends up sitting unflatteringly like this: https://tinyurl.com/y8pnnlzp and https://tinyurl.com/y9et3vcd . Interestingly, oranges like this (https://tinyurl.com/y8p3xn5f) and this (https://tinyurl.com/yd7ck63z) are bad, but this orange is much better (https://tinyurl.com/yc4hs4fv). Also, about the blue that you mentioned. That blue is rather one of my better shades that clears my skin, as opposed to being a color borrowed from sister group. Furthermore, I was shopping recently & discovered a bold unique pink color that really flattered me. Again, I got home and found many pics of Alicia Keys wearing the same pink-ish shade: https://tinyurl.com/y9kz23tu . Lastly, this pic of Alicia's make-up really resonates with what I aim for in my daily make-up. I'm just having a hard time pinpointing what these shades are: https://tinyurl.com/yal3evze

At the risk of sounding like a broken record... Alicia Keys really is the closest color twin I've come across. The way colors react on her is the same way they react on me. My best/worst browns look just as great/bad (respectively). About the CLEAR WARM oranges and yellows- I'm honestly not sure. I'm having a little difficulty differentiating between LIGHT AND CLEAR WARM shades. I tried on this dress and surprisingly is was a bit orangey and almost too dulled/deep (https://tinyurl.com/y9dv7kr4). And this red is a big no (https://tinyurl.com/ydbkggu5). Also tried this red thinking it would work, but it didn't (https://tinyurl.com/y9wx2wfl). But then I tried on red like these and it was a LOT better: (https://tinyurl.com/yb39kb5k) and (https://tinyurl.com/ybk2g62m). I was surprised how good these lemon bottoms looked (https://tinyurl.com/y8wzgmmp). This lemon does look a touch better than my golden yellow, but they are both good. Maybe a different kind of lemon yellow would trump both? I noticed golden and lemon yellows also look equally good on Alicia (IMO) and even this kind of mustard (https://tinyurl.com/yd3wtbwn) sits on her as it does on me- not terrible but not quite right. Again, Alicia even wears that same aubergine I mentioned earlier, and it appears the same on her- not bad, but not "it". Some more greens I suit are this (https://tinyurl.com/ybcnbhen). And one of the few darks I can wear is this green (https://tinyurl.com/ycqeffm7)- I can't tell if this green is a primary or sister group color. It's kinda dark for me, but it has to be at that depth for me to pull it off... I noticed it matched the green tassel clutch in CLEAR WARM, the darkest metallic jacket in LIGHT WARM, and a SOFT WARM square. Another nude for me is this top (https://tinyurl.com/ybaebdso) and the light gold pattern here: https://tinyurl.com/y9suhyk6. Occasionally these nudes work as well (the scarf and sweater https://tinyurl.com/yazcofn9). I have this sweater and it's maximum brown-nude as I can go before it becomes too muddy/dark/dull on me: https://tinyurl.com/ybuqt285. And here's another good gray sweater I have: https://tinyurl.com/y75t7sv4

So, I'd say that whatever color group you'd match Alicia Keys for would likely be my group too- or at least my sister group!

It might sound sappy, but thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. It's so nice of you to even reply as you did and care to point me in the right direction!

Best regards, Hana :)

Hana N.
10/10/2017 09:29:31 pm

Oooh! And here's one more really flattering red (https://tinyurl.com/yb9qf8fr)... Just for good measure! ;)

Reply
Hana N.
11/10/2017 10:30:38 am

Okay, okay- last one I promise!! In my earlier message, I mentioned how these are just okay (https://tinyurl.com/yazcofn9 and https://tinyurl.com/ybuqt285). These camel-y shade pants are much better (https://tinyurl.com/y7kq8a26 and https://tinyurl.com/ybb8so6n)!

Reply
Hana N.
12/10/2017 10:21:48 pm

OMG I am SO sorry! I just realized I posted the wrong link! When I said "here's one more flattering red" I accidentally put this link (https://tinyurl.com/yb9qf8fr). I meant to put this link: https://tinyurl.com/y9j2jr7s . This is a red camisole I own that's REALLY in the right direction and sits refreshingly nice on my skin. (Even though I've always noticed there's something about it that could be improved by just a hair... Either it could be made a little warmer or possibly it's not tinted enough, as I read in your LIGHT WARM write-up a while ago.) Thanks again!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
7/11/2017 09:38:04 am

Hi again, Hana :-) I'm so glad it was helpful.

I've looked into Alicia Keys color season, and she is one of those that I would need to do a color analysis on to be sure. Luckily there are some photos of her without makeup online, so I've been able to determine that she's either a CLEAR WARM true (like Cameron Diaz and Blake Lively) or a LIGHT WARM true (like Busy Philipps and Kate Bosworth). The reason for this is that she looks great in LIGHT WARM colors and does have a medium towards low contrast level in her facial features, but she can also pull of CLEAR WARM colors and pull of chocolate brown hair (and deep and dark hair) color really well. This could mean that she is a LIGHT WARM true, flowing into the CLEAR WARM and can borrow colors from her sister-group. Or the other way around. This is where only a proper analysis, measuring colors up close to her makeup free face would give the accurate answer. So, what I would do since you say you belive you're the same color group as Alicia Keys, it to test out at home if the LIGHT WARM or CLEAR WARM colors are your absolute best. Alicia Keys looks amazing in light yellow and light peach, orange, peach, apricot, and pink, and all those warm and light shades. However, these colors are on the CLEAR WARM chart as well, and since she can pull of CLEAR WARM colors that aren't on the LIGHT WARM chart too, it can potentially be a little misleading. The fact that she can pull of both the light colors and look naturally great in an all brown and beige look with a allover darker look, is a point towards the CLEAR WARM true. How great she looks in the lightest o the warm colors is a point to the LIGHT WARM true. So, just make sure you take notice to which colors belong where. If you are both groups, that it not impossible. It would work the same as for a neutral type. You have one slight preference, but both color charts work. So, test it out in front of a mirror, without makeup, in day light.

From your descriptions above, you do sound a lot like you might be a CLEAR WARM true/LIGHT WARM true mix too. Or one of these groups.

It is quite possible that she is a LIGHT WARM, flowing into her sister groups on both sides. The CLEAR WARM and SOFT WARM, and that's where the confusion about all the different colors she can pull of comes from. In that case, it's all about the best colors, and which chart they belong too.

The fact that lemon yellow is kind of equally good, but light lemon being slightly better then golden yellow, matches with Alicia Keys too, and is a sign of being CLEAR/LIGHT WARM true. The soft or bright types, are better or equally good in the lemon and the golden yellow.

To figure out if the CLEAR WARM or the LIGHT WARM colors are your best, and you have a hard time separating them, pick the obvious CLEAR colors and obvious LIGHT colors and see which one is more flattering on you. If the LIGHT ones are better, that will point towards the LIGHT WARM true, if the CLEAR ones and the LIGHT ones are equally good, that points to CLEAR WARM true. The CLEAR WARM true and the LIGHT WARM true, are already flowing into each other, so that's why they have so much in common. They are also what you would call a true spring spring and light spring. The bright is more like a clear or bright spring, and the soft is somewhere between a soft spring and a warm spring. A CLEAR WARM and a LIGHT WARM looks good in all the same main colors, but which ones that are their absolute best divides them into the add on groups. Because one (CLEAR WARM bright) has a drop of winter in it, the other (CLEAR WARM soft and LIGHT WARM soft) a drop of autumn, and the last (CLEAR WARM true) is just a pure spring. The LIGHT WARM true is a light spring, and the LIGHT WARM neutral, is a light spring flowing into the LIGHT COOL.

It sounds like you're definitely a CLEAR WARM true or a LIGHT WARM true, so do a home color analysis, and ask a friend to help you judge the colors on you. It's sometimes easier for another person to see the differences, as they have a fresh view on it.

I hope this helped, at that this direction will help you determine which one of them are your main group.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Hana N.
9/11/2017 10:33:46 pm

Sun! Thank you so so so much for all you've done for color analysis and what you've done for me as well. Most people would NOT have analyzed Alicia objectively. I've seen her listed as DEEP WARM so many times. Thank you for investing in a color system that truly fits EVERYONE.

Looking at your Light, True, & Bright Spring- the ones I correlate with the most are True Spring. The "look" of these has the same "look" as my best clothing in my closet. I never had success with make-up until I started purchasing Spring products, and I know I need to stay around these. But when I purchase True Spring makeup, it sits on my face the slightest bit off. Very close, but slightly off. I did some research and to my surprise ColorBreeze has 3 True Spring versions- Light TS, Warm TS, and Toasted Warm TS. The Toasted Warm TS looks promising and the model's eyes have similar reflective look, except hers are more blued. (https://tinyurl.com/ydzx2yv6 and https://tinyurl.com/ycgaqs83). There's also a Sunlit (that means extra warm) Bright Spring (https://tinyurl.com/ydh9h69x and https://tinyurl.com/y6ueuyvn). I know I should take these makeup season recommendations with a grain of salt, because they could be off. I have to find best warmth & contrast for my own face. But if the recommended colors for True Spring are only "almost right", that makes me think True Spring might not be correct. Unless I'm just a deeper True Spring? I am confused on which testing I should rely on: the makeup or the clothing?

Here's a grid of some of my bad colors. These -along with dusty colors, mauve, most plums, and most berries- are a big no. Hopefully this will help us narrow down even more: https://tinyurl.com/ydhwv9r6 . If I was forced to wear one of these colors, I'd choose the top left or top right square.

Again, here's 2 red-oranges that look good on me (https://tinyurl.com/yc6lsknp). And here's a reference of what natural make-up looks like for my coloring. In case you're able to recognize my color-group from the overall theme here: https://tinyurl.com/ybldo9l4

I'm going to try my best to make this post as concise (and effective) as possible. I really hope I'm not getting on your nerves haha :) Your knowledge really is amazing. Currently, I cannot go clothes shopping/testing. But I took your advice and went out to test/buy makeup from the different color groups. In the parentheses is the color group it's best known for, via my research.

GOOD SHADES (in order of best to worst):

-Revlon Persian Melon #585 (this is my own personal pick! :)
-Mac "See Sheer" lipstick (Mixed results in research: many said for True Springs who are deeper/have more melanin, many said Bright Spring and warmer Bright Winters, one person said Soft Autumn. Funny enough, I researched this after I discovered it by myself!)
-Revlon "Checkmate" #540 Nail Polish (personal pick! :)
-Smashbox "Torch" Eyeshadow from ABLAZE Palette. It's's the 4th color in palette. (personal pick!)
-Mac "Telling Glow" Blush (personal pick! This is a thousand times better than most blushes I try on, but I can tell this still isn't quite right. But the temperature/warmth is really good.)

NOT QUITE RIGHT (in order of best to worst):

-Revlon Love That Pink lipstick #575 (personal pick)
-Revlon Ravish Me Red #654 (true & bright spring)
-Chanel Rouge Cocoshine in "Liberte"#46 that I mentioned in previous comments (for deeper Light Springs)
-Burt's Bees Rhubarb lip shimmer (Bright Spring)
-Revlon Rich Girl Red #830 (Bright Spring)
-Covergirl Seduce Scarlet #310 (Light Spring. This was in the right direction. But this red was kind of inky, almost too dark of a red, on my face though. I think it was a bit too cool toned as well.)
-Revlon Teak Rose #445 (True Autumn)
-Maybelline FitMe Blush #25 "Pink" (the square blushes not the rectangles) (personal pick)
-Mac "Fleur Power" Blush (True and Bright Spring)
-Revlon Solar Coral #243 gloss (personal pick)
-Chanel Rouge Cocoshine in Monte Carlo #62 (for True Spring and Deeper Light Springs)
-Chanel Rouge Cocoshine in Sari D'eau #44 (Light and True Spring)
-Revlon Carnival Spirit #828 (a few said Light Spring)
-Sonia Kashuk 03 Sunset Blush
-Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lipstick in "Mango" that I mentioned in previous comments (for deeper Light Spring)
-Clinique "All Heart" Lipstick
-Revlon Rendezvous #040 (True Spring)
-Nars "Deep Throat" Blush
-Neutrogena Lipshine in "Flushed Coral" #30 (personal pick)
-Revlon Peach Me #628 (True Spring, and possibly Bright Spring)
-Revlon Coralberry #674 (True & Bright Spring)
-Revlon Siren #677 (majority says this is True Spring)
-Essie Tarte Deco nail polish (Light Spring, I believe)
-Revlon Cardshark nail polish (personal pick)
-Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in "Healthy Blush" #20 (Bright Spring)
-‎Revlon Gloss "Pango Peach" #245 (it was too dull/dark)
-Revlon Pink In The Afternoon #415 (Light Spring) (Despite this being last, this was still very nice on me, surprisingly. As far as natural pink lipsticks g

Barbara
13/10/2017 07:11:28 pm

Hi Sun

Amazing and very detailed blog. Thank you for doing your blog as very helpful. I am still a little confused as to whether I am a summer or winter season. I stay away from warm colours as they turn my skin yellow or flushed. Would it be okay for me to email you a photo of myself ? I am hoping an expert eye would help me make a final choice of palette. I am so worn out with the trying to figure this out. I would be so grateful for your help. Thank you. Barbara

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
26/10/2017 05:59:08 pm

Hi, Barbara. Sure, you can send me your photo at idealiststyledotcom@gmail.com.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Barbara
3/11/2017 09:01:10 pm

