Monday Musings – Color Analysis, What I Wore, and Amazing Pie Recipe
Happy Monday ladies. I have a lot on my mind this week, so fasten your seat belts because it’s a twisty ride š We resumed our Sunday afternoon drives yesterday and realized we’ve been really missing them. It’s apparently Mandarin season because they were for sale along every country road we drove down, so we loaded up.
Our first stop was this cute painted roadside stand that had organic mandarins…my favorite. We only bought one bag because I knew there would be other cute places to stop. And sure enough, I was right.
These baby goats were bleating their little hearts out when we stopped at the second place. I walked up to video them, and they clammed right up. I turned my back and they started right up again the little rascals.
I came away from this stand with another large bag of Mandarins, a bottle of local honey, and some Mandarin hand soap too. Farm stands are dangerous territory for me because I love to support local farmers and try unique things I can’t find at the supermarket.
Personal Color Analysis
I know, random, right? I have not stopped delving into the different types of PCA systems available to us. In fact, I had another in-person analysis done last week. When she proclaimed that as a Spring, I would need to always color my hair, I discounted her theories altogether. Another analyst had suggested the same thing when she proclaimed me an Autumn, but it’s utter garbage. Just rubbish.
We are not mistakes. We do not break when we get older and allow nature to take its course on our heads. When our hair goes gray it’s not always cool and not just gray. It can be silver, dove gray, blonde gray, smoke, white, cool ash gray, platinum silver, mist, pewter, warm gray, charcoal mist, and on and on. It’s the right color for your body and coloring. Full stop.
If you are struggling with your newly natural color, it’s very likely that your clothes are now the wrong shade and reflecting that onto your face and hair. So many of us are walking around with old messages in our heads about what looks best on us and what doesn’t. What worked in our 30s, will not work now so we need to stay flexible and open to change.
As I look at the color pallets I have been given, many have similar colors, but they call me varying seasons. It’s semantics and because each system uses different criteria to determine the season you are, in their system. Skill plays an important role here as well. I was certified to do color analysis 15 years ago but knew I wasn’t competent enough to do them, so I didn’t. I focused on style.
Some systems take into account your eye and hair color, some do not. Some are very scientific and only consider what happens to your skin when you are draped in colors. They are looking at contrasts and determining what colors do not change your complexion. They are focused on finding colors that harmonize with what color you already have in your skin. When we wear colors that relate (harmonize) with the colors already present in our skin, we look healthy, visible, and vibrant.
Virtual color analysis is highly questionable because the analyst can only see your skin overtone, not your undertone on a monitor. To truly see how your skin reacts to drapes and colors, they need to see you in person.
I have several interviews upcoming with experts in color analysis that I think you’ll find fascinating and I hope will answer your questions and mine.
Pie
I consider myself ready for Thanksgiving because:
- I know what I’m cooking
- I know who is coming
- I know what I’m going to wear
Other than that, I have a whole lot of work to do to get ready. Hubs ordered an organic Turkey, and bought sweet potatoes…the rest is up to me. I’m not a control freak but very persnickety when it comes to important family dinners. What I like best about Thanksgiving dinner, besides being with loved ones, is this epic Pecan Pie I make which I shared with you here.
That was a rollercoaster of musings, whew.
Has your hair gone natural?
Thanks for reading ladies and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
Oh my, That pecan pie is amazing. It’s my new go-to recipe. Thank you so much for helping to make Thanksgiving with my 96 year old father extra special!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Color seasons are a minefield. As my hair changed, my skin changed, too. I have softened my color choices into the mid-range, no longer the boldest ones: a neutral slightly on the warm side but also cool, if that makes sense. Moderate contrast is best for me — not too low, or I look washed out; not too high or I disappear and the color takes over.
If I were guessing, the “summer” season would be for you.
I do understand exactly what you mean:)
That pie looks sensational! I understand what you mean by colors done by a professional. I was certified to do that also. And personal shopping. Who am kidding. It is a constant system of change. Basically I am the same or similar, but preferences and best colors change.
I will be so interested in what you have to finally say about color analysis here in the Sacramento area. I can normally see the extremes of what colors are awful for me and I realize I am yellow based but I used to look best in primary colors and really bright colors. I have noticed that now I look better in slightly less loud colors more coral than primary red and I can fit in some warm more autumn colors like marigold and rust warm caramel/camel.
