DISCOVER YOUR COLORS I: RECOGNIZE YOURSELF

Every person is true natural piece of art. Namely, every person’s skin, hair and eye color belong to one color scale. On the other hand, every person has different skin color (determined by melanin - pigmented cells coloration, which influences tanning when skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays; melanin is the main factor that influences skin tan), and different skin tone, determined by hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells; red blood cell coloration, which is more or less visible through skin; hemoglobin determines skin tone; for this reason it doesn’t matter whether we have nice brown tan or not, our basic skin tone always stays the same).    

On this basis skin is classified in two major groups: one group of people have yellowish, almost golden skin undertones, and look best in warm colors, while second group has pale and almost grayish skin undertones and look best when wearing cold colors.

4 color types

Color experts differentiate 4 different color types, which they have classified by seasons:
1. Spring type person looks best in warm and clear tones of spring.
2. Summer type person looks best in colder, less clear colors of summer.
3. Autumn type person looks best in shining and warm colors, typical for autumn.
4. Winter type person looks best with intense, contrasts and cold tones of winter; they look best in cold colors and should combine clothes on the basis of contrasts.

Spring type person

Skin is bright, transparent and almost pale with yellowish or golden undertones. Spring type's skin is comparable with peach color. Often they have problems with blushing and every emotion is quickly visible on their faces. Despite bright tan, most spring types tan fast and beautifully.  
Their hair is often blond: flax blond, straw blond, honey blond; some have red tones in their blond hair or at least develop blond locks or brighter hair ends on the sun.
Their eye color is blue, blue-turquoise, green with gray tones (or vice versa), golden brown eyes. Very dark or intense green eyes are extremely rare.


Summer type person    
 
Summer type persons are very common in Europe.
Skin is slightly pale, but comparing to spring types, summer types have colder and more ashy, not golden or warm undertones. Their skin is gently bright with milky pale tones. Comparing to spring type, summer type's skin looks rosy and healthier. 
Hair color: ashy blond, light brown to dark brown hair color. Often reddish tones come out on sun, which is typical for Europeans (the same as blue color comes out in Asian hair).
Eye color: gray-blue, bright blue, gray-petroleum, blue-green, hazelnut brown. White of the eye is often milky and whitish, and not in strong contrast with iris.     



Autumn type person

Autumn types are most flexible and changeable people of all. Typical color for autumn types is red in almost all tones.
Their skin is yellowish golden with warm skin undertones. Some autumn types have pale and transparent skin, while others have more powerful golden beige or peachy skin, which reminds of spring type person, but in autumn types, skin color is much more expressed then it is in spring types. Besides, spring types look very gentle and fragile comparing to autumn types.
Their hair usually has middle to dark blond or brown color with red undertones.
Eyes are bright blue, steel blue, petroleum, dark olive, golden brown, intense brown.



Winter type person

Typical example of winter type person is Snowhite.
Winter types scream out dramatic contrasts: bright skin, dark hair, intense contrasts between iris and white of the eye.
Some winter types have cold and pale colored skin. They do not tan easily and often get gentle brown tan. Other winter types have olive skin undertones, which are generally typical for autumn types. Regardless, pale or olive skin tones, winter types skin always gives cold and transparent impression.
Their hair is dark in bluish black, dark black, black brown or dark brown colors.
Eyes often have clear color: icy blue, violet blue, dark blue, extremely gray or extremely pure green, bright and dark brown.


Colors for spring type

Spring types should wear bright and clear colors. In mousy colors they look dull and empty. Too dark or too intense colors also don’t suit spring type’s skin, because they devastate gentle tan. Spring types should never wear black!
Best bright colors for spring types are: may green, apple green or linden green, warm and full yellow, color of peach, apricot, salmon, coral red, creamy white.   
Best dark colors for spring type person are: bright navy blue, gentle and bright violet, warm color of chocolate. If spring types want to wear gray, they should choose only silver gray colors.


Basic color: grayish blue

Bright blue with gray tones is relatively neutral color, that suits spring type persons. As basic color this gentle blue color is appropriate because it can be easily combined with many other colors. Few combinations are presented on the left: ocher, white and brown; brown and beige; three violet tones; violet and color of rose wood; lobster red; turquoise and white; grayish  silver, royal blue and yellow; may green and white.   




Basic color: apricot

Wearing apricot as basic color is unusual and only spring type people can afford that- for that reason, they should take this into their advantage. If you don't like apricot as basic color, you can wear it as dominant second color. On the left few possible combinations are presented, which excellently bring out color of apricot: color of camel hair and brown; bright brown, beige and color of rose tree; bright and dark violet; grayish blue, royal blue and ocher; pure sky blue; white, silver gray and green; as well as other spring scale tones.



Basic color: camel hair  

In bright and gentle colors of camel hair most women look boring, but spring type women look absolutely astonishing. So, if you're spring type, you must have at least few pieces of clothing in this color. When combining, you can use almost all colors from spring scale. Especially beautiful are color combinations on the left: grayish blue and violet; royal blue, beige-brown and color of Spanish elder-tree; brown and ocher; yellow, red and white; white and green; may green and lobster red; lobster red, sky blue and red.      