Hello Sun
I sent my photos to you on your email mentioned above. I hope your receive them. If not, please let me know. I also meant to ask if you have your own range of colour fans for sale ?
Many thanks

IDEALIST STYLE link
4/11/2017 01:44:02 pm

Hi, Barbara. Yes, I have received your e-mail and will reply soon.
As for colour fans for sale, are you looking for at home color analysis drapes, or more like a color fan for your color group to bring with you for shopping? I am looking into getting both made, but it's taking a little longer than I would like, as I only want to sell ethically made products on this page. It will be available as soon as I find a suitable fair trade and eco-friendly factory :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Barbara
4/11/2017 07:29:52 pm

I received your reply. Will drape those few colours you mentioned to pin point season more accurately. I would be very interested in purchasing your colour fans when they are available. The ones we can take shopping in our bags would be ideal. Thank you so much once again. I look forward to reading more on your blog as you update/complete sections :)

IDEALIST STYLE link
5/11/2017 02:13:12 pm

Noted! I will see what I can do :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Hana N.
16/10/2017 08:39:02 pm

Hi again... I'm hoping more info = more helpful! I've been improving my makeup & thought I should update you (these are better than my previously mentioned makeup). For blush, I updated to Dior Coral Cruise #676 (popular LSp blush) and Tarte Captivating blush. Captivating is, once again, a blush that's a hair too red. Now, I've only had 2 blushes be too orange on my cheeks- Too Faced "I Will Always Love You" and my newest blush, Dior Coral Cruise. Dior blush is only a HAIR too orange, and really gives me that warmth I need- plus it sits on my cheeks similar to the way that I naturally flush. The warmth overage is a smaller gap than the amount of redness Captivating gives me. So I reach for Dior a bit more often, even though I do enjoy the peachy brightness that Captivating offers. And yet AGAIN, after trying on Captivating, I search it on YouTube and the first person that popped up was @sondjradeluxe! And she was one of the only african-americans using the it! I wish I understood the connection haha... Onto lips. I tried that NYX Sierra lippie you mentioned in comments before: too bright for my face. The same way that Lolita II looked on me. Same with Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Mango (popular LSp lippie), but this was not nearly as stark. Next, I tried Benefit's Punch Pop in Mango. Applied fully, this was too bold on my face BUT I did find that I can use this as an everyday lip by dabbing some on instead. What I love about this Benefit Mango (via dabbing) is that the color SINKS into my skin, looks natural, healthy, and really clears/brightens my face. This is the first time this has happened to me, since literally every lipstick I try on sits unnaturally on my face. Next, right after Benefit Mango is Chanel Liberte Rouge CocoShine #46 (popular LSp lippie)- so happy I found this. I can apply this fully. Even though this sits "atop" my lips just the tiniestttt bit, it's one of the best lippies I've tried on. Although I'd say the freshness of Benefit Mango beats it. Next, Stila Kitten Lip Glaze- just okay, didn't really do anything, not bad or good. But I could wear this lippie in public if I had to (which I can't say for most lippies haha). Smashbox Chai (dupe for popular SW Deep lippie) is getting closer to level of warmth & yellow I need, but again too brown/dark and sits unnaturally. I can't tell if the color is too brown for me, or if I don't suit low contrast on my face. (But at the same time I can't wear most bright lippies??) Chai is the brand's recommended nude for medium to deep skintones.... Brand recommendations for my skintone never seem to work... And of course I came across some lippies that were simply too light. Since my mother is not the same colouring as me, and beauty dept. people give me terrible colors- trying to figure out beauty has been a very independent process. I may not be there yet but I am certainly getting alot closer... all thanks to you!! P.S. here's some more colors I recently discovered flatter me: https://tinyurl.com/yct97frc , https://tinyurl.com/yallwac5 , https://tinyurl.com/y84ea4of (Alicia heels, 3rd, this is would be max brightness though), https://tinyurl.com/ybzllqlp (turtleneck & boots but I'm not sure I'd do large quantities like this), https://tinyurl.com/y97a6qj2 (gray/silver part), https://tinyurl.com/zd3hjls (aqua blue), https://tinyurl.com/ydcutac5 (purple on right), https://tinyurl.com/ybx4768b (blue jacket), https://tinyurl.com/yb9gh2k4 (dress although it's a touch too deep), https://tinyurl.com/yacjhv4z (max. darkness teal, possibly a sister group shade).

Thanks,
Hana :)

Reply
Hana N.
20/10/2017 12:37:12 am

Hey Sun! Let's start completely fresh, clean slate. I decided to make an updated grid of the colors I am MOST confident of. Here it is! https://tinyurl.com/ya25z4au These are the colors that look like they belong on me & are in the direction of clearing my skin. I realized I've been figuring out my coloring these last few weeks and I've dragged you along with me for the journey. It was one big S.W., L.W., and C.W. jumble at first. I can pull off a relatively wide range of shades without it looking inherently "bad", so it took these past few weeks for me to get "an eye" for what colors really make my skin glow the MOST. (For example, of the first pics I sent you, the ones I was least confident of were the rusty-orange and the 1st yellow. They aren't bad, but they were the best I knew of at the time).

Whenever I type online, I'm always "thinking out loud" hence the lengthiness of my posts haha... It's a blessing & a curse. Hope I didn't scare you off! Of course I would still love to know your thoughts on Alicia's color group, as it seems to very similar to mine. But for now- here's colors that look good on me. And these pics have all been linked in previous msgs if you'd like to look into more detail. With this cohesive & updated "best colors" grid, hopefully you can find the common denominator between them all that I can't see! (My only notes for this grid would be what I've previously commented about the true red cami & the green strapless dress).

Thanks again for lending a listening ear,
Hana :)

Reply
Hana N.
21/10/2017 01:29:34 pm

Whoops I forgot to mention- on my grid, the square I'd say I'm least confident of would be the pink-y lips. It's a bit too dark/cool, but it's in the right direction of having some freshness. Also, I just tried on Revlon Siren (popular True Spring lippie) and WOW. I've almost become comfortable with how badly DEEP & LIGHT makeup swatch on my hand, let alone my face. This swatched so well. Siren was still a little too stark on the face, but the amount of starkness was MUCHHH lower than I'm so used to experiencing with all DEEP, most LIGHT, & many BRIGHT lipsticks. For now I'll stick to lightly applying Benefit PunchPop in Mango. But there's something about the intensity of Siren that was so much closer to being in the right family of colors. It didn't sit "atop" of my lips like usual, and it meshed REALLY well with my skin. It almost looked like the color was on me naturally, coming from within- which I've never had happen before. I just need it to be a little bit less stark. (If only I could find something inbetween the two of these lippies!) I'm so glad I'm starting to hone in on my colors though!!

Thanks again! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
7/11/2017 09:57:17 am

Hi, Hana. I only saw this after I replied above.

The Sierra lip color, could be too bright for you, as I'm a CLEAR WARM soft, which means that I have a drop of autumn in my spring colors. So, what works best for a CLEAR WARM soft, can sometimes be a bit too warm for a CLEAR WARM true. All the CLEAR WARMs look good in the colors on the CLEAR WARM chart, but the difference is which ones are their absolute best, how you combine these colors when worn, and what to use for makeup and hair colors, and what not too. So, either this just means that you're a CLEARM WARM true and therefore lighter and fresher in your best colors, or that you're a LIGHT WARM true and that lighter shades are always better. Some LIGHT WARM shades can be too dull and faded for me, even though these two color charts have a lot in common.

A CLEAR WARM and a LIGHT WARM, especially a true, is a pure spring in two different contrast levels. And being a warm group such as a spring, mens that you need to be very aware about the type of warm colors. You don't want to end up eath toned and autumn in your makeup colors, even though some earth tones can seem fresh. Same about summer colors, that also sometimes can look similar, but will be too cold. It's all about that balance, and keeping your colors light, fresh, and bright, but never bold, very saturated or too warm.

The colors you picked for the color grid of your best colors, look a lot like CLEAR WARM colors. Maybe even CLEAR WARM bright colors. That would mean that you're a bit more high contrast than Alicia Keys, but still very close.
I think this can mean that you are either a CLEAR WARM (medium contrast level, true spring), or a CLEAR WARM bright (a spring with a drop of winter in it, and a medium towards hight contrast level. Which is why bright colors look so great on them. The CLEAR WARM brights closest sister-group is the CLEAR COOL, and so it's possible to borrow from that group too.)

It looks like you're getting a lot closer to figuring this out. I hope this will help some more, and that you figure it out.

Xxx, Sun.

IDEALIST STYLE link
7/11/2017 09:59:11 am

Meant bold, not bright about the Sierra lipstick.

Xxx, Sun.

Gisela
31/10/2017 05:36:34 am

Hi Sun,

as I wrote at the Body Types I'm so glad I found your website! How do you find the time to write such perfectly researched posts including so many detailes? It's amazing! Thank you so much for all this work!

But I'm afraid I'm too dump to find myself in any group. I guess, I'm not difficult to categorize, but I'm simply not able to look at me objectively. Could you help me?
I'm neutral with a strong tendency to warm, therefore I would stick to the warm groups. I can wear both gold and silver, but gold looks much better. My natural hair color is dark blond to light brown, but it's colored to a warm golden red-blond since I'm 20. My eyes are golden-brown-green. I'm not sure about my skin color. I'm not really pale, but surely not tanned. I would say it's more yellowish, but I do have some sun damages, so I have a lot of red in the face and my cleavage. I burn very easily.
I would say, that I'm of a medium contrast level, so I would have guessed, I could be a MUTED WARM. But I feel awful in yellow. I like rich warm colours best, like chocolate brown, deep greens, deep blue. I love olive green, and at the moment I have kind of a lilac espisode. But despite the warm brown and olive green I really can't tell, if those colors really suite me.
For being a DEEP WARM I'm not "dark" enough I guess, altough I like those colors best. The SOFT WARM miss the chocolate brown and the colors look too toned down for me. On the other hand the description of this group fits best on me.
As I mentioned before, I really have a hard time in telling what suits me. May you help me? May I send you a picture of me?

I would love your help! I want't to stop buying clothes I won't wear. At the moment I learn a completely new profession and start all over again with over 40 years. So I want to concentrate on clothing that really suits me (in color and body type). Till now I had to wear "professional" clothing which was meant to be practical and easy to clean. Now I have kind of a casual dress code. It's up to me, if I decide to come in a dress or jeans and t-shirt, but whenever I wear a dress or blouse I feel overdessed, because I'm not used to it. But I would love to wear smarter clothing, and my hope is - when I'm sure about the colors and style which fits me - I can feel more confident and will enjoy my new freedom in clothing :)
(Sorry for the long post ;))

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/11/2017 12:26:49 pm

Hi, Gisela. Thank you so much for that lovely feedback.

From what you are describing, it sounds like you're a SOFT WARM deep. A neutral towards warm, wearing both gold and silver, medium contrast level, dark blonde/light brown hair, mixed eye color, yellowish tint to your skin tone. The biggest indicator is that you don't look good in yellow, as that is typical for the SOFT groups. The only kind of yellow this type can use are very faded ones. The fact that chocolate brown works well for you, is why I think you're a SOFT WARM deep, as this means that you're flowing into the DEEP WARM and can borrow some of those colors. Preferable the ones that look a bit similar to the colors on the SOFT WARM chart, and it mostly means that you can get away with a bit more than a SOFT WARM light and that you're flowing into a different direction than the light. Look at photos of Katie Holmes and Angelina Jolie, and what they look like in the color from the SOFT WARM chart, to compare with yourself. They also look great in the colors you described. Being a SOFT WARM, also means that some of the colors on the SOFT COOL chart can look ok on you. So, the SOFT WARM colors would be your best, and you can borrow some colors from the DEEP WARM and SOFT COOL charts. Which one you can borrow and not, is a little individual. In a perfect situation, everyone would get a custom color chart, with your best color and ok colors. But main colors, ok colors and not good colors are the next best thing. The SOFT WARM chart, may look a little toned down when it's all together, but if you look at the colors one by one, you will find that some of the colors are actually quite fresh. If it's still to soft for you, we will have to take a closer look. But DEEP WARM, CLEAR WARM, LIGHT WARM or MUTED WARM should all look good in yellow. Does some shades of yellow work and others not, maybe? Also, the cold groups may be an option, like SOFT COOL, as this group is also bad in yellow, can borrow colors from the SOFT WARM, and these colors are a little brighter. It's possible to look good in more colors than what appear on the color charts, as that is just a selection of colors to show what your best colors are supposed to look and feel like.

I hope this helped, and lots of good luck on your clothing hunt. Here are some posts that could maybe help you a bit more with your closet overhaul.
http://www.idealiststyle.com/fashion-advice.html

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Hana N.
10/11/2017 08:13:42 am

Cont. Part 2....

As far as natural pink lipsticks go, this is certainly in the right direction and correct family of pinks. Just a little bit too light I think.)

BAD:
-NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in "Circe" #522
-Revlon 24K Orange #706

Interestingly, Revlon Persian Melon and Revlon Love That Pink are pretty similar. But there's something about Revlon Persian Melon that makes the color sit well on my skin. It's the small differences like that which make all the difference on my skintone. I just wish I could pinpoint it!

