How to Find Your Season: A Beginner’s Guide to Colour Analysis
Ever put on a jumper that made you look like a goddess straight off a page in Vogue… and another that made you look like you hadn’t slept since 2019? That’s not your imagination—that’s the effect of colour.
The wrong shade can wash you out, emphasise under-eye bags, and drown you. The right one? It’s like the sun just came out. You glow. Your skin looks bright. Your eyes pop. You look expensive.
That’s the magic of seasonal colour analysis and finding your seasonal colour palette —aka, the set of colours that make you shine.
And here’s the slow fashion angle: once you know your palette, you shop less and shop smarter. No more wasted money on random colours that never see the light of day. Your wardrobe suddenly feels cohesive, flattering, and intentional.
So let’s get you glowing, shall we?
All of a sudden it’s obvious why that green neon dress is hanging unworn in your closet. It’s time to edit your wardrobe.
Jump Ahead
The Basics: How Colour Analysis Works
Colour analysis is based on three factors:
Undertone – Warm, Cool, or Neutral
- Warm undertones: golden, peachy, or olive skin tones.
- Cool undertones: pink, rosy, or bluish skin tones.
- Neutral: a blend, often flexible across palettes.
Depth – Light vs. Dark
- Fairer hair/skin/eyes = light palettes.
- Darker features = deep palettes.
Clarity – Clear vs. Muted
- Clear = striking, high-contrast colouring that suits bold shades.
- Muted = softer features that shine in gentle, blended tones.
Put these together and you’ll land in one of the 12 seasonal palettes.
How to Find Your Season (DIY + AI)
Professional stylists use draping tests with fabric swatches in natural light. But here’s how you can try at home:
The Jewellery Test
- Gold looks better? You probably have warm undertones (Spring or Autumn).
- Silver looks better? You probably have cool undertones (Summer or Winter).
- Both look fine? You might be neutral and fit into the “soft” or “true” subtypes.
White vs. Cream Test
- Pure white flatters you → Cool season (Summer or Winter).
- Cream/ivory flatters you → Warm season (Spring or Autumn).
Makeup Cues
- Peachy/coral blush and warm lipstick suit you → Warm season (Spring/Autumn).
- Rosy pink or berry tones suit you → Cool season (Summer/Winter)
Scarf/Draping Test
Hold different coloured tops or scarves under your chin in natural light.
- If you glow in clear, bright colours → You’re a Spring or Winter (the “bright” seasons).
- If you glow in soft, dusty colours → You’re a Summer or Autumn (the “soft/muted” seasons).
- If light shades lift you most → You might be Light Spring or Light Summer.
- If dark shades look best → You’re likely Deep Autumn or Deep Winter.
🔮 Use AI to Test Your Season
Yes—you can rope in AI. Upload clear photos of yourself in natural light and ask ChatGPT to help analyse:
- Your undertone (warm/cool/neutral)
- Your depth (light/dark).
- Your clarity (muted/clear).
From there, AI can narrow you into one of the 12 palettes—with caveats: lighting, hair dye, and makeup can skew results. But it’s a great starting point.
If this is already making you side-eye half your wardrobe, you’ll love our seasonal colour palette guides — they break down what to wear, what to avoid, and how to shop second-hand by colour
Find Your Season: The 12 Seasons Explained
In seasonal colour analysis, the year is split into four palettes, each with its own personality. Spring is warm, fresh, and light with peachy, golden tones and clear brights. Summer is cool, soft, and muted, favouring dusty pastels and gentle blends. Autumn is warm, rich, and earthy, glowing in russet, olive, and camel shades. And Winter is cool, deep, and high-contrast, thriving in jewel tones and crisp black and white.
Below is your cheat sheet for each season and type.
Spring Types (Warm, Light, Clear)
1. Light Spring
- Fresh, bright but soft. Blonde/light brown hair, clear light eyes.
- Palette: butter yellow, mint, peach, sky blue, light coral.
- Celebs: Jessica Alba, Amanda Seyfried, Reese Witherspoon.
2. Warm (True) Spring
- Golden undertones, warm hair (strawberry blonde, warm light brown).
- Palette: warm peach, coral, aqua, golden yellow, grass green.
- Celebs: Cameron Diaz, Halley Bailey, Isla Fisher.
3. Clear/Bright Spring
- High contrast but warm. Bright eyes, glossy hair.
- Palette: turquoise, hot coral, lime, clear yellow, bright teal.
- Celebs: Freida Pinto, Blake Lively, Emma Stone (as a redhead).
Summer Types (Cool, Light, Muted)
4. Light Summer
- Very fair colouring, cool undertones. Blonde or soft light brown hair, blue/grey eyes.
- Palette: powder blue, lavender, soft rose, cool aqua.
- Celebs: Constance Wu, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Fanning.
5. Cool (True) Summer
- Classic cool tones—ashy hair, cool eyes.
- Palette: dusty rose, lavender, soft navy, grey, sky blue.
- Celebs: Emily Blunt, Kate Middleton, Naomi Osaka.
6. Soft/Muted Summer
- Features blend gently, less contrast.
- Palette: dusty pink, sage green, mauve, slate blue.
- Celebs: Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya, Gigi Hadid.
Autumn Types (Warm, Rich, Muted)
7. Soft Autumn
- Warm undertones but muted features.
- Palette: camel, moss green, dusty peach, soft teal.
- Celebs: Sarah Jessica Parker, Drew Barrymore, Tracee Ellis Ross.
8. Warm (True) Autumn
- Rich auburns, warm hazel eyes, golden skin.
- Palette: rust, mustard, olive, terracotta, chocolate brown.
- Celebs: Mindy Kaling, Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain.
9. Deep Autumn
- Strong, dark features with warm undertones.
- Palette: forest green, burgundy, camel, dark teal, deep olive.
- Celebs: Eva Mendes, Jennifer Lopez, Viola Davis.
Winter Types (Cool, Deep, Clear)
10. Deep Winter
- Dark hair, dark eyes, cool undertones.
- Palette: emerald, navy, deep fuchsia, black, pure white.
- Celebs: Kim Kardashian, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o.
11. Cool (True) Winter
- Striking cool contrast. Often fair skin with dark hair.
- Palette: cobalt blue, icy pink, pure black, crisp white.
- Celebs: Gemma Chan, Anne Hathaway, Zooey Deschanel.
12. Clear/Bright Winter
- Extremely high contrast. Bright eyes, jet black or icy hair.
- Palette: hot pink, icy turquoise, lemon yellow, bright emerald.
- Celebs: Katy Perry, Lucy Liu, Megan Fox.
Not sure which Winter subtype you are? Start with undertone, then look at contrast and depth — patterns usually emerge quickly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing favourite colours with flattering ones. Loving neon green ≠ neon green loving you back.
Forgetting about artificial changes. Hair dye, fake tan, or heavy makeup can throw things off—stick to your natural baseline.
Overthinking. If you’re torn between two palettes, look for patterns. Which set consistently makes you glow?
Dressing for Your Season (Next Steps)
Once you know your palette, you can:
- Curate a capsule wardrobe that always flatters.
- Shop secondhand with purpose—filtering by colour means no colour impulse fails.
- Plan Pinterest boards effectively.
Conclusion: Glow Up, Slow Down
Finding your season shouldn’t put you in a style cage—quite the opposite: it’ll give you freedom from trial-and-error shopping and fast-fashion fails.
Seasonal colour analysis is a tool, not a rulebook. Use it to guide your wardrobe, help you shop slower and smarter, and build a personal style that feels cohesive, confident, and true to you.
Now—take a selfie in daylight and ask AI to complete your colour analysis. Your season is waiting.