Colors for summer type

Summer type person should never wear intense and invasive colors.
All color tones summer types should wear are gently mixed with green, slightly dusty or wiped pink or pale blue color.
Do not wear salmon color, peach or apricot colors, tomato red or carrot orange colors.
Ideal colors for summer type person are: vivid pink (in some cases darker, in other brighter, depending whether summer type person has pale or more intense skin color), raspberry red, watermelon red, wine red, vague blue, jeans blue, turquoise tones, very gentle yellow of lemon (otherwise yellow is not recommendable), white with cold pink tones or soft gray tones.
Among darker colors, summer type should wear washed out navy blue and brown with pink or gray contrasts. 

Basic color: dark blue

Washed out blue (never strong and vivid!) is perfect basic color for summer type person. Choose among jeans blue, washed out blue, navy blue and plum blue with reddish tones. These blue colors look good in following combinations: bluish summer red; green, white and red; gray; bright pink and brown; pink and bluish green; jeans blue, red and white; vanilla yellow and bright blue; dark brown, lily color and vanilla yellow.




Basic color: brown     

Summer types look beautiful in brown- not in warm brown colors as autumn and spring types do, but in greenish brown or in brown with reddish and blue tones.
If you decide for brown colors, combine them with brighter tones, because brown may often look boring. Best combinations for brown are: jeans blue; blue with bright green and white; dark and bright emerald color; gray with white and saturated red; mole's color and pink; lily and pinkish red; and yellow and violet.



Basic color: pale violet  

Soft and pale violet colors can be basic color of summer type. If you think this color is too gentle for coats, suits or dresses, choose at least one piece of clothing in this color. Of course, do not forget, pale violet needs one or two colors to combine with. Here are few suggestions: lavender; dark blue with vivid pink; summer red with dark brown; brown with bright brown and dark blue; middle brown with wool white; silver gray with yellow and jeans blue; dark and bright emerald color with dull blue.  



Colors for autumn type

Autumn type person should wear warm colors, golden notes and warm brown tones, like champagne, warm beige or full brown. Autumn type person should avoid wearing cold grayish brown, vivid blue-green, and vivid pink.
Recommendable colors for autumn types: olive green, bean green, khaki green, fir green  petroleum tones, dark turquoise tones, reddish blue tones, like plum blue or violet blue, full shining orange, pink, salmon, apricot, poppy red, tomato red, copper red, mustard yellow, corn yellow with red notes, dark chocolate brown.

Basic color: petroleum

Autumn types that like blue color can find themselves in attractive petroleum color. If having reddish hair and greenish blue eyes, petroleum can give the appearance of sophistication. Petroleum color must be combined with bright and vivid colors; for example: fresh orange; brown and color of peach ; brown red and swampy green; khaki and color of honey; wool white, cranberry red and brown; bright brown and tomato red; color of honey and plum blue; and other tones that suit autumn types.



Basic color: khaki

Many dull tones between green and brown are known under same name: khaki color. On left side you can see khaki background, emphasizing following colors: tomato red and  color of honey; lobster red and wool white; cranberry red, plum blue and golden yellow; golden yellow and petroleum; rusty, swampy green and color of peach; color of peach, violet blue and red; red, brown and wool white.





Basic color: rusty     

Rusty is color that suits most autumn types. Rusty brown looks best with honey blond hair and with elephant bone skin tones and also with peach skin tones. Rusty brown can be beautifully combined with other autumn  colors. Few examples can be found on the left: plum blue and brown; violet blue with plenty orange and some wool white; color of camel fur with swampy green; dark and bright petroleum with color of peach; fir green with mossy green; red, yellow and wool white; brown and cranberry red.   





Colors for winter type

Winter type person should wear cold colors, like snow white, deep black and should pay attention to emphasizing strong contrasts.
Ideal colors are intense ruby red, purple red, strong vivid pink, cold lily notes, dark violet, clear green tones, dark brown (like bitter chocolate; otherwise winter type person shouldn't wear brown), among blue colors only the strongest blue colors, like enzian blue and Caribbean blue. Pastel colors are also allowed, as long as they are clear and bright.
Winter type person should avoid washed milky or yellowish colors.


Basic color: black

Black is ideal basic color for winter types. Winter types are actually the only ones who really look good in black: either only in black or combining black with other colors. In addition, black strengthens color effects of other winter colors. On left you you can see color combinations, which decorate black: pure and bright pink; yellow, gray and red; icy yellow with pink; lily with icy violet and icy yellow; indigo with orange and gray; glassy green with azure or sky blue color.     




Basic color: nocturnal blue

Nocturnal blue is ideal basic color for winter types because it is extremely effective in combination with most others 'winter' colors. On the left you can see few color combinations with nocturnal blue: red white and green; vivid pink with fir green; classic red-white combination; dark and bright violet with piece of yellow; icy pink with dark brown and silver gray; fresh may green with emerald color; silver gray with powerful yellow and piece of icy pink.




Basic color: red

Strong red colors look good only on winter type person, especially if combining them with dark and bright contrasts. Large red areas would devastate gentle and natural tones of spring and summer types, while autumn types would look a bit boring if wearing all red. Winter types should combine red with: green, gray, black and icy blue; with bright and vivid violet and pink; white, yellow and vivid violet; with black and silver gray; with azure, dark blue and icy yellow, with brownish black and sandy.