Lastly- since discovering Alicia Keys, these are 2 more Instagrammers I've been keeping tabs on: Joyjah and Shakara Ledard. They suit those Spring shades like me, and also have a similar eye look going on. Joyah's eyes are really similar to mine. (Joyjah: https://tinyurl.com/ycsljl2w and https://tinyurl.com/yalc5oq5) (Shakara: https://tinyurl.com/y7nvffa2 and https://tinyurl.com/yb9o4dph). I've also been keeping tabs on Zoe Kravitz, though I think she wears cooler and softer/darker colors than me.

Absolutely no rush on a response! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us! You're the best!
Hana :)

Reply
Hana N.
12/11/2017 11:44:58 am

Hey! I just realized after all this time that you have an email address for your blog. Would you it be helpful if I can send you pictures of myself? I'm clearly no pro at this color analysis thing, so feel free to let me know what is easier for you! (And gets me out of your hair haha! :) Thanks again for all your help thus far!!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
19/11/2017 04:49:11 pm

Hi, Hana. Sure, do that and we can see what we can figure out. I do offer online color analysis and other analysis packages using photos over e-mail. So, send me an e-mail for starters, and we'll see what we do.

Xxx, Sun.

Hana N.
19/11/2017 10:20:09 pm

Thanks Sun! Just sent you an email!

Reply
Danielle
13/3/2018 03:00:15 am

When are you doing last color group posts? You had written somewhere that soft warm would be done last fall... Im still waiting for it. Please don't forget it.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
16/3/2018 10:31:16 am

Hi, Daniella! Thank you so much for your comment. I have not forgotten, I promise :-). There has just been some delays unfortunately. However, after getting several request like this, I have now put finishing the next one (PURE COOL) on the top of my to do list. It looks like I’ll be able to finish it by the end of this month. After that SOFT COOL and SOFT WARM are next in line. They are both half way done, but I need to do more reaserch to make sure everything is accurate :-). Thank you so much for your patience, I know it must be anoying to wait this long for your group who unfortunately is among the last to be done. Mostly because it needed the most reaserch, as I’m making my own version of the traditional color system. These posts also takes a really long time to write and to reaserch who to use for examples to make sure I include as many different looks and etnicities as possible. I hope it will be worth your wait once it’s done, and thank you so much for reading.
If you have any urgent fashion/color questions, feel free to send me an e-mail and I’ll help you out directly, since you’ve had to wait so long.
:-*

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
16/3/2018 10:37:31 am

Sorry! Danielle! My phone went all Italian on me, and autocorrected your name to Daniella.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Cara
26/3/2018 01:34:37 pm

Thank you for great site!
What would you say about Keira Knightley type?

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/5/2018 10:23:20 am

Hi, Cara. Thank you for the positive feedback :-).
I would say that Kiera Knightley, even though she looks a lot like a SOFT COOL, SOFT WARM, MUTED WARM type, she is actually a DEEP WARM soft.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Nicole
28/3/2018 05:14:23 pm

Hello Sun, quick question. I enjoyed the sneakpeek of your face shapes blog. Would you consider JLo an angular round face shape? I once saw her somewhere as an upside down diamond. My face shape is also similar to Alisha Boe and Tina Kunakey (which is scary considering Tina & I share the exact same colouring too- if you have any idea what her season is since I do not see anyone like her here on the colour blog). As for the shape- youthful but occasionally masculine, longer than it is wide, stronger jawline, flat but longer forehead, peekaboo cheekbones w/ heavy cheeks, and the nose bridge appears more prominent and "carved out". Thanks!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/5/2018 10:52:08 am

Hi, Nicole. Jennifer Lopez is very hard to type, but after looking through a ton of photos of her, I think she's just a very balanced diamond shape. When in doubt, go by what styles work best with her face. She's just one of those non dramatic versions, that start to lean towards other types, which makes her very balanced. So, she's a diamond shape, flowing towards a square face shape. The same way Olivia Munn is a diamond shape flowing towards both round and triangle shaped. Very few people are a very dramatic version of their face shape, and there are lots of variations of each type.

An angular-round face shape will be more a mix of rectangle, triangle and round. They have a larger forehead than J'lo and a heavier jaw line.

I can see the Angular-round tendencies in Alisha Boe, but her lower face is too soft, and so she is more like a round face or like some oval shaped faces, an oval flowing towards round. Beyonce is a very typical oval, but as long as you have a round face with the length of an oval and a jaw line that is more narrow than forehead and cheekbones that are the widest, it is more of an oval.

About Tina Kunakey, I couldn't find a photo of her straight on with her hair up, but she looks like she has a Square face shape, or depending on the lenght of her face if I saw all of it at the same time, maybe a rectangle. These types are all easily confused for eachother, so I can see why you would compare them. As an Angular-round myself, I've heard people tell me that I have an oval shape, round, triangle, square, reclangle and diamond shape. The angular-round is kind of like you put all of those on top of eachother, so it has a little of all of them. The angular-round is the closest to a round face, but has a lot of square, rectangle and triangle tendencies, which makes it remind you more of a diamond shape or an oval. High cheekbones, a wide jawline that is also very v-shaped (most easily seen from the side), and a large forehead. Width in that order.

I also think that Tina Kunakey, is a CLEAR WARM soft. Couldn't find photos of her in all the colors I would need to be a 100% sure, but it looks a lot like that's what she is from what I saw.

From the description of your face shape, it sounds like you could be an angular-round. It really depends on what part of your face is the widest and in what order. If your forehead, cheekbones and jaw line are pretty much equal in width, it is more likely that you are a rectangle.

I hope this helped :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Nicole
9/5/2018 02:45:08 pm

Hi Sun,

Can't say thanks enough. I really thought they were the same shape. At least 2 out of 3! I am closest to Alisha in face shape, but I'm going to say I'm Angular-Round since I feel I would've recognized oval more easily if that was my shape. Also, I checked out the Clear Soft. The colors somehow initially appeared different on Tina and I's skintone but that certainly seems like the right group now!

Also if you don't mind me asking, I saw your body shapes page as well and was wondering what would you consider Sophie Charlotte Atriz's body shape. (Whenever you have the time.) I've never seen someone with such a similar shape, except I'm 5'3 and she's 5'7. Which is not surprising considering that whenever I'm mistaken for someone in-person it is ALWAYS for women who are 5'8 or taller. I think Sophia and I may be bottom heavy versions of straighter shape, or delicate versions of a bottom heavy shape. Thanks for your reply!

IDEALIST STYLE link
12/8/2018 11:37:20 am

You're very welcome!

I found a better way of describing the Angular-Round face shape. Imagine a face that looks either oval or round, but they have a large forehead and a jaw that looks diamond shaped from the side, and alittle square/triangle like from the front without the jaw actually being as wide as the cheekbones or more. The cheekbones are the widest, the widest part of the jawline next, and lastly the forehead, without it being a dramatic difference. It's kind of soft and dramatic at the same time. This is what makes it a very interesting and special looking face shape, in the same way a diamond shape is balanced, but dramatic. So, the aim is to soften and balance the shape by not drawing too much attention to the large forehead or the dramatic jaw. If you just leave it natural, it does that it self, but bangs for example can be difficult for many with this shape. I hope this made it a lot clearer.

Also, about the colors. Colors will appear a bit different on different colors. The think to focus the most on is which colors look the best on you :-).

About Sophie Charlotte Atriz body type. I can see why you would consider the Skittle for example for her, but by the looks of her lower legs and how slender they are and how great they look with ankle straps shoes, I would say she's probably a Column. There weren't a lot of photos too type her from, but I think that is the safest assumption. She seems to be balances and straight, with slender lower legs. Column body types can have a little shape, they just don't have a lot of curve.

I hope this helped! :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Nicole
17/8/2018 02:49:20 pm

LOL clearly I'm not good at this analysis business. I keep putting people in shape categories that are close but not quite. But I am confident now that I have an angular round face shape. That description made it even clearer for me! And interesting that Sophie Atriz is a column! I can see it. I can see that for myself as well. Many of my most flattering clothing items match what you have on the Column page. Thanks! This blog has such intriguing content and a fun discussion board! I appreciate the work you put into this website!

IDEALIST STYLE link
3/10/2018 10:25:02 am

Hi again, Nicole! Thank you so much for your kind words, and I'm so glad you figured it out and where you fit in. If you want to see more of what an Agular-Round face looks like, you can just look at more photos of me (on the blog or on the Idealist Style instagram/facebook), or of Aubrey Plaza and Devon Aioki.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Robin Fowler link
2/5/2018 02:40:52 pm

I love this description and think I might finally have a handle on my personal coloring. I have always thought I was between winter/autumn, but have never been clear. I can wear black/red and white but think that I lean toward warm tones in most colors. Based on this I am pretty sure I am deep warm neutral. I can wear gold or silver (and wear both in jewelry). I have dark brown hair that is dyed with warm tones. I have dark brown/chocolate brown eyes. I tan easily and seem to have warm tones. Thanks for this detailed description.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/5/2018 11:20:26 am

Thank you so much for the lovely feedback, Robin. I'm so glad I could help :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Fayee
5/7/2018 06:09:39 am

Oh, this is a great piece of writing!
I think I've finally determined what kind of type I am....I definitely look like a 50:50 blend of Katherine Heigl and Jessica Chastain.
I can't wear true blacks or true whites btw. but I can wear both gold and silver jewelry which always confused me.

Thank you, wow, awesome!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
12/8/2018 01:22:40 pm

Hi, Fayee! Thank you so much for that lovely compliment, and I'm so glad it was helpful to you. <3

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Martha
5/7/2018 11:22:59 am

Hello. You have a beautiful blog here! Do you have any tips for a Rebecca Romijn type of soft spring? I see that your blog and Lora Alexander's "Pretty Your World" has 2 categories for soft springs. Lora Alexander's categories are Sunlit SS and Dusty SS. She has many Sunlits listed but I only resonate with Rebecca, who is the only 1 listed Dusty SS. My only good colours are the coolest or least autumn ones on your clear warm soft page. I wear warm blues, pinks, reds, light grey, turquoise, & rich or lighter yellows best. But I'm not a bright spring or winter. I considered True Spring. I recently bought a warm light-medium pinky coral shirt which was not soft. It did seem to suit me equally or a bit better than some of my softer colors which are occasionally too heavy. But I have more of a tanned skintone than the True Spring ladies you have posted, plus I don't think I'm Light Warm. Is it possible to be a True Spring only, one that doesn't flow into Light True? I see Cat Deely wears the deeper, non traditional colors of True Spring. Or perhaps, do you know of any cooler soft springs or darker true springs who are not listed here on your blog? I'm either the coolest toned soft spring ever or the deepest true spring ever!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 09:14:19 am

Hi, Martha! It looks like Rebecca Romijin is a LIGHT WARM true. I'm not familiar with Lora Alexander, but it sounds like you feel like you might be a CLEAR WARM true or soft? I think it also sounds like you might be a LIGHT WARM as you mentioned, but yes you could also be a CLEARM WARM true, and not flow anywhere. Most true types, don't actually. Have you considered being a LIGHT COOL, as a LIGHT COOL is not only a light summer, but pretty much a mix of spring and summer. Or if you are a SOFT COOL light or deep, as that summer-autumn has less autumn then the SOFT WARM. You could just be a true spring too, but it sounds like you feel like those colors doesn't fit with you perfectly either. If you are darker than the women in the post, it's just because I haven't found a CLEAR WARM true with your exact colors yet. It's still possible for you to be one. Most darker skinned CLEAR WARMS are either bright or soft, but it is not impossible to be a true. If you feel softer than a normal spring, no high contrast, but also no extra warmth, it sounds like a CLEAR WARM true or a LIGHT WARM true or neutral. :-)

I hope this helped!

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Martha
5/7/2018 04:47:21 pm

Hello again. I realize I did not give much information to go off of earlier. I tried to remember the other listed Dusty Soft Spring I saw years ago. After an hour of scouring the internet, I finally found her: Sonia Rolland. She is the reason I began to consider Dusty Soft Spring for myself years ago. But looking at her today she looks more True Spring than anything. I hope you find this helpful!