By the way, I did go gray and my colorist helped keep it attractive but ultimately we all hated it so back to the bottle!
But more than color, as I have aged I think the body changes are the hardest to deal with from a style perspective at least for those of us who are not genetically gifted! Either way, wearing clothes I feel good in is most important I agree.
My hair was dark, then when I started going grey I died it blonde for many years. It has grown out over the past year and is while on top and black and grey streaks at the side and back. I am quite pale and still deciding what colors suit me best now. My grey tops look awful now.
Also – about your recent post. I read every post of yours as you are a “real” woman living in retirement, like me now.
Jennifer, I didnātā respond the other day when you asked why we enjoy reading you and I wanted to make sure I told you ā hope you see it here. Going to list them because there are so many. Thanks for doing what you do Jennifer!
1) I love Nordstromās and I love that many of your recommendations are from there. Even though our heights are different (Iām 5ā10ā) you help me shop. Youāre great about specifying about lengths of garments, which is helpful.
2) I enjoy your real straightforward attitude.
3) I appreciate that you embrace your age and value it.
4) You are interested in Color. I am too.
5) I feel like you are a soft summer, as am I, and itās great to see so many clothes in colors that I too would wear. I love that you are wearing more colors and less black than you did years ago. Those soft colors look beautiful on you. As an aside when I was in my late 40ās I was diagnosed as a soft autumn. The same colorist recently said I was actually a soft summer and sheād gotten it wrong. She said Soft Autumn is the most misdiagnosed season. I feel so right in my soft summer colors.
6) Last reason and one of the most important: You are kind and I appreciate that.
I let my hair go natural several years ago thinking that the color would work with my complexion. I was white on the top and the sides and then various shades of brown/grey sides and back. However, the grey/white never really worked with my complexion. So, I went back to a blonde balayage. It know works with my complexion and I can wear colors that really work with my complexion. As much as I wanted to be natural, it just didn’t work. As far as “color analysis,” I think we know what works best and should wear what we feel good in.
Your pecan pie looks delish. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
The “have your colours done” thing drives me crazy because there are some basics that none of them take into account. You have named a few important things to consider but here are some more.
Dyes are a challenge because they appear quite different on each type of fibre. Wool, cashmere, silk, cotton, bamboo, polyester, rayon, acetate, etc. will all “take” the dye in their own way. If your colour analysis person uses polyester fabric to type your colour it will influence the outcome and it can be very different than if they used cotton fabric “scarves” to place under your chin.
The dyes are also tweaked to make it possible for the “Winter” colouring to wear them because they are the larger number in the total population. You need a good eye for colour to see this subtle change. One of the most obvious is brown….finding a good rich true brown is almost impossible since brown usually has more red in the dye so the clothing will not look bad on a “Winter”. Most dyes are adjusted in a similar way. Even the colour swatches you get after having your colours done are not fool proof since they too are just one fibre (don’t know of anyone who gives you your swatches with say cotton, polyester, wool, etc. to show the difference).
The best thing you can do is shop with a friend who is GOOD with colour…..stand in good natural light preferably outside with the item under your chin and ask them if it looks ok by your face (no grey, yellow, green, etc. tones coming out in your skin).
I grew up with a Mom who was a fibre artist so I learned colour by “osmosis” and yes Itten colour theory is real. The difference in colour on fabric can be subtle so find that friend to be your eyes in daylight and learn as you go
You look so good in blue, Jennifer. I decided to go natural a couple of years ago and couldn’t be happier. It still reads as dark brown in some light and quite gray in others. I’ve gotten so many compliments from random people, asking if I coloured it this way. I am finding that I need something softer near my face as I’m not as high contrast in colouring as I used to be.
Hi Jennifer. I am new to reading your blog and am glad that I found it.
I am currently studying Carol Tuttles system called Dressing Your Truth based on energy profiling. It is very fascinating and I would love to hear if you have any experience with this system or what your thoughts would be on it.
She has a free test to help those interested in determining their energy type and lots of information about colours, styles, fashion, etc. to help women and men, even teens and children dress to express their inner self more effectively and confidently.
I will look forward to your thoughts about this. Thanks.
My hair is still colored because my hair stylist say I still have too much dark in my hair.
I would love to have white hair but do not want it stripped. I guess I have to wait a while for nature to do itās magic.
