What is colour analysis and what does it involve? It involves determining which colours suit and work well for a given appearance type. What colours should people with specific features wear, which shades will be right for them, and which should they avoid, as they can be ageing or make the skin look tired and unrested.

Is it even worth doing a colour analysis and finding out how to choose colours that suit us? Is it possible to match colours to appearance types? It's worth finding out what colour analysis is and how it's performed. Even if we don't stick 100% to the results of such an analysis, it's worth knowing its principles. Choosing colours for clothes and cosmetics is much easier after such an analysis.

What colours go together? – colour matching

Matching colours is very intuitive for some, while others don't have this ability and don't know how to choose colours for clothes. The colour wheel can be helpful here, allowing for simple combinations of colours that work well together and look good. Colour blocking – this involves combining opposing colours, i.e. those that lie on opposite sides of the colour wheel, e.g. orange and blue. Another way is to combine related colours, i.e. those that sit next to each other on the wheel, e.g. green with yellow. Monochromatic combinations also work well, meaning combining different shades of the same colour. Such colours will work well together, but this doesn't mean such combinations will always suit us. This is where colour analysis can be useful, making it easier to choose colours for clothes and cosmetics.

Find out more: How to combine colours? Discover colour combinations that match each other and create fashionable, quick outfits in a flash!

Matching clothing colours to your appearance type – benefits

Doing a colour analysis has many advantages. However, if you don't know what colour analysis is, it's better to rely on professionals in this matter. Choosing the right colours is based on determining your appearance type, and if this step is done incorrectly, further conclusions will not be accurate. This isn't always an easy task. Many appearance types overlap, and assigning yourself to a specific type (season) can be difficult. Especially since, besides the basic appearance types presented below, there are more subtypes. Professionals use, among other things, special frames and scarves to help with the assessment.

What are the benefits of colour analysis?

Knowing which colour suits you is very useful. Its benefits include:

• skilful outfit selection, which is very simple once you know which colours to avoid and which suit you,
• saving time and money on choosing the right colour. Your choices will be accurate, so clothes won't just sit in the wardrobe,
• always successful colour combinations that suit your appearance,
• properly chosen colours will enhance your beauty, help you stand out positively and feel better.

Colour analysis of appearance type

Among the colour profiles determined based on appearance, we distinguish four basic types corresponding to the seasons:

• spring – light, radiant skin with a peachy undertone. Light hair, blond or brown, from honey to straw or browns with golden or reddish highlights. Blue or green eyes. Warm appearance type. What clothing colours are suitable for the spring appearance type: warm yellow, light pink, violet, navy, red, turquoise, beige and green clothing.

• summer – pale skin, through which spider veins often show, and which is very delicate. It may have a milky or olive tone. Ashy hair or brown with an ashy sheen. Hair colour for this appearance type is also often described as “mousy”. Eyes are green, blue or grey. Cool appearance type. What clothing colours are suitable for the summer appearance type: powder and pastel colours, e.g. sky blue, mint, yellow, light pink.

• autumn – has skin prone to irritation, on which reddish freckles may appear. Light, pale skin, close to ivory or with a peachy undertone. The skin doesn't tan and turns red straight after sun exposure. Hair colour that often contrasts with light skin. Dark blond, chestnut or dark brown or ginger, and eyes green or golden-brown. Warm appearance type. What colours are suitable for the autumn appearance type: red, brown, green, yellow.

• winter – porcelain, light, pale skin. Dark eye framing and dark hair. Eyes hazel or dark green, blue or green. What colours are suitable for the winter appearance type: black, navy, white, blood red.

These are general classifications, as each season is further divided into three subtypes, giving us:

• Muted, warm and dark autumn
• Light, cool and muted summer
• Clear, cool and dark winter
• Light, warm and clear spring

Each seasonal colour has characteristic features such as: temperature, value and chroma, and we select the appropriate type based on which is dominant. Warm and cool shades, clear or muted, cool or light. Each season is additionally characterised by these three colour features. Choosing the right ones can be difficult for someone who isn't familiar with this. It's therefore worth seeking specialist advice in this area, although of course you can try to discover your appearance type on your own.

Appearance type and favourite colours

Nowadays, everyone can wear clothes in their favourite colours. Although your favourite colour isn't always found in the palette resulting from colour analysis, you shouldn't give it up. Choosing clothing colours according to certain schemes is meant to help us select outfits in which we look good, but it doesn't have to limit us in any way. Which colour suits you can make many things easier, but it isn't decisive. So if the suggested colour selection doesn't quite suit you, you can forgo it. Although a well-conducted colour analysis is, for many women, a very valuable guide on how to choose colours to show off their assets.

Colour analysis will suggest how to choose clothing colours to suit you and present yourself in the most favourable way. Knowing the rules of colour matching and the shades that correspond to your appearance type, creating the perfect outfit shouldn't be a problem anymore.