Reply
Martha
12/7/2018 03:06:42 am

Hello Sun I hope you are off to a lovely morning. Today I have found a clearer example for you. I hope I have not confused you. I am new to this type of messaging technology. These Dusty Soft Spring colors here are exactly my colors. My brighter pinks and best types of peach are at the bottom of this board on the dotted chart- https://pin.it/woy3p64inkou22 . Do these colors belong to your Light Spring Soft or are these colors the least intense, most neutral shades of Clear Warm Soft? Despite my tan skin tone and lack of blue eyes, I suit these colors slightly better than the typical intense soft spring colors. I am thinking the colors in the link are the medium colors of Light Spring- if there is such a thing as lightened medium colors! I see your exquisitely written Light Spring page description says "warm, medium to light colors". Thank you once more!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 09:44:36 am

Hi again, Martha! I checked out Sonia Rolland, and although there weren't enough photo color info online for a more accurate read, it looks like she might be a CLEAR WARM true or a CLEAR WARM soft. Also, the dusty soft spring colors on the pinterest you sent, looks a lot like a LIGHT WARM soft color palette. Very pale, but still colourful shades that are not extremely dusty again, are often too dull for a CLEAR WARM, so if very light peach and yellow and so on looks the best on you, best to look at LIGHT WARM options. If saturated and clear, saturated and bright, or saturated and dusty or extra warm is your best look then it would be one of the CLEAR WARMS. The colors on the dotted chart are definitely LIGHT WARM soft colors. A darker colored LIGHT WARM soft, will be able to look good in a lot of colors that's not their best, because of their stronger coloring. However, they will still look their absolute best in the LIGHT WARM soft colors. That's how you find out, as this type can be really hard to pin point because of the appearance of contrast when in reality there is a softness to it all. Here are the best LIGHT WARM soft looks post https://www.idealiststyle.com/blog/best-light-warm-soft-looks. I'm going to make a separate chart for all the sub-groups too eventually, so you don't see the full range of colors for the LIGHT WARM soft on the chart, but just imagine the LIGHT WARM colors all with a light dusty veil over them, and then added some warmer spring colors too, also with a dusty soft veil over them. The best colors for a LIGHT WARM soft, would be anything from dusty light mint and peach, to soft yellow, and some golden browns, and neutral light pink and so on. The LIGHT WARM is a bit colder than the CLEAR WARM to begin with, so the LIGHT WARM will pull off light blue tones better too, as the LIGHT WARM is a mix between light spring and summer. The Light Summer/LIGHT COOL and the Light Spring/LIGHT WARM are flowing into eacother, is is almost a spring-summer type. Still spring or summer first, but they are flowing into each other and have a lot of simiarities. I hope this cleared things up :-) Check out the LIGHT WARM soft and the LIGHT WARM neutral. Here's the neutral best looks post too. https://www.idealiststyle.com/blog/best-light-warm-neutral-looks

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Fotini
14/7/2018 05:15:02 pm

Greetings from Greece, I'm very happy about your post, it's the only one which actually helped me understand which colors suit me Best and how to do my makeup pop. Thank you very much! But I'd need your help please. I think I am a Clear cool,but I'm not sure about the bright part, my natural hair color is ashy light brown, but I dye them an icy platinum blonde and my eyes are brown, but I usually wear grey blue contact lesnses, my skin looks very White in Winter and spring but I turn completely black in Summer! Best colors for me are definitely A very vibrant blue, a very dark but clear green, almost all reds( Especially lipsticks), fuschia, Black's a favorite white too, I look redicoulusly funny in yellow really and orange I think, I look ok in ashy brown color and good in olive green. I could send you pictures if you wanted to.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 11:01:25 am

Hi, Fotini! Thank you so much for your kind words!
From what you are describing, it sounds like you might be a CLEAR COOL true or soft instead, as colors and combinations that would look silly on someone else, looks cool on a CLEAR COOL bright. Considering you have ashy light brown hair and brown eyes, you're most likely a CLEAR COOL true. If you feel like you have to be careful with how you combine the colors, or what lipstick color or hair color you do, even if it is on the CLEAR COOL chart, there is a chance that you're a CLEAR COOL soft instead, as this type is the coldest of the CLEAR COOL and a bit more delicate, as it is flowing into the PURE COOL.

I hope this helped! :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Martha
19/7/2018 11:42:17 pm

It is a big hit when I wear a polish by the name of Sally Hansen Coral Reef. Namasgrey of Sally Hansen. I enjoy Essie At The Barre, but it's a little too grey or too brown, perhaps a notch too dark. It is not starkly dark or wrong; I have gotten a few compliments on this colour. But there is some excess darkeness or brown in it that is unnecessary for my skin tone. This is probably a color from my sister group. And my favorite polish is Couture Curator of Essie. I don't understand why but I receive even more compliments on this colour when someone young ( with a steadier hand) helps me layer Couture Curator on top of Revlon Cardshark polish. Cardshark appears to be a whitened or lightened pink but I usually do not wear that color alone, only paired with other colours.

Reply
Queenie
26/7/2018 01:49:27 pm

Hi, I’ve truly enjoying your website. My question is age. Im67 with salt and pepper hair. Younger I was draped a dark winter who could wear brights. I have ivory skin (N) and have a gray green brown with rust eye. Hair was mousy then dark. So question is,,will I still be a deep, or soft, or warm.? I’m totally confused for when I had dark hair I could wear both warm and cool with matching makeup. Now not so sure where I fit in.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
3/10/2018 09:58:49 am

Hi, Queenie! Thank you so much for your kind feedback.
It definitely sounds like you're a DEEP COOL, which is a neutral type and can wear both gold and silver. Although silver is their best look. With age and more grey, I doubt you will go warmer, so I think you're probably a DEEP COOL true or a DEEP COOL soft. If bright pure white doesn't look good on you, you're a DEEP COOL soft. If all the DEEP COOL colors look good on you, you're a DEEP COOL true.
It could be that you've become a soft because of less saturated features, but often you can fix that with dying your hair back to it's original color. If not, being a DEEP COOL soft is lovely too. It just meant that there are some colors that won't be as great on you anymore. You're still a Winter-Autumn type, just with a bit less high contrast. Instead of pure white, you can use icy grey or a black and white print. There are many ways to make it work. You can look at the "Best Looks" post for the different types for how to combine outfits and colors for both of the types, and see which one feels the most like you.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Martha
27/7/2018 10:00:04 pm

Goodness gracious! My granddaughter and I agree these updated colors here are more accurate and undoubtedly the best representation of my best colors https://pin.it/fzhz235u3nv5vo . I've never come across so many of my best colors like this in my lifetime. Dusty Soft Spring was the closest I had found before but I was still having some issues with Dusty SS. But finally, I’ve found the colors in this new link are perfect for my skin warmth and intensity. The blues, peaches, purples, light grays, reds, and minimal browns in this link are a perfect match. These also match my best polishes I was trying to describe a few days ago. But this is driving me and my granddaughter crazy now! Simply put, these are my exact colors but what color group do these belong to in your system?! My granddaughter says to please disregard my previous Dusty SS link and my previous messages. She insists it would be more accurate and simpler if you could please take a quick look at only this new link. We cannot figure out for the life of us which group these colors belong to! I'm full of gratitude and very looking forward to hearing back! I have an upcoming blind date and I would love to understand my coloring before I go clothes shopping for my night out! Here is the link once more https://pin.it/fzhz235u3nv5vo

Reply
Martha
14/9/2018 02:57:17 pm

Hello Sweet Sun! At this point, I have determined that I'm a Clear Warm Soft flowing into Light Warm Soft. (There's a chance I might possibly be the reverse -LWS into CWS- but I at least know for certain that those are the 2 groups I flow into.)

Finally, after years of feeling isolated in my coloring... I have found a WOC who has the same clarity, lightness, warmth, and contrast as me. Her name is Stéfi Celma. My granddaughter commented that she initially looks very sharp and delicate like a summer type but you discover her warmth, light, and clarity upon further analysis. I believe Stéfi Celma is CWS flowing into LWS like me. Would love to know if you agree with my color analysis on this!

One thing though- I think I have a tiny bit of gray cast in my skintone that you mentioned in your CWS Deep description. Would that effect my ability to pull off blonde? Or... if I have a tiny bit of that gray cast does that mean it's not possible for me to be flowing into Light Warm Soft whatsoever?

Also, before now, Leslie Mann has been the closest thing to my version of a color twin or poster girl. After that Jasmine Sanders skintone and coloring is similar to mine, but she lacks the extra clarity & saturation & bit of brown that I have. It's that combination of Clear and Light that I feel is impossible to find... I've always felt a bit isolated in that way. If you have knowledge of ANY celebrities who are Clear Warm Soft flowing into Light Warm Soft or LWS flowing into CWS.... please let me know! Any ethnicity or gender! I just hate feeling so alienated in my coloring. I would love to see others who are fully Spring and Soft! Thank you again!

Reply
Martha
18/9/2018 06:54:00 pm

Oh my goodness! Morgan DeBaun is even closer to my coloring!! Amazing. Please take a look! She has the same extra-warm yellow undertone paired with clarity, lightness, and brightness- saturation to the skin/eyes! My skintone and clarity is actually closer to Leslie Mann's and the PrettyYourWorld Dusty Soft Spring Model in the yellow top (I'm closer to them more than Stefi's coloring, even though I am tan skinned). But I see Morgan DeBaun has that "soft/dusty lightness" in the skin while still being very bright skinned. And she's rather sensitive to deep colors, like myself! So estatic!! I'm also considering Roxane Gay and Monique O'Grady for CWS to LWS (or LWS to CWS)... but they're nowhere near as close to my coloring as Leslie Mann, Morgan DeBaun, and Stefi Celma!!

IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 10:36:44 am

I meant LIGHT WARM, when I wrote LIGHT COOL in the previous reply. Also, I meant chance, not change :-)

Xxx, Sun.

IDEALIST STYLE link
26/1/2019 02:57:03 am

Hi again, Martha! Sorry it has taken so long to reply. Lots of comments to reply to these days. I’m so glad I could help and what you’re writing makes me so happy to hear. I have written down the names you mentioned and will definetely check them out and add more examples of the CLEAR WARM soft ladies.

Thank you for your kind words and good tips, Xxx, Sun!

IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 10:27:22 am

Hi again Martha! I'm so glad you figured it out. The colors on the pinterest you sent now does look very spring like, and could be both CLEAR WARM soft and LIGHT WARM soft/true, depending on the rest of the colors that suits you. CLEAR WARM soft does sound very light considering you said you have similar colors to Sonia Rolland. I'm a CLEAR WARM soft too, and it is a very hard type to figure out, because there is a fine like between not warm enough, and then too warm, dusty enough, but then too dusty, and so on. The trick is to think that you best colors are spring colors that have a soft veil over them, and spring colors that look like autumn colors, but aren't because they are actually more saturated and fresh, they just look earthy. Your keywords are warm, golden, soft, and medium saturated shades. They should feel warm, look fresh, and not be too bold or too dull. This is one of the most difficult types to shop for, as these are not the typical colors brands do, so when you find your best shades in the shops buy it and slowly build your best colors wardrobe.
If you are the CLEAR WARM soft or the LIGHT WARM soft depends on how you look in the light blue shades on the light chart, as the LIGHT COOL is a little colder than the CLEAR WARM, and if the very light peach, pink, purple look the best on you, or the medium saturated ones. The right shade should blend with you, but not look dull on you. Of something looks brighter or bolder than you, or make you look a little dull, it's not right. Very light peach looks boring on me, and bright peach looks great for example, since I'm a CLEAR WARM soft. You will most likely be a CLEAR WARM because of the levels of your dark features, but the colors you look your best in will still be final decider, so anything is possible :-).
Also, Stéfi Celma looks a lot like a perfect example of a CLEAR WARM soft. I should add her to the post really, when I have the time. Thanx for the great tips. I think maybe the reason why you feel like you might be flowing into the LIGHT WARM soft too, is that a lot of darker skinned women, tend to make colors appear brighter or lighter than they are, because they have more color. For example the DEEP WARM dark often look like they're bright spring types when they wear the saturated DEEP WARM colors. Women of color just pull of color better than most, because their skin color makes everything pop more.
About the blonde, I think you could still pull it off. I'm a medium towards light skinned CLEAR WARM soft, and so my olive skin looks grey-green in the winter and blonde looks really blend on me. When I'm tanned, as I get a very dark tan color, blonde suddenly looks fresh on me. In my experience, women of color pull of blonde hair, even when they shouldn't, because of their skin color again. Even Kim Kardashian had to fake tan to pull of her golden blonde hair years ago, so a tan skin color always helps, and especially for a spring type. Just make sure you pick the right shade of blonde for your golden CLEAR WARM undertone.

I totally get why you feel like it's hard to find people with your exact coloring to compare with, and that's because the CLEAR WARM soft is a bit more rare than other types. I only find my colors on mixed heritage people. It was really hard to even find the people I used in the CLEAR WARM soft post. The main thing is to just focus on how you look in a color, to make sure it's the right for you. Even if two people are both CLEAR WARM soft, the colors will still look a little different on one person to another, so that can be confusing.
I will keep my eyes open for more people with your color combinations to add to my page, so hopefully it will be easier to find this type in the future :-)

Morgan DeBaun didn't have a lot of photos in different colors on google, so hard to be 100% sure, but she does look exactly like a CLEAR WARM soft too. I think it's a really good change that you are indeed a CLEAR WARM soft, and that these other women you mentioned too, as I too recognize myself in their coloring and how they look in certain colors. You did a very good job finding examples, and I will add these too the CLEAR WARM post as soon as I can.

I hope this helped and that it cleared things up for you :-)

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Martha
12/10/2018 10:36:32 pm

Well thank you Sun! I was not expecting so much helpful information, let alone a reply for each of my messages. That is so kind and so professional. (I'm a bit of a chatterbox in person and I notice that tends to translate into my online messaging as well :)

Your explanation made this all so much clearer. Everything you mentioned about yourself as a Soft Spring I have also experienced- glad to know I'm not crazy!

Yes- Sonia Rolland, Stefi Celma, Morgan Debaun. As well as Esperanza Spalding, Murielle Hilaire, and even Carla Hall from that ABC tv show. I have this type of color combination and lower contrast which fall under Soft Spring coloring.

I am so glad to hear that I could help grow the Clear Warm Soft page by mentioning these ladies :) Looking forward to those additions if you choose to do so; I know quite a few people who would absolutely never understand their color group if it wasn't for your website. One more Clear Warm type (of some sort) that I can reccomend checking out is Gloria Govan.

Thanks again for the amazing professional work you have put into this blog and in helping me!

Martha
19/10/2018 01:50:13 pm

Oh and I almost forgot to mention Annabelle Mandeng for Clear Warm Soft as well!

