As a Mediterranean gal, the arrival of the good season—with its warmth and long, sunny days—instantly calls to mind time spent by the sea. I think of fun afternoons at the beach, laughing with friends as the sun sets behind the outline of Corsica… and yes, bold colours too!
Bright pink, fuchsia, lemon yellow, cobalt blue, tangerine, meadow green—the shades we can wear to brighten up our days and celebrate the Spring/Summer season are practically endless.
But how do we choose the right ones? How can we tell which colours are our colours—the ones that truly flatter our complexion and make our features pop?
Take heart. There’s a good chance that at least half of the clothing we already own is in the right colour family.
Why? Because Mother Nature rarely gets it wrong—and when we’re instinctively drawn to a certain shade, it’s often because it complements us beautifully.
Still, there’s always room to refine.
That’s where colour analysis comes in: by understanding your unique seasonal palette, you’ll start making more intentional style choices—confirming the colours you already love (and likely get the most compliments on!) and discovering new hues you might never have considered.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
How to Do a Simple Color Test at Home
Before diving into the boldest shades of the season, let’s pause for a little self-discovery: getting to know your natural colouring is the first step to making bright hues work with you — not against you.
To do a basic color test at home, here’s what I suggest:
🪞 1. Choose natural daylight.
Find a spot with plenty of indirect natural light — near a large window works great. Avoid artificial lights or harsh direct sun, as they can distort the true appearance of your skin and features.
🧖♀️ 2. Remove distractions.
For an accurate reading, remove your makeup entirely. If your hair is dyed (or has highlights), cover it with a white towel or cloth to neutralize its influence on your complexion. Do the same with your chest by wearing a plain white top — a t-shirt or sweater is perfect.
Doing so will help your eye not judge the color in relation to your clothing, but your complexion.
🎨 3. Focus on your face.
Now, really look at yourself. Take your time. Observe:
- The color of your eyes and the depth of your limbal ring (the dark outline around your iris)
- The natural shade of your lips — do they lean more pink or coral?
- The undertone of your skin:
Is it cool and bluish? Or does it have a golden, peachy, or olive cast?
📓 4. Take notes.
Write down everything you notice. You’re building a picture of your “color fingerprint” — a map of what Mother Nature gave you.
👯♀️ 5. Ask a trusted friend.
Even better, invite a friend or relative to join you during the test. An extra pair of eyes can often notice details that we miss, offering a more objective perspective.
REMEMBER: You are not judging the color, you are looking at the face, and the effectiveness of the color in revealing skin tone!
What To Do Next
Once you’ve gathered your notes and observations, you’re ready for the fun part: discovering which seasonal color palette aligns best with your natural features.
Just like nature shifts from the soft pastels of spring to the rich hues of autumn, your personal coloring will naturally harmonize with one of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter.
Each season has its own universe of colors — from fresh and warm, to deep and cool — and finding yours is like unlocking a wardrobe full of flattering options you never knew were made just for you. 🌈✨
❄️WINTER: Cool, Deep & High Contrast
You’re a Winter season – pick whichever characteristics describe you:
If your skin is/features:
- Very white
- White with delicate pink tone
- Beige (no cheek color, may be sallow)
- Rosy beige
- Olive
- Black (blue undertone)
- Charcoal-brown freckles
If your Hair is:
- Blue-black
- Medium brown (may have red highlights)
- Dark brown (taupe tone)
- Salt-and-pepper
- Silver-grey
- White blonde (rare!)
- White
If your eyes are:
- Dark red-brown
- Black-brown
- Hazel (grey-brown plus green or blue)
- Grey-blue
- Blue with white flecks in iris (may have grey rim)
- Dark blue
- Grey-green
- Green with white flecks in iris (may have grey rim)
Winter types actually make up the most varied group among the seasonal color palettes.
Think of olive-toned skin, deep dark eyes, and striking dark hair — all hallmarks of this cool and high-contrast season. And here’s something that often surprises people: olive skin, though it may seem golden at a glance, usually has a cool, bluish undertone.
