Does Seasonal Colour Analysis make that much of a difference?

Yes! Yes, yes, YES!

Ok. I may be biased. Full disclosure, I got my colours done at the beginning of 2022. (What is Seasonal Colour Analysis? Read more here.)

I had always been interested in the Seasonal Colour Analysis system, but besides half-heartedly doing some free tests, which always gave me different and confusing results, I hadn't really gotten anywhere.

Then I went to visit my boyfriend's mother who, very bluntly but with love, told me that I dressed "plainly".

Yikes.

I mean, I'm a bubbly person, but I hadn't really thought so much about what my clothes were saying when I wasn't speaking.

She said I should get my colours done. She'd done hers with a group of friends and it had been fun.

So...this could have gone a few ways. I could have been mortally offended.

Or burst into tears.

Or just let it roll.

But, for whatever reason, I decided to take this as my invitation to follow up on something that I had really been meaning to do for a long time.

I started by trying to do online tests. A lot of them were very confusing and involved me looking at my wrists in daylight (it was nighttime) or holding shades of clothes I didn't have against my face or stating what my preferences for colours were (which were clearly wrong, otherwise I wouldn't have been called plain).

I was a bit overwhelmed, I'm not gonna lie. I decided maybe it would be better to just get a professional to do it and get it over with, rather than spending hours trying to work it out myself at home.

Then I googled how much it costs and nearly had a heart attack.

Jesus Christ, it isn't cheap! For some colours? How much is this person making per hour? Does it really work? Are they really that good?

I left the tab open for a few weeks while I thought about it.

Then saved up a bit and booked the appointment.

The process itself was fun and informal. I was given my official prognosis, and then left to my own devices.

So, of course I immediately went shopping. I did a lot of online research first, squinting at my colour cards, trying to see if the colours on the screen were the same shade - or near enough anyway.

Then I went to try things on. I started with a haul from Witchery. The lady was very impressed that I already knew exactly what I wanted in exactly which shades, and suddenly I had two women running back and forth after me. I don't normally get this much attention, so it was already a little strange. But not in a bad way.

Next, on my way out of the store, a woman stopped me and said she loved my bag, which was a particular striking blue right off my cards. Again, not usual. Could be a fluke.

Then I started wearing the colours. People would compliment me, saying I looked so good. I would have strangers stare at my face (the stylist warned me it would happen -but it felt bizarre!). One time at a show, a stranger stopped and gave way to me, even though I was seated several rows behind him.

People were more interested in what I had to say and seemed to rate my knowledge higher.

Now, let me give you a little background to this. I am a small, white female. I look younger than I am, and I am used to being shouted at and abused both on the roads and in carparks especially (whyyy). The amount of times people just get angry at me for not being a doormat is, frankly, frustrating. Don't worry, my therapist is on it.

I also didn't grow up with any great benefits. I am from a large family with a GP as the sole breadwinner for most of my childhood and adolescence. I was a dollar-a-bag from Vinnies kind of gal and didn't really have any style support. Considering this was before everyone had access to the internet, I definitely went through a looong awkward phase where I didn't really understand what I was putting together visually. Even though I wanted to have a better understanding of dressing myself, I was just stabbing in the dark.

And while I learnt a few things along the way about body shape and personal style, even into adulthood I never really felt like I got it. Not that I had that much time to think about it. I was busy making a career in the arts work for me.

Cue the well-meaning comment from my boyfriend's mother.

But once I started changing my wardrobe colours, all of this seemed to melt away. I could put outfits together that suited me with ease. Combining pieces from my wardrobe resulted in very harmonious ensembles. The amount of compliments I got went through the roof. My confidence didn't suffer, either!

Does Seasonal Colour Analysis REALLY make that much of a difference? Maybe not if you are particularly colour savvy. Maybe not if you grew up with good style influencers and a bit of money to buy quality pieces. Maybe not if you have the time to spend working out what your perfect outfits are going to be.

But for the average, time-pressed person like me with limited resources - yes, it does. Yes! Yes, yes, YES!

Have a look at our catalogues organised by Seasonal Colour Analysis.

• Women's Catalogue

• Men's Catalogue

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