My hair has always been natural in that I only colored it once, twenty years ago when I first noticed some grey. I didnāt like the effect. All my natural highlights were gone. I am deeply conflicted about what to do now that I will turn 70. I still have a lot of my natural color, but each year more and more of it goes to grey. It does seem that society responds more respectfully to older women with colored hair; yet I donāt want to begin an expensive habit. And, I am curious. My mother did not live long enough to know what her natural grey hair would be. Once it turned salt and pepper, she dyed it to the end of her life. I love your concept that our hair remains the exact right perfect hair for us, and I want to at least see what that is before I cover it up.
My hair is definitely natural! I am so lucky that it is a lovely silver colour.
I do have to watch that I protect the colour from going yellow with the hot flat iron.
I probably should get my colours done again, itās been many years.
Itās funny thoughā¦.you just know when you have the wrong colour close to your face.
I was gray in my early 40s but continue to color until my mid 50s. At first it was salt and pepper for several years now itās mostly silver on top but still dark black underneath and my eyebrows went from dark brown to black still havenāt figured out how that happened but at least I donāt have to pencil or color them. I get compliments on my hair all the time. Frequently from men that say boy I wish my wife would let her hair go gray. So there you go ladies
I had my colors analyzed in my late 20s. I have held to those colors all these years(Iām 72) and it has worked well for me. I feel like these are the colors i like best. I had to throw out yellow and a grayish blue I liked, but i also added colors I hadnāt worn before.
I had medium dark brown hair then and probably pinker skin tone. Now i have the blonder hair color i had as a child. I was typed as a winter.
Please keep us updated if you find someone you like, it would be fun to get an update.
I am in the process of growing out my hair so this is a timely post for me! I thought winter would be the best time to do this as I donāt go far in the winter and when I do go out I can throw on a touque. Both my mother and grandmother had beautiful white hair so hoping I have inherited that! Iām about one haircut away. I have always been attracted to jewel tone colours and have always received compliments when I wear them so it will be interesting how my hair colour will affect this.
As a “winter”, I look best in jewel tones, pure white (versus ecru), and black. However, with dark hair, wearing black had been tricky. But for the past 2 years, my now-natural hair color is mostly gray with some dark still remaining giving it a salt and pepper effect. Now I can wear black with ease. š
Just curious as to what you will do with all those mandarin oranges?
We are eating them all day long!
Jennifer,
I am a new follower, residing in Napa, CA. All the 60 to 80 ladies in my neighborhood color their hair including me. My grandmother had totally white hair at 30. I inherited her body traits. Although I have asked friends and family if I should go to my natural color all said a definite NO! Including hubby! So I will continue to color my hair a deep deep red. My eyes pop with the color because they are green and I have very fair skin. Love your advise, the outfits you pair and suggestions on style. They are great!
Kathryn
Lost my hair to cancer treatments when I was 50. When it finally grew back it was snow white, and I was unable to color it for several months for medical reasons. Thirteen years have passed and it’s still white! I decide to stick with it but I do (still) find choosing colors a challenge. It’s easy to look “washed out” or to have too much contrast. My white is a cool ice white so I find blues & purples work best. Tans, off whites, and yellows are terrible. My skin tone is warm so that throws a challenge in the mix.
Try more brights with middle saturation. Medium depth.
I love this post, Jennifer! I had my colors done many years ago and came out with a gorgeous palette as a Satin Spring. At that time I was coloring my hair to keep my gentle blond. Now, years and one pandemic later, I have silver hair. I have been thinking about trying to get an update from someone who uses the same system and can āadjustā for my new / natural silverā¦because that is ME at 70!
I have not colored my hair in over four years. It feels better and is not damaged. I think the Collagin for Her that you recommend is helping.
I agree with you take on color and going silver. I still have warm undertones but I have to play them up more with warm saturated color.
I canāt believe how much healthier my hair is now that I donāt colour it anymore. I used to have brown hair and I loved wearing earthly tones. Now these colours look terrible on me. Iām wearing brighter colours with grey and black as my neutral. My husband has commented that Iām more fashionable and he likes the brighter colours. Donāt be afraid to stop colouring your hair.
Something else about color analysis. Remember the hoorah about the dress being black or blue? We each see color differently. I may think red looks great on you but someone else might think it make you look yellow. Just a thought to keep in mind.