That’s why Winters tend to look radiant in vivid, icy shades, while warm, muted colors can leave them looking a little… meh.
If you’re a Winter, chances are you shine in clear, intense hues. Cool-toned shades like cobalt blue, true red, emerald green, or even a bold fuchsia are your best friends. And here’s the good news: you’re one of the few who can wear both pure white and jet black effortlessly — lucky you!
While classic Winter colors include these high-contrast brights, you’ll also love mixing in some unexpected pops of warmth. Coral, peach, golden yellow, turquoise, and clear leafy green can all work beautifully when chosen in their clean, saturated versions — no dusty pastels or muted shades here.
💡 Quick Colour Guide for Autumns:
🔸 Best brights: Coral, warm peach, golden yellow, turquoise, clear leaf green
🔸 Avoid: Dusty, muted tones like mauve, slate blue, or anything too soft
🔸 Pair with: Light neutrals like ivory or camel, or go bold with colour blocking in other warm and vibrant shades
- Celeb Examples: Anne Hathaway, Lucy Liu
🌸 SUMMER: Cool, Soft & Light
You’re a Summer season – pick whichever characteristics describe you:
If your skin is/features:
- Pale beige with delicate pink cheeks
- Pale beige with no cheek color (even sallow)
- Very pink
- Rosy or charcoal-brown freckles
If your Hair is:
- Platinum blonde
- Ash blonde (often towhead as a child)
- Smoky blonde
- Ash brown
- Dark brown (taupe tone)
- Brown with auburn cast
- Blue-grey
If your eyes are:
- Blue with brown around pupil and “cloudy” iris, grey rim
- Grey blue
- Grey-green
- Pale grey
- Blue with white flecks in iris (may have grey rim)
- Green with white flecks in iris (may have grey rim)
- Hazel
- Bright, clear blue
- Clear, pale aqua
- Soft brown
If your skin has a fair, almost translucent quality with a cool, bluish undertone, and your eyes shift subtly in shade depending on what you’re wearing — think soft aqua, grey-blue, or misty green — you might just be a Summer.
Many Summers have delicate features: faint freckles, light to medium ash brown hair, or naturally blonde locks that lean cool rather than golden.
Some even have deep blue eyes with tiny white or silvery flecks, giving them a dreamy, reflective quality.
Summers look effortlessly elegant in soft, cool colours with blue undertones — those gentle, powdery hues that whisper rather than shout. Think dusty rose, powder blue, soft mauve, and lavender.
These shades enhance your natural refinement and cool undertones without overpowering your delicate features.
💡 Quick Colour Guide for Summers:
🔸 Best brights: Raspberry pink, periwinkle, cool turquoise, watermelon, and icy lavender
🔸 Avoid: Warm or overly vibrant hues like tomato red, orange, or mustard yellow — they can wash you out
🔸 Pairings: Elegant cool neutrals such as dove grey, soft navy, or stone — and tone-on-tone layering works beautifully
Your palette is all about subtlety and softness. While others shine in bold contrast, your power lies in the poetic and serene — colours that feel like a soft-focus lens over a summer’s day.
- Celeb Examples: Cate Blanchett, Amanda Seyfried
🍂 3. AUTUMN: Warm, Rich & Earthy
You’re an Autumn season – pick whichever characteristics describe you:
Autumn types are the embodiment of earthiness, warmth, and depth. Think rich landscapes of turning leaves and golden fields — only Autumns can wear pumpkin, mustard, or olive green with such effortless flair.
Most Autumns have brown, green, or hazel eyes, often flecked with gold. Some even have brilliant turquoise eyes, especially those with fiery red hair.
Autumn hair — whether blonde, brunette, or coppery red — tends to carry golden or reddish undertones, giving it a vibrant, sunlit quality. Carrot-orange locks almost always signal an Autumn palette.
Warm, golden-based colours are your best friends. These shades bring out the richness of your features and give your complexion a healthy, glowing warmth.
Cool or icy colours, on the other hand, tend to clash with your natural tones, leaving you looking washed out or dull.