IDEALIST STYLE link
19/8/2019 04:42:09 pm

Hi again, Martha. Sorry for my late reply. There has just been so many comments that I've only now been able to get to this comment now.
I'm so glad I could help and that it all made sense to you.It makes my day when I get these kinds of lovely comments.
And yes, all the tips were very helpful. So, thank you again!
I have actually added a few of them to the Best Looks for the CLEAR WARM soft post. At the bottom of it.
I will definitely check out Gloria Govan too. Thank you so much!

Xxx, Sun.

Natasya Situmorang link
10/8/2018 12:34:14 am

Hello there Sun! 🤗💝💖❤. I have dark brown/black hair {depends on how your eyes see my hair colour}, dark brown eyes and fair skin with reddish undertone. All counts to cool undertones plus high contrast equals winter. I'm not sure whether I'm a deep cool or clear winter. You may want to look at the pictures of my face 😀😊. Thank you so much for your help! 💙💚💛.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
3/10/2018 10:08:01 am

Hi, Natasya! :-) A good way to figure out if you're a DEEP COOL, which is a Winter-Autumn, or a CLEAR COOL, which is a true winter, is to test the warmer looking shades on the DEEP WARM chart and see if it looks good on you. Especially the orange and chartreuse green shade, and try and see if both gold and silver work on you or not.
Another test to see if you're deep or clear, is to do a goth look and see if it looks very goth or just like a normal makeup look on you. Only a DEEP COOL can wear a goth makeup look with dark eyeshadow and dark lips, and still look calm and somewhat natural in it. Even a high contrast CLEAR COOL will look goth in such a deep colored makeup look. Try dark grey or black eyeshadow and a very deep red lipstick to get the right look. Then you can see if you look your absolute best in clear and pure colors, or if deep and dark colors look the most natural on you. You best colors will blend with your natural ones and not draw attention away from you, or make you look dull and drab.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Mel
26/9/2018 06:45:30 pm

Wow! So many options, and I cannot choose which category I am. I often have issues with cool versus warm, and people usually label me a middle of the road "neutral". I had bright blonde hair as a child, then it became dirty blonde, and now it's very dark neutral/ashy blonde. My eyebrows are fairly dark but thin. I sometimes even use a soft black pencil to fill them. My eyes were blue as a child, and now they're green/hazel but still show blue if I'm wearing certain colors, and they have a slight warmth around the iris. My skin has always been light neutral ivory but has changed to almost light olive over the years. I have lots of yellow in my skin. I burn easily, then it turns to tan. I know people respond very well to me in cornflower blue, but I'm not even sure what else. I like wearing black, but maybe it's actually too stark.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
2/10/2018 10:49:03 am

Hi, Mel! From your description it sounds a lot like you're one of the neutral groups. Probably SOFT COOL light to deep, or maybe even SOFT WARM. If you're a SOFT COOL deep, soft cool colors are your best, but getting away with darker colors is not very difficult for this type either. Black is not the best color, but most people can pull it off if they focus on making sure they have the right hair color and makeup, to balance it with.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
konstadina Ioannidou link
12/10/2018 12:34:40 am

i cannot understand my skin contrast. i believe i am cool tone .silver is best on my skin. could you please help me. i went to an analyst colour and she told me that i am summer. but i dont believe it. maybe autumn or winter. but deep winter or deep autumn. please help me.

Reply
konstadina Ioannidou link
12/10/2018 12:53:52 am

i believe that i am a deep winter because of colours and because i look auful on blonde hair. my only problem is that black colour is not one of my bests. just blue dark.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
26/1/2019 03:19:18 am

Hi, Konstadina!

From what you’re describing, it sounds like you might be a SOFT COOL deep. You look your best in silver, you feel like you might be a winter or an autumn tone yet you have been typed as a summer, you don’t suit blonde hair. You don’t look good in black, but dark blue is great. All these alle typical traits of a SOFT COOL deep. A SOFT COOL deep is a summer with a drop of autumn in it and a deep colored look which makes them often appear like a either a deep winter, clear winter or deep autumn. This means that just like a DEEP COOL, you are a neutral group and a cold toned group with a drop of autumn in you. Only istead of a winter-autumn you’re a deep summer-autumn.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Brianna
12/11/2018 07:42:20 am

This system is so amazing! I love it! I always had trouble trying to figure out the "four seasons" thing and never really felt I fit into any of the categories. Your system makes so much more sense to me.
Is it possible to be three categories?
For instance, I feel I may be: clear-cool-soft, pure-cool-clear, and soft-cool-clear.

I have medium to dark brown hair that is both ashy and golden at times. My skin is medium beige with a slight yellow/orange overtone but my undertone is cool neutral. My eyes are gray/blue/green(they change when I wear certain colors). My overal contrast is medium.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
26/1/2019 03:33:48 am

Hi, Brianna! It sounds like you might be a neutral group, SOFT COOL deep, as you have a yellow tone to your skin even though you’re mostly cold. If you look your best in silver, but gold should be ok? You feel like you might be a soft wiinter or a hight contrast summer. Guessing the soft cool clear was meant to be soft cool deep? So you’ve aldo guessed that one. These sound like typical traits of a SOFT COOL deep. A SOFT COOL deep is a summer with a drop of autumn in it and a deep colored look which makes them often appear like a either a deep, clear, or pure group. The SOFT COOL light, will usually look a bit more like a PURE or LIGTH group. This means that you are a neutral group and a cold toned group with a drop of autumn in you, a deep summer-autumn. This can often look like a darker summer or a softer winter. It all comes down to which of the colors on the charts look good on you. Are some earthy tones good? That means SOFT COOL deep. Are summer colors and soft prints in these colors the best on you? That means PURE COOL clear. Are high contrast bright colors and icy colors the best on you? That means CLEAR COOL soft. I know one CLEAR COOL soft with the same features as you, but she knows for sure she looks her best in bright and cold colors.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
N.L.
9/1/2019 07:09:02 am

Any thoughts on Zendaya’s body shape? I didn’t realize how much I had given up on understanding my own body shape until I saw her in Allure Magazine with substantial curve. After having seen her as skinny with extreme pin legs before (combo of very long + very thin legs). I have similar upper body as well. I don’t see any other celebs with that shape but it’s the same as mine!! The combination feel rather uncommon.

Additionally, is she a type of spring/summer mix?

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
5/6/2019 07:03:15 am

Hi, N.L. Zendaya is a very slender Cornet. Many Cornets can have curve too, just look at Naomi Campbell, they just have a different type of curve. Usually they will have shoulders as their widest part, small to medium chest depending on their body weight, a long and slender waist, and the curve will usually happen as a thigh thing. The Cornet is an athletic looking body type, so they often have strong legs too. If they have a very large chest, it starts to become a Goblet. If theres a lot of thigh and hip curve without lower legs, than it's time to start looking at the Cello or Vase. With lower legs being heavy, then look at the Skittle. A Cornet will usually stay a Cornet no matter the weight and very slender bodies can be hard to type because you can't really tell where the muscle and fat goes. However, in Zendayas case, I think she is a Cornet. It could sound like you're a very slender or fit Cello, if not the same as Zendaya.

Zendaya also looks like she's a DEEP WARM. She looks amazing in warm red, peach, dark brown, rust, olive green and so on. Black is still good on her. Light blue and light pink does nothing for her, and bright pink is the same. The lighter blue that looked good was a little more periwinkle and not as pale. So that points heavily to DEEP WARM.
A DEEP WARM with dark skin will often feel a little spring like, because they make colours pop in the same fresh and sunny way. The same way about the summer mix feel. A DEEP WARM is a neutral the same way a SOFT WARM/COOL (summer mixes) are neutral, and have a summer autumn combination with deep as a possibility too. So I can totally see why you would think that, and had to check it myself to be sure, as she does have that look. I've seen many CLEAR WARMS (spring) that look like her at first glance especially. When I looked at her in many different colours, I found that is a DEEP WARM though (A deep autumn with a drop of winter. Also a neutral and mixed group). So good eye :-)

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Jasmine
23/1/2019 05:02:15 am

Hi sun ^^" Its' me.
Finally you made the armochroma analysis <3 <3 <3
Your is the most original and complete. You use natural elements instead of always seasons that you've appointed only at the beginning ^^ and no one thought about it <3 really.

If is not a disturbance for you can I ask you about my skin undertone strangeness? Thanks n.n^

My undertone is REALLY yellow, but not as we can consider yellow peaches skin, golden skin, beige etc... But...yellow...for real.
For this reason I have serious difficulties to wear right colors or do right hair colors, cause almost all colors makes difficulties to look good with my undertone.

The worst colors are: White, Light grey, Red, cornflower blue (or something like that).

The colors that makes me appear like Marge Simpson are: All purples, all violets and bright blue.

The colors that makes me appear grey are: Dusty colors especially cools.

The colors that stand out the shadows on my skin are: All browns.

The colors that make me appear pale are: bright orange, bright bold yellows and black.

The worst hair color I ever done is : 5.54 mahogany coppery light brown...not for copper...for mahogany. This color is considered a color that suits all skin undertones for his "neutrality" but on me is the worst color that I can take. My skin turn into a greeinsh bright yellow. Is horrible!!

I have hair color elastic swatches, and I try: Reddish copper, Blue-black, Black, light golden blonde, Light ashy blonde, bright red hair and a sort of coppery caramel hair.
The one that make me appear healthy is light golden blonde, but it's even too light or too bright ( <--maybe ) for me, but If I lower the tone (For ex. from 8.3 to 5.3) it become brown, and as I said before emphasizes some shadows.

The best color that I've found between at least among 50 colors, are 3.

Green: No too electric but bright, not pastel, with hints of yellow and light blue in it.
Light blue: A little bright tends to bold pastel, sort of cyan blue
or scuba blue.
Yellow: sort of bright yellow, a little tends to pastel, light but
tends to medium tone. Not has got hints of green or orange.

I Think that's all for now ^^ Thanks a lot if you'll answer me <3 If not, it's okay, I'm already grateful to you, 'cause you helped me enough <3 hugs Jasmine (>^^)> <(^^<)



Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
31/7/2019 12:16:24 pm

Hi, Jasmine :-)! Just saw your comment here. I will continue the reply on our other message thread. ;-). But good to add this info too. Just a lot of comments to comb through here on the blog, so I often take a while to reply here.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Mascha
8/3/2019 06:31:09 am

I'm unsure whether I am light cool soft or soft cool light. Please plan to do soft cool soon to help me decide :)

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
14/4/2019 11:40:54 am

Hi, Masha! I'm very sorry the SOFT groups aren't posted yet, but there has been some problems with the web page I'm using through weebly.com a long time now, so it will still be a little while before these problems with the layout is fixed and I can start posting elaborate posts as color analysis post again. The three remaining posts will be posted though and are not far from ready to be posted! I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better answer.
If you test if the LIGHT COOL or the SOFT COOL colors look the best on you that is really the most important thing. A good test is to start with figuring out it blonde hair looks great or kind of bad on you. If platinum blonde hair looks bad on you, that is a big point towards SOFT COOL. You may notice that even the blonde SOFT COOL lights usually do highlights or ombre blondes and keep it a little more dirty blonde. This is because it usually clash with the slightly warmer and hint of autumn skin tone of the SOFT COOL.
I hope this helped a little :-)

Xxx, Sun!

Reply
Al Richards
14/4/2019 08:33:35 am

Your system is very interesting, and in parts more easy to identify with than many others. HOWEVER, it would all be a lot easier still if you got the palettes and their descriptions sorted out - at present they are all totally mixed up. It has been like this for over a year now!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
14/4/2019 10:00:56 am

Hi, Al Richards! Thank you for your message and letting me know, as this is the first I've heard of this issue. Do you mind me asking where it looks mixed up? If it's this post only, I've tried to look at it from different devises and it looks normal on a computer. However, I found that some things looked a bit mixed up on my phone. So, as it's normal on the website on a computer, it looks like it might be a problem with the mobile view of the website I'm using. So, hopefully it will look they way it should if you use a computer or ipad. I will do some tweeks and see if it helps the mobile view, and if not I will contact the website I'm using and get them to look into it so they can fix it. There was a problem with the website I'm using about 6-8 months ago and it could possibly be from that, as I've had to go through every post I've ever posted and fix them all manually to get the layout back to normal. So, it's probably due to that. If you see other posts that has a weird or messy layout, it's because I haven't gotten through all of them yet.
Again, thank you so much for letting me know, and please let me know if you see any other issues like this. I would be most grateful, so I can put the posts worst affected on the top of the to do list. Hopefully, most of this page looks back to normal by now though. One more thing. You say it's been like this for a year, do you mean that figuratively or literally? As the only website problem I'm aware of happened about 6-8 months ago. If it's been like that for longer, that would be great to know.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
SugarRush
9/6/2019 02:16:24 pm

Hi Sun, thankyou so much for the content on your site! It is super helpful and so detailed!

Im indian, so darker skin and black/brown hair but hazel/golden eyes. What i wanted to know is whether any colour hair would make my eyes pop more? Whether i need a cooler/ ashy tone hair because i think sometimes too warm rich shade is too much?

I have figured im a deep warm palette, gold is deinitely better although silver is ok. I do well with high contrast tomato reds deep chocolate brown, black but also magenta pink can work well. I also love orsnge but cannot find a shade of yellow i like.

If you have any suggestions on hair colour to make my eyes stand out id be happy to hear. Thankyou so much!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
14/10/2019 02:07:22 pm

Hi, Sugarrush! Thank you so much for your kind words. That makes me so happy to read.