Very true!!!
Hello: Thank you for the reminder that a little day trip can be renewing and fun and supportive of local businesses. I recently retired and gave myself the gift of a color and style analysis. Like most of us I had this done many years ago and was pegged as a summer. The recent color consult also came up with summer. I am NOT willing to give up all my black clothing, but do now see how it can be overpowering for my particular skin tone etc. I have let my hair do its own thing for about 10 years. It continues to go from salt and pepper gray to white. What is frustrating is the amount of yellow that creeps in from the various dandruff shampoos I must use. Yes, I do use those purple shampoos weekly, but they are temporary at best. Expensive salon treatments don’t really help much either. I would love to hear if anyone has a solution for the yellows!
I pour purple shampoo into dandruff shampoo. About 50/50. Works great.
Hello Jennifer! Thanks for all the information and I agree with you about color analysis. I finally decided I could tell what colors I feel most comfortable in so that is what I wear. I also go by the colors that when I am wearing, I get the most comments. I let my hair go natural about three years ago not knowing what to expect. What I got was silver white. The most difficult transition has been my eyebrows. The old med brown is just not right so it has been trial and lots of errors. Thanks again. I enjoy your daily posts
Best advice is still yours Jennifer: wear what makes you feel confident. I just ordered a lightweight coat I’ve been wanting a while. A pretty color option that’s aligned with my usual season type was calling me, but in the end I chose navy because it’s classic and year-round friendly, but most of all it’s a color I feel good wearing!
I stopped coloring my hair a few years ago and I’m so glad I did. Instead of just letting things go I used a toner shampoo and my stylist did some highlights and low lights to blend while it grew out.
The last of my hair color was cut off shortly before the pandemic, so it was good timing too.
Oh that pie looks good!
I believe we can wear any color. It depends on the intensity of the color. I can wear most blues but not pastel or dark. Since turning silver haired, I love the turquoiseās but I do not classify myself as warm season or cool season. I am equally happy with the greens in the so called spring pallet.
Watermelon red to burgundy makes me happy. Trust your own instincts. Thatās my opinion and Iām happy to give it whether itās asked for or not.šš
Me toošš
I am so jealous! My husband and I LOVE mandarins. The options available in our store are the tiny, tough ones. Glad you can enjoy this special treat.
I have been skeptical of color āanalysisā for some time. Certain colors and shapes of clothing suit us and others do not. After trial and error (oh, so many errors), Iāve learned that mid range cool tones are best for me. As my hair has come back in silver, I enjoy bumping up to jewel tones upon occasion. So, thatās my wardrobe formula.
I live in Lincoln, Placer County and know every place you took those pics! I currently use the Your Color Style system and am Bright, Cool, Light. I really enjoy your outfits because many times you are wearing my colors!
Wishing you a blessed holiday season š„§
I love your thoughts on natural hair! I totally agree.
Hi Jennifer! That pie looks delicious! Iām not a pie baker, but we usually have pumpkin and apple pies for our familyās Thanksgiving. I had my colors done back in the 80s by a Color Me Beautiful consultant. I was a pretty easy client; I had dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and very fair skināa textbook āwinter.ā My hair started graying in my early thirties, and I got off the dye train during Covid. My hair is now primarily white with a bit of dark gray and black in the back. I still look best in the bright and high-contrast winter colors and have stuck to those colors for the most part since my color consultation years ago. I did, however, recently add some cognac loafers and booties because I love that color with denim, black, and gray! The best part about sticking with my colors for years is that almost everything I own mixes and matches effortlessly. Happy Thanksgiving!
I went grey about five years ago now and l do occasionally think about dying it because l have -very grateful here-a face that looks younger than my hair!! And the grey puts me in the āmaāam ā territory which l loathe. A great haircut is needed. I now buy the best shampoo l can afford and take supplements for thinning. I love your Sunday drives and lm very enviousā¦l mentioned it to my ā34 years together hubbyā and he just moaned about the the price of petroleum and the crowds on the roads etc and l thought to myself l needed a new Sunday travel buddy just for trips and excursionsā¦.
I have let my hair go natural! Over the course of this year, I had two total knee replacements. General anesthesia really does a number on my hair so I decided not to color it and let it be. It hasnāt been this healthy since my teens. Iām pretty lucky and the grey is coming in slowly and in nice streaks so I donāt have to color my length to blend into my roots. At this rate, I donāt think I will have to worry about changing the colors I wear for a long time.