💡 Quick Colour Guide for Autumns:
🔸 Best brights: Burnt orange, rust, moss green, mustard yellow, and teal
🔸 Avoid: Blue-based pinks, icy pastels, and stark black or white — they can feel too harsh
🔸 Pairings: Earthy neutrals like chocolate brown, olive, or warm beige create a harmonious, grounded contrast
- Celeb Examples: Julianne Moore, Eva Mendes
🌷 SPRING: Warm, Light & Clear
You’re a Spring season – pick whichever characteristics describe you:
If your skin is/features:
- Ivory
- Ivory with pale golden freckles
- Peach
- Golden beige
- Rosy cheeks
If your Hair is:
- Fair blonde
- Golden blonde
- Strawberry blonde (usually with freckles)
- Auburn
- Golden brown
- Red-black (rare)
- Golden grey
If your eyes are:
- Blue with white “rays” (appear steel grey from distance)
- Clear blue (may have brown flecks)
- Clear green (may have golden flecks)
- Aqua
- Bright blue with turquoise tone
- Light golden brown
Spring types radiate warmth, freshness, and light — just like the season itself. Their features are often delicate and sunny, with a golden glow that gives a youthful, cheerful appearance.
Auburn blonde hair is a hallmark of this season, as are deep blue eyes with pale yellow flecks. Many Springs also have golden blonde hair, blue-green or aqua eyes, and a peachy or creamy skin tone.
While some are naturally fair-haired children, their hair tends to darken over time, often retaining its golden or honeyed undertone.
The Spring palette is all about clear, bright, and warm hues. These colours mirror blooming gardens and sunny days — think daffodil yellow, coral blossoms, and turquoise skies. You’ll shine in hues with yellow undertones, as they enhance your natural glow and highlight the clarity of your eyes.
💡 Quick Colour Guide for Springs:
🔸 Best brights: Coral, warm peach, golden yellow, turquoise, and clear leaf green
🔸 Avoid: Cool, dusty, or muted tones like mauve, greyish blues, or icy pastels
🔸 Pairings: Light neutrals like ivory, cream, or camel; colour blocking with other warm hues works beautifully to energize your look
- Celeb Examples: Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone (as a Light Spring)
🎨 Bold Colours at a Glance: Your Seasonal Palette Guide
To make things easy (and beautiful), I’ve gathered a collection of colour palettes straight from Pinterest (created by the amazing Anastasiya Cebykina) — each one thoughtfully divided by season and colour family. Whether you’re looking for your most flattering yellows, blues, greens, reds, or exploring bold oranges, pinks, or purples, these graphics give you an instant visual map of what works best for your natural features.
Each chart displays all four seasonal types side by side, so you can quickly identify your best matches and see how different shades shift from season to season. There’s also a special set dedicated to light neutrals, perfect for spring and summer layering.
Use them as a cheat sheet when building outfits, shopping, or even editing your wardrobe — you’ll be amazed how a slight tweak in tone can elevate your look completely.
🌈 Wrapping Up: Let Colour Lead the Way
Bold colours are not just a fashion statement — they’re a celebration of who you are. Learning which shades naturally enhance your features is like discovering a personal magic trick: suddenly, your skin glows, your eyes pop, and compliments come pouring in without trying too hard.
By understanding your seasonal colour type and seeing the difference tone makes through the palettes above, you’re well on your way to curating a wardrobe that reflects the best version of you. Whether you’re a radiant Spring, an elegant Summer, a glowing Autumn, or a striking Winter — there’s a whole spectrum of bold hues waiting to make your style shine.
✨ Quick Tip:
Want to keep these palettes handy?
Save them to a dedicated Pinterest board, or take screenshots and create a photo album on your phone titled “My Best Colours.” That way, whether you’re shopping online or planning outfits, you’ll always have your perfect shades at your fingertips.
Now go forth and wear those bold colours with confidence — you’ve earned it!
Always stay stylish, my wonderful souls, and I hope to catch you on here next week ✨
Yours,
Agnese K