Posted on by Chrysalis Colour Admin.
During my almost 30-year career as a personal color analyst and doing colors in both the 4-season and 12-season systems, one thing remains consistent – the misunderstood season.
In the early 90s, before the internet and social media were the norm, my clients came from my talking with people and from referrals. Invariably, I would get clients who had their colors done before, even two or three times. I saw a pattern emerge when these clients said they had been put in Spring, Summer, Autumn and sometimes Winter. They were so confused. We still have this issue today.
Each season’s color requirements from the ‘80s and ‘90s relied heavily on stereotypes… Springs had blue eyes and golden hair; Winters had dark hair and brown or blue or green eyes; Summers were blonde with blue eyes, and Autumns were redheads.
This was a good place to start, but certainly wasn’t all-encompassing. Plus, at that time, color analysis was focused mainly on Caucasians.
A new perspective
Over time, especially with the 12-tone system, things changed. Thankfully, for the better. We now know that all hair colors can be in any of the 12 seasons, though they vary from season to season. For example, the natural red hair color of a Dark Winter will be different from the red of a Light Summer. We also know that skin colors can span seasons… brown, black, and yellow skin tones can also be found in most all the seasons.
So how could a person be told they were three seasons? I used to think it was because we only had 4 seasons to choose from which wasn’t specific enough. But, the most misunderstood season was, and still can be – True Summer.
Questions
True Summers can have blonde, red, brunette, and black hair. But wait, if you have either dark brown or black hair and/or skin, you must be Winter, right?
And if you have red hair, you must be Autumn or Spring, right?
Also, if you have warm overtones, you can’t be True Summer, right?
The answer to each of these questions is a definite NO.
I see many True Summers…
To Be Continued.
Terry Wildfong divides her time between California and Michigan. In addition to in-person Color Analysis, Terry is also an instructor for the Color Analyst training program. Please click the link buttons below for more information.
Terry Wildfong
Contact Me For More Information
As a seasoned professional with nearly three decades of experience in personal color analysis, I can attest to the evolution and challenges within the field. My expertise extends across both the 4-season and 12-season systems, allowing me to navigate the complexities of color analysis with a depth of knowledge that spans decades.
In the late '80s and early '90s, when the internet and social media were not yet ubiquitous, I established my reputation through direct interactions with clients and word-of-mouth referrals. During this time, I observed a recurring issue—the misunderstood season. Clients who had undergone color analysis two or three times often found themselves assigned to different seasons, leading to confusion and frustration.
The root of this problem lay in the reliance on stereotypes prevalent in the '80s and '90s. Spring was associated with blue eyes and golden hair, Winters with dark hair and brown, blue, or green eyes, Summers with blonde hair and blue eyes, and Autumns with red hair. However, this approach was limited, and color analysis primarily focused on Caucasians.
The landscape shifted significantly with the advent of the 12-tone system, bringing about positive changes. It became evident that hair colors and skin tones could span across all 12 seasons. For instance, the natural red hair color of a Dark Winter would differ from that of a Light Summer. Additionally, skin tones ranging from brown and black to yellow could be found in various seasons.
Despite these advancements, the most misunderstood season persisted—True Summer. True Summers, I can confidently affirm, can exhibit a range of hair colors, including blonde, red, brunette, and black. Contrary to outdated beliefs, having dark brown or black hair and/or skin does not automatically categorize an individual as a Winter. Similarly, possessing red hair does not exclusively align someone with Autumn or Spring. Additionally, warm overtones do not disqualify one from being a True Summer.
This ongoing series will delve deeper into the intricacies of True Summer and debunk common misconceptions. My insights are not only based on theoretical knowledge but on practical experience gained from working with numerous True Summers over the years.
Terry Wildfong, with a dual presence in California and Michigan, not only offers in-person Color Analysis but also serves as an instructor for the Color Analyst training program. For those seeking more information, please explore the provided links to Terry's website and contact details.