Having lost my hair twice this year, due to chemotherapy, Iām observing that what is growing in is a salt and pepper color that has a bit of curly texture. My hair was curly before all this, so not really surprised. I have no idea what colors to wear, since my skin tone is definitely affected too. No going out in the sun at all sunblock everywhere if I do. I seem to still be able to wear black and look good in it. White never looks good on me. Tans still wash me out. I can only shop online, no contact in the stores, so itās a bit of hit or miss. Thank goodness for Zappos and Amazon free returns.
Your pie looks amazing-we always have pecan pie at Thanksgiving too but since not everyone likes it my brother and I will share it out over a few miles this year.
Wishing you all the best with your recovery Susan. I’ve also lost my hair due to chemo, and have my last chemo session this Friday, and have the white “peach fuzz” look at the moment. I’m so looking forward to my hair growing back, and since I won’t be colouring it anymore, looking forward to inventing the new me.
Thanks Yvonne-best of luck to you too. And have a wonderful holiday. This hair journey is interesting to say the least! And new lip colors are fun to try too.
Loved this analysis! I was analyzed as a Summer many, many years ago. Then a Spring, also many years ago. Recently a Light Spring, and I do love most all the colors. And a True Summer, and I do love most all the colors. Crazy, right? What I’ve decided is to pick my favorite colors, and if they look fine with my hair and skin – wear them. I have moved to navies and grays for neutrals, but I always need some color. I let my hair color grow out during the pandemic, and I am now a pretty platinum blonde (really gray) mixed in with a little bit of regular blond left over. To give the Spring proponents their due, both times I was deemed Spring I did have highlighting in my hair. Since my color has grown out, I’m just plain Summer.
I decided to go gray, to my surprise my hair is white š. My hairdresser is putting a nice color blending white and blond. No more root cover up. I have changed my eye make up to a softer brown, Iām still playing with lip color. My daughter is the recipient of some of my clothes that just donāt work because of the color. Iām getting lots of compliments on the changes.
Love those mandarins!
Good Morning!
I am 59 – about 7 years ago I decided on a whim to see what would happen if I didnāt color my hair? I had just stopped a routine of straightening and coloring and was working on getting my natural curl back. I never went back! My hair is a subtle salt and pepper and I get a lot of compliments from hair stylists! I got another friend to try it and she converted as well! And to think women pay to have their hair dyed gray! š
The young women do
Those goats are adorable!
I find the whole color analysis topic fascinating, but also frustrating. I have been on my own journey to identify my personal style and best colors after realizing I had to rebuild my wardrobe after retirement and a little menopausal body “rearrangement.” I toyed with the idea of having a professional color analysis, but realized this process is highly operator dependent, so I decided to go it alone. Although I used a lot of resources focused on seasons, I found it was more useful for me to focus on “warm or cool” and “bright or muted”. I mostly fall into the soft autumn “warm and muted” category (emphasis on the muted), but have grey/green eyes, so find I can wear some dusty blues, greys and greens that would normally be considered part of a soft summer palette. This knowledge helped me understand why I never felt my best in very cool or saturated colors or patterns with high contrast. Recognizing this has allowed me to build a more cohesive wardrobe and made shopping more efficient and enjoyable since I now hone in on colors and styles that I know generally work for me. After a lot of trial and error, I think I am in the right place. Still, it would be great to have all this validated by a professional, or even a really color-savvy friend! I am looking forward to reading about your experience with this process.
It sounds like youāve thought this through thoroughly
I had my colors done when the trend first started. I’m considered a summer which seems correct. At least I have a guide line. But a color I can not wear ever is olive green ! I had a beautiful sweater in that color and when I wore it I was asked if I felt well. So I’m definitely not an autumn.
Love your posts !
Iām not an autumn either:)
I just love your posts Jennifer. You have such inspiring “common sense” suggestions and ideas. Thank you so much. I am late 60’s and decided a year ago to stop colouring my hair and to overhaul my wardrobe. It’s been a “work in progess” but it’s been fun and it’s been great determining what works and what doesn’t. This is an interesting time of life and I find if I feel good with how I look I can just get on with enjoying life. Doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Your ideas are invaluable. Thanks for sharing. Jan in Australia.