To make eye colour pop you would want to use contrast and complimentary colours. Since you're a DEEP WARM, a warm or neutral hair colour will be the best, and then use an undertone that is the closest to the opposite/complimentary colour. However, since your eye colour is golden hazel, it's best to stick to regular contrast and rather reflect. Green eyes pop with red hair, but if you don't want purple or blue hair, that won't work here. You can use those colours for eyeshadows though.

How warm or neutral your hair should be varies to your skin undertone. If it's olive you want to go more brown/mahogany/caramel shades and less very blonde and red/copper. For very dark natural hair and skin, and ombre is a very good way of blending your natural and still getting some lighter contrast and reflection in there.

It sounds like a neutral shade is better on you than a very warm one, as you write you feel warm can sometimes be too much. This also probably mean that you have one or two undertones that are neutral and not all warm. (darker skin tones usually have two undertones).
A Deep Warm is already a neutral group, as it's a high contrast autumn with a drop of winter in it, so that means that mahogany, auburn, coffee, neutral brown, chocolate shades and so on is your best middle way. Not ashy or icy, and not warm and coppery, but a mix or warm and cold.
Mahogany is a neutral shade or red for example, and often great on DEEP types on both sides. Chocolate, coffee, and golden brown, are also great not too warm shades for a neutral type. A golden brown hair colour can almost look blonde on dark skin, so an ombre like that could reflect the gold in your eye colour and that way bring them more out. If you rather want the contrast pop method, do a dark chocolate or coffee to add a little warmth, but still keep it close to natural.

Without seeing you myself, I can't give very specific advice. I still hope this helped though. I would recommend to find a celeb with a similar DEEP WARM colouring (maybe Olivia Munn, as she has golden hazel eyes and black/dark brown hair, or someone with darker skin to get an even better fit), and see if you can find photos of them in different hair colours to see which look you like. Also a good way to see what not to do. Celebs often try so many different colours that they often have many good examples to look at.

If you go to a hair dresser or buy box dye from a good place, they will know what makes a neutral hair colour and not warm or cold. It's all colour codes, so the colour code tells you what colours are in the mix down to the undertones.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Melina
17/8/2019 08:42:01 pm

Hola! Thank you for this system, Ms. Sunniva! I subconsciously always knew I way outside of the typical color seasons, so I never even stop to deal with those systems because I always knew it was wayyy off. But your blog is on point!!!! Lol, I’ll fight anyone who disagrees! I think the number of mixed race and minority commenters you have in the comments here (and minorities on your color season pages) is a testament to that! Meanwhile, I’m waiting for other color analysis “professionals” to realize that black and minority springs exist... anyways, I do have a question: I am more than confident that I am a clear warm soft, and my secondary coloring is light warm soft. But I would say my contrast level is a tiny bit higher than Dominique Reighard’s contrast level. Is that possible according to your system? Or is the contrast level less determinative of season than the skin undertone?

You hit the nail on the head when you said “you don’t have to be redhead or FAIR skinned to be a Light Warm Soft” as you introduced Jasmine Sanders on the light spring page. I’m not someone who necessarily comes across as light (I am lighter skinned compared to others of my race, but not predominantly or inherently light). And I’ve also seen other black/mixedrace people who are fairer skinned than me. But at the end of the day, it truly comes down to what colors work best on my skintone. So technically speaking, for colors to “work” on me and make my skin look healthy, it either needs to be a clear warm soft color or a warm & soft color with an actual LIGHTNESS to it (not just a pale color which is better suited for fair skinned autumns). Also- I’ll see black or mixedrace people who are fairer skinned than me but there is a shallowness to their eyes & an amber look to their skin, whereas there is a lightness & brightness to mine instead. To be honest, I didn’t realize how much lightness was in my skintone until I saw a video clip of Sasha Lane and every commenter was confused of her race because of her skintone (compared to me, Sasha looks deep skinned)! At that time, I only knew I was a Soft Spring- honestly I just assumed I was a Soft Spring that flowed into Autumn because all the other mixedrace and medium skinned women flowed into Autumn. But it was at that point that I realized that I might need consider light warm soft as my second season.

Anyways... my skintone is between medium and medium-deep, with a neutral peach to yellow/honey/golden undertone. The only descriptor I can really think of for my skintone is tan... just straight up tan. Maybe caramel tinged? But oftentimes, caramel is too dark/cooltoned or too red. Tan is more accurate. Naturally, my skin color sometimes appear very Cheeto orange-y in a Donald Trump kinda way LOL. Except Donald Trump does spray tans but I am naturally this way. So when I choose colors to wear, I must choose the right color to avoid looking too orange or getting washed out. Most people call my eyes a true brown, but really they are more of a medium to medium-deep hazel brown. My eyes are always changing color and a wide range of colors. At its darkest, my eyes are a crisp deep brown like the dress here (tinyurl.com/y4atv438)... to a warm true brown... to a light-ish glowing green undertone... to a grey navy-indigo blue like the shirt here (tinyurl.com/yx9w5fcg). My natural hair is black-brown like the dress color here (tinyurl.com/yxv832uf), but it’s shocking how many people assume my caramel-ish blonde highlights are completely natural.

I read through almost all the comments here on this blog and I did find alot of helpful info. Of the people I saw mentioned in the comments, I would definitely say that the people who’s coloring matches mine the very most is Alicia Keys and Jasmine Sanders. Also, Madeline Mantock and Christina Caradona are very similar to my coloring too. (The commenter above who mentioned Sonia Rolland and Carla Hall are actually pretty close too but not NEARLY as close as those first four women I mentioned though.)

Otherwise, I’ve come only come across people who “kinda” have my coloring or my skintone. For example, Mandy Moore, Keanu Reeves, and even Adele and Anne Chapelle’s coloring are fairer skinned versions of my coloring. Zoe Kravitz, Ashley Moore, and Indira Scott are more deep/shaded and different undertone than me, but they’re non-Springs who are somewhat similar to my overall look and coloring. Lastly, I would say Halle Berry, Suleka Mathew, Kirby Griffin, and maybe even Jasmine Tookes are deeper skinned “versions” of my coloring. But again- Alisha Keys, Jasmine Sanders, Madeline Mantock, and Christina Caradona are the absolute closest matches to my coloring that I’ve seen in my entire life!

I hope all of this made sense! Haha :) So, overall, I have 2 questions. Question 1.) Is it possible to be a Clear Warm Sof

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
18/8/2019 10:46:27 am

Hola, Melina! You comment made me so happy, because this is exactly why I made this new system. I never fit in, my sister didn't fit in, and soooo many mixed or people of color never fit in traditional systems. So I really wanted this color system to include everyone.

So to your questions. It is entirely possible to be a darker skinned LIGHT WARM soft, and you absolutely sound a lot like a CLEAR WARM soft. Skin undertone is the part that determine if you're warm, cold, or neutral, and you definitely sound warm toned. The contrast level is what determine if you are a high contrast color type or a medium or low. From what you're writing it sounds that you really have a very good grasp of color analysis and what a low contrast darker toned person looks like. It's exactly like you say, a lower contrast on darker colors. And yes, it's all about what colors are your best. What you look like is just a way to try and place the different types to make it easier to find yourself.

You sound like you're for sure a spring type, so the question for you is if you're sure you're extra warm and soft like a CLEAR WARM soft or LIGHT WARM soft. Or maybe you're actually a LIGHT WARM tru, neutral, or bright? And that's why you feel like a soft. So a soft is the warmest of the springs, because there is a little autumn in there. So the best colors are spring colors that come off a little autumn like. The LIGHT WARM and CLEAR WARM in general are just higher and lower contrast spring, so more or less best in typical lighter or brighter spring colors. The CLEAR WARM bright again, is flowing into the CLEAR COOL, so it has a drop of winter in it. But yes, you can definitely be a CLEAR WARM soft, flowing into the LIGHT WARM soft.
A thing to consider is if the LIGHT WARM colors are the best on you, or if CLEAR WARM colors just appear lighter on you, as people of color wear colors better than anyone and make them feel brighter and fresher than on a light skinned person. This is why a DEEP WARM dark looks like a CLEAR WARM bright when wearing their best and most colorful and bright DEEP WARM colors. So, it's either an illusion or just that you are such a low contrast darker tone that the LIGHT WARM delicate colors are your absolute best. The CLEAR WARM soft is often lower contrast people of color actually, as it has that medium contrast level, warmth, and looks best in fresh spring colors.
This type can also often be a SOFT WARM/COOL deep, but as you describe your eyes with a brightness, I would say it sounds more like a spring than a summer-autumn mix vibe.

I looked at Sasha Lane, and she does have a very similar best colors to Alicia Keys, just even lighter. She has a very similar skin tone to me too, and so she would at first glance look like a perfect CLEAR WARM soft, but because she looks so amazing in the very light pink and yellow it is also extremely possible that she is a LIGTH WARM soft too. So thanx for that tip. I will look more closely at her and add her the next time I do a post about the sub-groups.

The fact that you describe yourself as feeling orange sometimes and that the caramel tone is too red, is also a very good indicator of you being warm toned. I look orange with black hair, because black hair is a cold color and cold colors can make warm skin tones look very yellow or orange.
Easily feeling washed out in the wrong colors is also a very good point for soft and light color groups and a lower contrast level than it may appear at fist glance.
From how you describe and show your coloring and the fact that blonde hair or highlights look natural on you, also fits perfectly with your observations of your color group(s).

The answer to question one about if you can be a CLEAR WARM soft, is 100% yes. You sound like the perfect fit. If you can flow into LIGHT WARM soft, also a 100% yes. Although more likely you're a CLEAR WARM soft that just makes colors look like they're on a LIGHT WARM soft is your contrast level is a little higher than Dominique Reighard. If you're just darker than Dominique, but total sum lower contrast, then again 100% yes.

Question two, about other CLEAR WARM softs, I have actually found some more. Here are the list I've made for the comming CLEAR WARM soft sub-group post. Stefi Selma, Morgan Debaun, Amisha Patel, Tina Kunakey, Dominique Reighard, Sunniva Korsnes, Mandy Moore, Lauren Conrad, Leslie Mann, Marcia Cross. So, yes mostly found more people of color because of lots of great tips from readers here. I've actually come to think that mixed-race and lower contrast people of color might actually the biggest demographic for the CLEAR WARM soft.
You can see their photos at the bottom of this post: https://www.idealiststyle.com/blog/best-clear-warm-soft-looks

The LIGHT WARM soft no, but Sasha Lane might be a good candidate for that next to Jasmine Sanders. I just need to make sure that she is indeed a LIGTH WARM soft and not CLEAR WARM soft first.

I hope this helped and answered your que

Reply
Melina
22/8/2019 08:56:00 pm

Hi Sunniva! I just noticed that I did not hit reply on my last message. I accidentally created a new thread instead. Sorry about that!

So I’ve been thinking.. I MUST have a secondary group or I wouldn’t be so adamant about it. Instead I decided to gather all of my best colors and assess the themes and differences- now I’m getting somewhere! Creating this folder helped me visualize and brought more clarity to me. I am going to follow suit of the previous commenters and share a personal link with you. Here is a folder with a range of flattering shirt colors which I have taken photos and screenshots of... https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/101_sLyEhdMOZe3z_bFn6-iaeMaoUV8mU

I tried to put them in order from my best colors to least amazing colors- but all of these colors in this folder still suit me very much. So the list starts with what I believe are Clear Warm Soft colors (and some other Clear Warm colors), but then the color theme gradually transitions into another color group. That theme of non-Clear Warm photos in the folder are either Soft Warm Deep, Muted Warm Clear, or Light Warm Soft- I just can’t figure it out! If you can identify the colors here, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

Thanks again x100! Melina

Melina
28/9/2019 09:47:22 am

Good afternoon, sweet Sun! I noticed it’s coming up on 2 months since we last talked. In light of our previous discussion (which was rather quick paced and consisted of replies within days of each other)... I’m worried I may have offended you by sharing my personal link in my last message. I can see how that might’ve have been out of line, and I want to apologize if that is that case. You have already helped me so much and I am grateful for that alone!

Sincerely, Melina

IDEALIST STYLE link
28/9/2019 09:15:38 pm

Hi, Melina! Oh, don’t worry, all is well. I just have so many comments to reply to that it can sometimes take me a while to reply. Especially if it’s questions that needs a little thinking and focus. :-) I always want to make sure I have the time to read and answer everything properly, so I can give the best and most helpful answers possible. I have reply to comments days where I only do that, so it can often be some months in between and before I get through all of them. I try to do them somewhat chronologically, so people won’t have to wait too long. So some times I’m all caught up and reply fast to new ones, and sometimes a bit behind. So, I’m just a little behind right now, but I’ve seen your comment and I save all the notifications so I remember to reply.

When I saw this comment today I thought I should put replying to this on the top of my pile, as I don’t want you to feel bad or like you did something wrong.
Everything is ok, and it will just take me a little while longer to reply, so that I can give it the attention it deserves and give you a good answer. I have reply to comments on my current to do list, so I will hopefully get to it soon.

Xxx, Sun

Melina
17/8/2019 08:43:17 pm

.... I hope all of this made sense! Haha :) So, overall, I have 2 questions. Question 1.) Is it possible to be a Clear Warm Soft who flows into Light Warm Soft, if my contrast level is a little bit higher than Dominique Reighard’s contrast level? Question 2.) Have you analyzed or identified any other Clear Warm Soft -to -Light Warm Soft people besides Leslie Mann? Especially any black, Latina, minority, or mixed race ones! ... Thanks so much!!