Pecan pie is my absolute favorite. Of course I found out it has the most calories of all pies! But I don’t care at Thanksgiving! I agree with your color analysis ideas. I mine done many years ago but don’t think it still applies as I’ve aged and let my hair go natural. How do you decide what colors to wear now? I’ve been experimenting with all colors and all I know for sure is black and grey seem to look good on me. Happy Thanksgiving.
I was told the same thing 37 years ago when I had my colors analyzed–that, as a spring (there was no warm or cool, just spring), I could NEVER stop coloring my medium brown hair. (Or what? People would run for their lives at the horror of my hoary countenance?) For many years I did only a few blonde highlights, because my scalp became very sensitive to the chemicals in the dye. Then along came Covid. Interestingly enough, as the white hair increased, the effect was similar to having my blonde highlights, so why would I go back to the expense and the hassle of that? At this point my hair looks rather taupe overall, my scalp is healthier, and I’m perfectly satisfied–and STILL wearing those spring colors.
My mom always made pecan pies. It wasn’t a holiday without one. Happy Thanksgiving, Jennifer!
Bravo!! Happy Thanksgiving
You’re right, your hair color isn’t the determining factor. It’s the hue of your skin.
Bingo! Itās all about the skin
Iām in the process of letting my grey hair grow in. I havenāt been able to grow my bangs out in 5 years because the hair bleach makes them break off. As far as color analysis I was told many years ago that I was a summer, however I refuse to only wear āmy colors ā. I wear any color I want. I love color and I donāt want to be limited.
Love pecan pie. We went over to friend’s house the other night and they offered us pecan pie, so good.
My natural is now all white, and has been going gray since my late 20’s. I have colored since my 30’s. During pandemic I let it grow out to see what it would look like, and at this time I would say with my coloring, fine flyaway thinning hair I will continue to color. My hair was med golden brown and now I dye it medium to dark blonde. I feel younger , look younger and my hair has body with color. I wish I did not have to color, but I just look better with it colored.
There are some beautiful women with white and gray hair and they are the lucky ones, but some of us just cannot pull out off.
Jennifer, you look good natural, your coloring works for you. Looking forward to more on color analysis.
Coloring is great for giving my hair body.
“I would need to always color my hair.” WOW! That is crazy. I can’t believe someone would tell you that. I stopped coloring my hair a few years ago, and haven’t looked back once.
Can you please tell us where you drove to find all those wonderful farm stands? Thank you. I am enjoying all the talk about color!
Around Auburn there are lots of them.
Pecan pie is my favorite — I’ve been making it since I was a kid!!! It’s not Thanksgiving without it. Your recipe sounds amazing!
I’m still coloring my hair, but I’ve gone a bit lighter and have highlights which seem to be better for me as I age. One of my grandmothers had beautiful white hair but I don’t think I inherited that trait!
Your color analysis posts are so interesting and helpful– I’m still trying to figure out what I am! I sometimes think I am a combination of different ‘seasons’ … is this possible?
On a side note, I purchased the eye glass wipes at Target and they are the best!!!
Their are shoulder seasons. We are all a combination of warm and cool. Itās just where along that scale we are. You will be one season but it can have warm and cool colors in it.
That’s right too, you will be celebrating your Thanksgiving in the US on the 25th! Like you, I love pecan pie (besides lemon as well as chocolate peanut-butter it is my favourite out of the three … āŗ) however I finely grind the pecans then lightly spread to form a top crust, top off with three pecans in the middle, then bake.
Looking forward to your colour expert analysis interviews. -Brenda-
Where the heck do you live? Your backgrounds are always so beautiful. And your Sunday drives are such amazing looking places. Your fashion advice for us mature ladies has been so helpful for me. I struggle with ādressing my ageā and not feeling like a dowdy old lady! COVID has been so challenging, also. I live in a smaller town, and many of our stores have closed. I love looking at clothes on line, but not buying. I am so used to trying on clothes, feeling the fabric, actually seeing the color, so my options are very limited. Every clothing item counts! Thank you. Linda
I went gray this year, going from dark brown, and I have enjoyed how it has changed my color palette. I still like to wear the cool colors and jewel tones associated with dark hair and they look all right, but now I can decently wear warmer tones. Tan still looks awful on me, but I don’t like it anyway. I just bought a hooded sweatshirt from Athleta in a very bright color called oxided yellow and love how it looks with my gray hair. It is OK to change when you are old.