Reply
Melina
18/8/2019 01:29:32 pm

Thanks for your response! You provided so much insight- I’m am now 100% confident that I am Clear Warm Soft. I can definitely see myself having that “illusion” effect as you mentioned. I really don’t suit autumn colors outside of the spring versions of autumn colors though... so maybe I am truly a Clear Warm Soft with no suitable secondary season. I’ve heard people only belonging to one color group, with no flow into other seasons.

So glad I was able to contribute by mentioning Sasha! You might like to take a look at Rose Bertram and Jenna Frumes too- they look like light neutrals (or light trues) to me. This brings me to another question (last one I promise :) Considering what you mentioned about Sasha Lane possibly being a LWS, would you say in that case that Sasha Lane is technically lower contrast than Dominique Reighard? Because I would be inclined to say that Sasha is darker than Dominique, but I now know that contrast makes a big difference as well.

I’m happy to have someone I can talk to about these details of color analysis - I’m not exactly a color season newbie but I do have room for improvement to learn! You’re so knowledgeable and informed, plus you write in a way that makes it easy to understand. You should consider selling your services! Thanks again, Sunniva!

Reply
Melina
29/9/2019 01:19:19 pm

Hi Sun. I understand now- that is a relief to hear! Thank you for saying that. I appreciate it. After reading your reply, I’ve just decided to upload an image of what I consider the best looks on Sasha Lane (colorwise, contrast wise, and style wise). I’m hoping this will save you the time and energy of having to heavily research her on your end. She has a similar enough coloring to me that I was itching to research her... especially after I had that “aha” moment upon first seeing her on Youtube. So basically I’ve seen her in alot of photos/colors at this point LOL :) She’s definitely a soft spring type and I can see a theme to her looks, I just don’t know which one it falls under. Maybe both. Hoping this helps! Best wishes, Melina

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
27/5/2020 03:28:47 pm

Hi, Melina! I'm so sorry you have waited so long for a reply. I just noticed that the reply I wrote last fall, about a month after my last comment here, never posted. My cat stepped on the button on the plug for my computer and turned the power off, but it looked like it had posted when I checked, and I now just saw it didn't. So something weird happened in that incident.
Unfortunately I don't remember everything I wrote that many months ago. All I remember that it was a very long reply, so that's a bummer.
Now given it's been that long, you have probably gotten a bit further in you search and have different questions. So if the reply I'm writing doesn't cover it everything you asked, could you please just specify what you wanted to know over again. So I don't miss anything. As well what we have concluded so far if that could help, as the two threads of comments we have got me a bit confused about where we were at in your analysis now and what we have already figured out. From what I gather now, you're sure that you're a CLEAR WARM soft. Also, Sasha Lane, yes seems lower contrast than Dominique Reighard. Her colouring is a bit softer and more muted, even though it actually looks darker. So it's actually deeper. Which could make it bolder or softer, depending on if it's a main colour type or a sub group trait. It's less bright for sure. I just can't see enough photos of her in different colours to be completely sure about her colour group, other than that it's warm.
To make an example of how this can work. Blue eyes and blonde hair can sometimes be in a higher contrast group, because their features put together gives of a strong and bright look. It could be anything from a light eye colour with a strong outer line around the iris, that makes them piercing. Like many CLEAR WARM bright and CLEAR COOL bright have. Compared to a softer line around the iris and and eye colour that is deeper and kind of gows inward isntead of shining outwards. Kind of like softs usually have. Both light, medium,and dark eyes can do this. Same with hair and skin. Both dark and light skin can be both bold and bright and calm and soft. It's all about undertones. Black hair can sometimes actually be like a super dark ash tone, so it has that same softness to it. So look for the ash tones, or the warm version of that like a warm brown that also softenes. It's like someone turned the hue/saturation down on a colour, instead of it feeling like it's coming out towards you it's absorbing instead.This s what lowers a contrast level, even if seemingly dark.
You can also be kind of both bright and soft looking, and that usually means that you're in a medium level. All in all your colours should never become less visable or appear muted in a good for you colour. So if a bold colour steals the attention from you, it's too strong. If it makes you look dull, it's usually too soft or light. It's all about finding colours that have the same intensity as the colours you have combined.
I hope that made sense, and not cofused you instead.
But that's at least how light, dark, medium is not the only decider, but undertones also take a part in deciding by how they either turn that light, medium, or dark look into something bold, bright, and piercing, or calm, delicate, muted and soft.

I hope that answered your question. And if I forgot to reply to anything, or missed something please just ask again.
I hope you're doing well and staying safe, and again sorry for the long wait.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Melina
28/5/2020 12:54:50 pm

Hi Sun! No worries. Considering the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic that has hit us, I’m just glad to see you are staying healthy during this time! Thanks so much for your reply- I didn’t realize color analysis was so detailed! There’s so many factors to coloring, & your reply really helped me understand contrast better. There’s been so many instances where I see someone who is a warm soft season like me. They technically have a eye, hair, & skin color of the same depth as me, yet we will have differing contrast levels. My eyes definitely have the very clear going-inward look as you describe. My hair is deep but not very prominent against my skintone- despite my hair being multiple shades darker than my skintone. The contrast difference between Dominique & Sasha that you explained is also very eye opening.

I do have 3 questions remaining from my original post, if you don’t mind. You totally don’t have to answer these. You shared so much insight already in your response! Here goes... Question 1: from the link I sent in my previous message with colors numbered best to worst (towards the bottom of my link here: tinyurl.com/yc7pwz8q). Is it evident which season I am flowing into or does it appear I’m not flowing into any other season? Also if you spot any common themes to my best colors #1 - #15 (such as bright, very soft, dark/light, saturation) I would love to hear your thoughts on it. ... Question 2: You mentioned CWS needs a little contrast (so if you have peach undertone, peach colors might look a little dull on the skintone compared to salmon, etc). Honey is harder for me to pull off. Rose colors are hit or miss. Peach works sometimes- white based peaches work best. In general I notice that light almond nudes, medium mauve nudes, medium to deep cinnamon, corals, warm to neutral pinks, and orange-based colors are my best colors. Also I pull off crisp warm white, very light gray, apricot, & medium-deep teal better than one would expect from looking at my coloring. Which confuses me because I thought looking great in white was more of a winter thing. White brightens my skintone & brings out my tan skin in a glowing way, but on other CWS people white overpowers or is too cool on them. Do the colors I mentioned indicate that I’m more neutral than average CWS or does this mean something about my contrast level? ... Question 3: I’ve had this lifelong issue of always looking slightly grayer than others & also looking ORANGE compared to others but I don’t understand why. I was so relieved when I saw you mention true springs commonly having this “orange” issue too, but I’m confused why I have this same issue when I’m a CWS? I’m starting think it has something to do with how much color I have on my face. I have a more neutral eye & hair color. But my skin is a gold color & though my lips are not super pigmented or contrasting... they are a very saturated orange/coral/peachy nude color. Also I’m not as quite as pale as Jorja Smith but I do get washed out easily like her and I benefit from sharper colors that clear my skin (much like paler/fairer skinned people do). So I’m tan but I do have some delicacy if that makes sense? Mac Laissez Faire lipstick & Mary Kay’s Ripe Watermelon blush is about as “pale” as I can go. Yet lipsticks like Bobbi Brown’s Crushed lip color in the shade “Cabana” (tinyurl.com/ycz9ub6a) reads as EXTREMELY peachy & unnatural on most people but on me it looks like a very natural everyday color that brightens my skin. ... This Cheeto orange-ness to my coloring (very similar to Donald Trump’s orange-ness 🤣) has always made me feel a little alienated. People have commented on my orange-ness before, and my coloring makes it hard & less enjoyable for me when I shop at beauty departments. It’s always a long process, until I explain to the beauty department employee that I must pick oranger than expected colors in order for them to translate as the intended or desired color on my skintone. It like a magic trick to them! Then when we finally start finding colors that look good on me, they employee literally ALWAYS say, “this might look crazy but... I think this might actually work on you”! Similarly, EVERY time I color my hair, the hairdresser is taken aback by how golden my hair naturally pulls when my natural hair color is being lifted. I’ve even had a color turn out bad because the hairdresser didn’t expect for my hair to lift so golden tone (so the color mix formula they used skewed the intended color). ... I know I just ranted so much lol. I’ve come to accept my visibly atypical coloring, but I would just like to know the reason behind why my skin looks & reacts to colors so different compared to almost everyone else. I want to say thanks so much for your help, Sun. It’s helping heal deeper wounds than you reali

Laurel
12/2/2020 01:02:25 pm

Great article! I still am uncertain where I fit in, but am leaning towards Pure Cool Soft. To help me decide, can you think of a celebrity who fit this description? Thanks so much!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
15/10/2020 08:54:56 pm

Hi, Laurel! Thank you so much :-).
The two examples I have for PURE COOL soft, in my PURE COOL post (that is not yet posted. Very sorry to keep the PURE COOL's waiting this long). Is Elisabeth Hurley and Karly Loyce.

Here's a little of the description part for the PURE COOL soft, from the not published PURE COOL post. It's not finished and edited yet, but this way you can get a better sense of the type and some more info.

PURE COOL soft, (Elisabeth Hurley and Karly Loyce) looks their best in PURE COOL colors, but can also handle a bit more warmth than the average PURE COOL, as this type is flowing into the SOFT COOL. Elisabeth Hurley is flowing into the SOFT COOL light, and Karly Loyce is flowing into the SOFT COOL deep. So, in a way, you could say the PURE COOL soft, is a summer with a tiny tiny splash of autumn like warmth. Not enough to actually be a SOFT COOL, but just enough to be able to borrow some colors from this type. This sub-group usually has the regular PURE COOL hair colors, such as medium brown to dark blonde, but can also have a deep ash shade or a similar neutral tone. The difference is mostly because of the not as cold skin tone. For lighter skin tones, this could mean a neutral skin tone. For darker skin tones it is extremely common to have more than one undertone, so this means a darker skin tone will most likely not be all cold either way and rather neutral. This means this type can pull off more looks than the typical PURE COOL because of their already uncharacteristic look, and so it opens up to more choices rather than less. I also find that the darker PURE COOL soft's can pull off some bolder colors too, which can make it hard to determine if they are indeed a SOFT COOL, or a CLEAR COOL, SOFT WARM, CLEAR WARM, DEEP COOL, or even DEEP WARM or more. They can even borrow colors from those types without looking bad, depending on what directions they flow, as most sub-group types except "true" more or less flow towards other types. Some even more than one. Kind of like each type have several cusping groups. They will look good in a lot, but to figure out your type, just focus on the absolute best looks rather than bad. If not it can get a little confusing. The PURE COOL soft's glow is a little different than the other PURE COOL's, and can easily be confused with a warmer or neutral type. However, PURE COOL colours and delicate patterns will still look the best on them, and look just as delicate and calm on them as on any PURE COOL. Even if some colours can feel like a warm look on them. This is where their soft comes in especially much. Silver will be their best metal look, but gold will be ok too. A PURE COOL soft is still very much a PURE COOL, they're just one with a twist.

I hope this helped!
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
T.N.
7/9/2020 03:04:41 am

Hi! Quick(ish) question! Which body shapes from your system looks best in jogger pants like these which I just bought? https://www.lyst.com/clothing/danskin-drawstring-waist-jogger-pant-1/ . That’s basically the only thing I know looks good on me lol. I guess something like this is flattering too, especially if I wear tight black/dark leggings with it- https://pin.it/6eJazJl . Which is interesting because it’s great for me but it’s making this model’s body shape look bad. Lastly, most any sheer shirt with an open back (or crossing tulip back) like this is good for my shape plus it highlights my backside and legs - https://pin.it/2pcs5mE . Other than that... I’d say I have “nice” long legs, and tummy paneling/ruching has always been good for my shape. Many halter necks are good too- especially halternecks under an unstructured, low neckline tee shirt. Bandeau shapes are fine, but they’re a bit underwhelming and leave something to be desired- not my favorite but I’ll settle for it when it’s the only option. Finally, I thinkkk I look better with dark colors on my pants & lighter colors up top. (But I am sensitive to dark colors, so I might just be doing that to keep draining dark colors away from my face.)

The only shape I’m pretty sure I am not is pear or bell shaped, since those are the more common ones that never matched me. I have average to smaller bust (not flat), but I do have a bigger, more obvious rear end. Sometime my shoulders and upper half of my body feel wider, sometimes they feel equivalent to my hips- I’m unsure about that. I do have rather dainty limbs & fingers and I’m petite, but then I have size 9 shoes haha. Because I’m petite I am naturally slim, but I do have more shape. So I have always resonated with non-straight body shapes & more of the “curvy girl problems” than a typical slim girl... Thank you for your help with this! I’ve put off finding my body shape for far too long. It’s just always been so confusing for me.. and honestly I wish I had learned about this in my teens lol!