It is totally ok. I agree:)
I self-analyzed for color and soft summer seems to fit the best. Jennifer you mentioned that the color palettes for different systems don’t include identical colors and that is what I’ve noticed. Soft summer is the warmest of the summer seasons, so some of the soft autumn colors can be worn. For me what has been the most helpful is choosing colors in the medium range of contrast, looking for muted, soft colors (no hard bright colors like taxi cab yellow primary red, royal blue), and paying attention to scale in patterns (small to medium) as my features are small. My overall look is low contrast so I need more color in my clothes, generally not pastels. I have warmish white hair, blue green eyes, and fair skin. Since I started working on my colors, I’ve been training my eye and getting better at seeing the differences. I don’t like or wear every color in the soft summer palette, but there is plenty to choose from. From looking at your photos, you look like one of the summers. With summer colors as a base, if you like a color from a different season and think it makes you look good, add it to your colors and wear it.
Sounds like we have been on the same journey!
I was always called a soft summer -blue eyes, fair/pink skin blonde highlights but when I bought make up in the cool range most of it looked awful on me. When I finally decided to go grey I realised I had some auburn in my natural hair (I hadnāt seen it for over 30 years) my main characteristic is muted. Soft warm or (some) soft cool colours suit me best. Iām riveted by your experiences with colour āexpertsā- donāt get me started on trying to decide the colour of my veins!
Pink Azalea & Kami add me to the list of soft summer’s.
I too think Jennifer looks great in the soft summer colors, that’s one reason I love following her. I’ve also found that smaller prints or solids, muted, soft colors really enhance my face and hair. I stopped coloring about 5 years ago after years of highlighting my mousy brown/blond hair. It’s still brown with some gray but I love it. It just seems right with my skin tone. Nature does know what she’s doing!
Iām leaning toward light summer because muted colors wash me out. I love this subject. So fascinating.
First: thanks for a lovely blog–lots of topics.
Second: had my colors done years ago and, interestingly, she did not call my colors a season!
But since then have closely stuck to the colors in my “color fan” and have had far more compliments on my clothes than ever before. My colors were softer and more heathery than I had been wearing (and no red or black). Recently I wore an outfit: soft sandy pink Eileen Fisher sweater, a taupe Eileen Fisher pair of crepe pants, and pink “saddle” shoes and one of my staff loved it —
Third: did not comment on why I really like your blog days ago-but again–it is the lovely reality of it. Yes to supporting local farmers!
Fourth: we are having duck, vegetables, apple pie with pippin apples, and pumpkin/butternut squash pie for Thanksgiving-who knew that actually the “pumpkin” in the Libby’s can is really a version of butternut squash?!
thanks again! and have a lovely Thursday–
Happy Thanksgiving Mary:)
Yes my hair is natural! When my daughter was three and I was 43, I grew tired of coloring it. We lived in the boonies of Jay Peak, Vermont, so it wasnāt practical unless I did it myself. Whether colored professionally or at home, and even a gifted trip to Frederic Fekkai in Manhattan, my brown hair would quickly lose the color and turn brassy. In turn, the coloring with my skin made me look ill. So I thought about it and ultimately decided Iād rather look old and healthy than sick!
I had it cut very short and enjoyed a fun grow-out phase with blonde tips and barrettes and mousse. With my newly silver hair, the first thing I did was embrace my cool coloring and buy a pink sweater that matched my daughterās from Hannah Andersson. Twenty years later, Iāve never regretted the decision and am often complimented on my hair. (Now my challenge is how much Iāve been losing.)
Thinning hair is heartbreaking. Iām sorry youāre dealing with it too.
I’ve let my hair go its own way and it’s mostly grey with darker ashy undertones. Funny to me, since when I was younger it was a warmer, lighter brown (or so it seemed to me then). I’ve had my colors analyzed a couple of times and they always come out “winter”. Once I was told that one’s favorite colors can be a good indication of what colors look good on a person. This makes sense to me as I usually wear what I like, right? If it makes my skin glow, all the better. If it doesn’t….well, I guess if I don’t feel good in something, I just don’t wear it again. By this time in my life I’ve pretty much settled on my basic color palette–colors that I feel confident in. Occasionally I splash out in other colors and sometimes I end up loving those pieces, and sometimes I don’t. I guess I follow the counsel you always give to wear what you like! I appreciate your down-to-earth approach to this sort of thing.