Reply
T.N.
7/9/2020 12:06:54 pm

Wow I mentioned the good and totally forgot to state what’s bad for my shape! Here’s a perfect example of a v-neck I bought online that I expected to be fine, but it ended up being very bad for my shape. It drops straight down, is straight hem at the bottom, and the shirt hem ends below my waist around the widest part of my hips. Ugh🙄 https://pin.it/KnM7Iuz . Tanks are usually good but v-neck tanks with straight straps that sit towards the center (straps close to my neck instead of outwards closer to my shoulders) are terrible. Also big/stiff flutter sleeves are usually bad, especially if the shirt is just straight or has a higher neckline. I think caps sleeves might be better than flutter sleeves for me. Sleeves & peplums with a v-neck like this are great though: https://pin.it/SnDqN2H . Again, this looks great on me but not on the model’s body shape: https://pin.it/1rs90NI . Gentle scalloped mocknecks have been successful before (actually scallops/scalloping in general works great for my body shape). With mocknecks, it’s best when it’s longsleeve and slightly more fitted, hemline ending right above the hips, maybe a bit sheerer/thinner type of material. High neckline are either really good or really bad- no in between. I particularly like high neckline for tank tops when it’s neck framing in a loose, soft drapey material with curved armholes and a rounded hemline.

Hopefully this info of what’s best and worst for my shape will help us narrow down the options!

Reply
T
3/10/2020 06:41:41 pm

Was really feeling what you were saying until I realized 95% of the women you posted here were white women and I find it difficult to use when I can’t compare my skin tone to the women you have shown.

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
7/10/2020 03:31:11 pm

Hi, T. I'm a little confused by this comment, as when I did the math to check if I had completely missed the mark, it was not 95% white women in this post. However, the point is that you were clearly disappointed you didn't see anyone who fit your colouring. I get that would be frustrating, as it has been the same for me. Not sure if you were looking to get help or not, but in case you wanted help. Here's some info that could help, and also a few questions from me.

Not sure if you might not know who all of these women are, so maybe more looked white-ish, because lighter coloured groups usually have lighter coloured people? With some exceptions when I have found a good darker match. Or maybe you were hoping for a 50/50? It is my goal to have an example for everyone, and I'm always adding to the system. So, feedback on what people want more off is always good. Colour analysis systems have been created with a focus on white people, and where darker types are always DEEP. So, adding all the different nuances is something I have had to figure out myself, and is still a work in progress. Some types are much harder to find examples of than others, so if something is missing that is why, and not because I don't want to include it. There has also been added more examples in all the groups if you check out the individual posts on each type, as they have been edited several times in later years. I plan to edit this post too, but have not had the time yet, and want to put out all the post first as that would be the most helpful for everyone.
The darker coloured groups have many darker options. So, since you mention your skin tone, which colour group are you referring to? I guess you must mean one of the blonde looking groups, as they are all light ? If you want more examples, you can click on the colour group to see the full post about it (except for on the PURE COOL, SOFT COOL and SOFT WARM, as they're not finished and posted yet). I don't have any examples of dark skin in the groups called LIGHT, as I have never seen a dark LIGHT. The black women examples I have there are also light skin black women.

I always welcome suggestions if you know of someone who has your colouring and is the same colour type as you, so I can include you. I have gotten lots of suggestions like that before, and they really help me make the colour system more inclusive to everyone. It can just take a little time before they're added, as I need to do the research to make sure they're a fit. That takes a lot of google image searching, and so it needs to be someone with enough photos online and without filters. :-).

My goal is that I want everyone to feel like they're included, and I'm sorry to make you not feel that way. So, I would love to hear some suggestions from you. As I can't help you if I don't know what I'm missing :-) . If you are a type I haven't seen yet, it's hard to know I missed including you. So, I would love to know what group you belong to, and what your colours are.

Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Catherine
13/11/2020 11:27:43 am

Hi! What body types looks bad in a dress like this? I’m trying to shop this winter with my body shape in mind, but I can’t try things on in-store because of Covid right now. So I’m trying to find my shape via items that were bad in the past, and this is definitely one.

https://www.asos.com/us/missguided/missguided-cami-strap-floral-smock-dress/prd/9671748?custref=183784902&affid=14564&channelref=email&orderref=458598962

Reply
Catherine
13/11/2020 02:00:20 pm

On the other hand, a dress like this is MUCH more flattering on my shape. https://pin.it/7a2EqMp

Reply
Catherine
17/11/2020 01:14:13 pm

This fit-and-flare dress with these straps is also a good dress for my body shape: https://pin.it/62vKP7a

Thanks in advance!

Reply
Catherine
19/11/2020 08:06:02 pm

Lastly- outfits like this are very good on my body shape!

https://pin.it/3YKrAAp

Okay that’s my last one! I’ll just be patiently awaiting from now on :) thanks again for any tips you can share!

Reply
Catherine
22/11/2020 07:59:25 pm

I’m a goblet body shape! Thought I was a Cornet & then a Cello. I just needed to think out loud by commenting a bunch to figure it out lol. Thanks for your patience there. Those lower cut tops are great for my shape but I’m a more modest personality. So your goblet post gave me a bunch of fresh inspo to work with. Thanks for creating your system because no one else seems to acknowledge my body type! So relieved to see other goblet-shaped women beautifully embracing their shape. Inspires me to do the same!

Reply
Marie H.
24/11/2020 01:09:01 pm

Is it possible to be completely high contrast and still be a Clear warm soft? I resonate most with that season but I am high contrast. It seems that only high contrast spring people are Clear warm brights but clear warm soft appears to be a much better match for me. If this is possible, I’d love to know of any examples like me. I kind of have atypical coloring so I’ve always dealt with little issues like this concerning my coloring.

Thank you!

Reply
IDEALIST STYLE link
25/11/2020 01:14:22 pm

Hi, Marie H! Anything is possible, if those are the colours that suit you best. So focus the most on that. What you look like and how that fits with the examples listed is much less important, and more meant to help narrow the search down for people and finding their type faster.

About the high contrast, it also depends on what you mean by high contrast. Is it that you look high contrast, but the medium contrast colours like CLEAR WARM soft is actually the tones that reflect and flatter you best? Or is it that you can look great in those colours, but also very high contrast looks or colours too.
The first example means that you are a CLEAR WARM soft and you just happen to not look like the examples listed. That is just because I haven't found a famous person to use that looks like you yet. So, that is the fault of the examples, not you. If you get what I mean. So there could be millions on CLEAR WARM softs that look just like you, and it's not atypical at all. Or you are atypical, but you're still a CLEAR WARM soft in all the ways that matter.
The other option means that you're yes probably a more atypical CLEAR WARM soft. This would still make you a CLEAR WARM soft, but it would also mean you're cusping towards other types and can pull off more because of this. For example, when people fit best one group, but a few colours still clash for some reason. Or more than the colours listed work great. As the perfect colour analysis would be individually tailored to each person. These systems are just a better way to broadly help people to figure it out on their own, without a tailored colour chart. And most people tend to fit within a group and fit a certain type of colours.
If you don't then I would just adapt that to fit you, and make your own type. Like, extra bright CLEAR WARM soft, that is flowing into... and because of that can or can't wear this or combine colours like that.

Sometimes a colouring that can look high contrast, is actually softer than it appears, because maybe for example the eyes even though in contrast to the skin and hair, don't have a strong line around the iris and so the eyes are actually soft. Or dark hair has an ashy or brown tone to it that softens it. And the skin tone can have an undertone that combined with this just suits a certain type of colour best. Darker skin tones often have two undertones, so that could also affect things in several ways.

From what I hear, I suspect that you're possibly a CLEAR WARM soft, and just look more like the examples shown of the CLEAR WARM bright. I too have had a hard time finding any famous people examples that look like me, as I have mixed heritage. So, I have a skin tone that is not very common with my eyes and hair, and my eyes are also not a very common shade. So, my hair can sometimes not suit the same colours as the rest of me and clash slightly with the best colours for my skin and eyes. But my best colours are still my best. However, the more tips and examples of famous people in their countires, my readers from other continents than Europe send me. The more I'm able to find examples that look like so called atypical versions of the group, and examples that look like me, and hopefully soon also you.
A few days ago I got a great video showing a colour analysis of a brown eyed, black haired, light skinned East Asian woman that was a perfect example of an atypical LIGHT WARM. I suspect however, that it is not atypical, and possibly completely normal. And it's just that I haven't come across this before.

I hope this helped, and that it answered your question :-)
Xxx, Sun.

Reply
Marie H.
6/1/2021 11:19:23 pm

Hey there! Sorry my reply took so long. I was testing out different contrast levels & color combinations on myself. I determined that I am Soft Spring, but I am medium-high contrast. This is such an awkward “in between” contrast (and unusual for Springs). Which explains all the confusion, as well as my Bright Spring look. I look best in the deepest of Soft Spring neutrals, with pops of light-medium Soft Spring neutrals. Though I can handle one pop of color paired with my neutrals (analogous schemes at most). Here’s the website where I learned more about this type of contrast level. I think this is the only information online about medium-high contrast which exists.. but I’m so glad I finally figured it out!

>I initially found the blog through this popular article- https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2014/11/how-to-find-your-ultimate-contrast-your-three-step-process.html
> I found my contrast in the second row of the first category (the blue star shirt and burgundy polka dot)- https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2019/05/value-contrast-of-your-prints-and-patterns.html
> Also I found an example of medium high contrast in part 4 here (I suit the deep blue blazer option on the right side)- https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2014/11/7-important-factors-for-working-with-contrast.html
> An article that taught me how brightness can affect contrast, not just value (at the bottom of the page)- https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2016/05/how-to-use-medium-value-colours-when-you-are-high-contrast.html
>A dedicated post for medium high contrast individuals (I suit the deeper options)- https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2016/04/what-exactly-is-medium-high-value-contrast.html
>And some additional examples of medium high contrast (I suit the first 2 examples)! https://en.paperblog.com/what-exactly-is-medium-high-value-contrast-1461355/amp
>Finally, this last article isn’t about medium high contrast but I found it very interesting. I didn’t realize how different human coloring is compared to, say, a painting of a person. Just like you said. There’s so many different factors, such as clarity and under/over tones. After reading this article, I think I’m either value dominant or equal dominant. - https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2016/10/are-you-colour-contrast-or-value-contrast-dominant.html

Interestingly, this blogger has referenced that the light spring Michelle Williams (actress) is medium high contrast with overall LIGHT value. Meanwhile, I found I was medium high contrast with overall DEEP value (deep relative to the Soft Spring palette of course). Honestly all of this is such a testament to the very diverse world we live in! Just like the video of the dark haired Light Spring you mentioned! (P.S. feel free to share that video link with me through a reply. I’d love to watch that analysis too! And I’m sure others readers of your website can learn a lot from it too.) Thanks again for your feedback, Sun! It helped me finally figure this all out!

Oregon link
25/4/2021 05:18:56 pm

This is a great posst thanks

Reply
H
1/8/2021 04:16:40 pm

Hey! You helped me determine I was a Soft Spring (clear warm soft) a while ago, and its changed my beauty game! I want to say thank you again for your help! Since then, I’ve gotten the hang of identifying other Spring season people.

I’m here to comment & let you know, I think Sofia Wylie is a True Spring POC (clear warm true). Though I’m not sure if she’s True Spring alone, or if she’s a True Spring flowing into Light Spring. Also, I think Teodora Marcella is a Soft Spring (clear warm soft). These would be wonderful additions to the Clear Warm official page! Especially for darker brown-eyed Spring POC who rarely get photo examples. I remember how hard it was to figure out my color season because of this lack of examples/representation... it was truly near impossible.

Adding these 2 ladies to the page would also be insightful for others who still out-datedly think POC can’t be Spring types 🙃 It feels like people are JUST now coming around to the idea that POC can be Bright Spring😂 let alone the softer/lighter Spring types!

Reply
H
28/8/2021 01:25:45 pm

In addition to the above comment, the late Mya-Lecia Naylor was a True Spring, Soft Spring, or Light Spring type. God rest her soul.

Reply
Lani
31/3/2022 09:38:59 am

This is the best system I have found! Thank you! Do you have plans to do one for men?

Reply
N
8/6/2022 06:02:13 am

Dear Sun,

I have had the most dreadful experience trying to figure out the colour family into which I would fit, but am glad to say that your system has helped me to clarify the nonsense about colour theory and see the true picture through all the rather airy-fairy trappings that so many see fit to adorn it with! I THINK that possibly I could fit as a DEEP COOL SOFT, but my eyes are a fairly deep grey-blue as opposed to hazel, and so I did wonder if this was still possible? I would really appreciate it if you could help advise me on this point. Best wishes!

Reply
H.
13/7/2022 09:04:10 am

Sun, I think Sophie Choudry is an Indian Light Cool Neutral that you can add to your chart!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ETHICAL AND PERSONALIZED STYLE, FOR A "GOOD FOR YOU" WARDROBE.

    Idealist style is a website and "slow blog" dedicated to ethical fashion and personalized style, including tips on how to find your very own "slow fashion" style by using color analysis, the body types system, and other slow fashion tips.»
    Created by an idealistic fashion designer, stylist, writer, and illustrator with a passion for "good for you" fashion. 
    Very nerdy about it. 
    Born in Norway, educated in Milan, Italy.


    I decided to name my page "Idealist Style", because I'm an idealist. On both a creative. environmental, and a humanitarian level. So, I feel the title suits my message well. 
    i·de·al·ism 
    -The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form. 
    -Artist who treats subjects imaginatively. 
    -Belief in or pursuit of one's ideals, of high or noble principles, purposes, or goals. 

    The work on this site is mine unless specified. 

    Archives

    January 2020
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • Overview
  • INSTAGRAM
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • ABOUT
  • SUPPORT THE WORK