Yes, my hair is natural. It’s silver — almost white in front. I became allergic to hair color several years ago and let it revert to its natural color. I’d used temporary color for years as it gradually turned grey with no problems. Not being able to use permanent color was a big disappointment, as my hair is so fine I’d been looking forward to the color adding texture. I was lucky, and quite like it now. But my wardrobe colors are quite different. My original color was a reddish brown (not a true auburn), and the autumnal colors that suited no longer do, nor French navy. Interestingly, I can wear true white and black now, which I never thought looked quite right. The constant is true navy.
Thank you so much for your comments about hair color. To me, the pandemic demonstrated how beautiful women are when they wear minimal makeup and forget about coloring their hair. I saw so many women who looked so much better and more vibrant in their natural state. I stopped coloring my hair too and now my stylist cuts to show off my increasing gray; friends and even strangers have commented that they love my hair color (which at this point is a little of everything!). I think maybe we should embrace our aging?
And I want to come to your house for Thanksgiving. That pie looks amazing and here in the upper Midwest fresh oranges are a real treat! Enjoy the holiday.
Yours sounds gorgeous! Happy Thanksgiving
I enjoyed the meandering path through your post! Many years ago when I was a young mother, I went with some friends for a color analysis. Our hair was covered with a white cloth – the idea was that if you colored your hair, that might throw the process off. The analysis was done with draping. Both analysts thought I would be a summer, but based on the draping decided I was a winter. That has influenced my clothing choices ever since. As for hair, I chose to let nature take its course (except for the occasional pop of bright color, just for fun). And as for pecan pie, I also have a killer recipe that relies on Lyleās Golden Syrup, which is sugar based rather than corn based. Itās absolutely delicious, and as there are only three adults in the family who like pecan pie, we can have all we want!
I like the idea of covering the hair because you want to see how the skin reacts.
Your pecan pie looks really good! I have gone natural but I do get little streaks of pink in my hair. It’s fun and adds a little to my silver white hair.
How fun!!! I love it
Only have a few shiny silvers in my dark brown hair. Not sure what I’ll do when they become more pervasive.
I had color analysis years ago by a woman who didn’t go by seasons. She went by skin color and undertone, eye color and hair color. She gave you little squares of every fabric she draped on you that flattered you and a purse sized notebook to put them in. She also discussed which metals for jewelry would be more flattering as well as the shape. She was really thorough and it was so informative.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
That is just like the color analysis I had done. I really appreciate approaching each person as an individual and not feeling the need to classify them into a group. In this way, each person gets their own unique set of very best colors.
I agree
Happy Thanksgiving Jane
In my younger years, I was an Autumn and wore lots of tan, loden green, orange, rust . . . you get the idea. When my hair turned gray, I became a Spring. Now, I look better in coral, mint green, violet, aqua, etc. It’s definitely true that our hair color affects our clothing choices when we’re looking for colors that appear flattering close to our faces. I think the key it to consider cool and warm colors. Although I’ve transitioned away from Autumn colors, the Spring colors are still in the “warm” category. Cool colors (for example, white and black) are never going to be flattering colors for me.
We need to pay attention to saturation too. How clear or muted a color is makes a huge difference
Your journey into colour analysis is the most frustrating I have heard. Well, except when I had one done (second one) many many years ago and she got so frustrated trying to figure me out that she threw up her hands and gave me autumn and winter swatches and told me I could wear any colour. Talk about a waste of time and money. Just goes to show that training is random in some cases and an eye for colour can’t be taught in a short course. I believe a painter’s eye ( a good one) is necessary to distinguish the subtleties between shades and tones and warm and cool. A set number of swatches does not necessarily work for everyone in that season, there are so many differences. Anyway, that pie looks like heaven, I would have waaaay to much of it so would have to send it home with someone else. Glad you had fun on your drive, they are good for the sould.
I am looking forward to your upcoming colour interviews. This topic continues to interest me and I’ve looked at many systems online trying to determine what their criteria is.
Going grey is another topic close to my heart right now as I will soon be natural. I’m pretty sure my hair will grow in white, and I’m also sure I’ll have to play around with my make-up and clothing colours. Even now, I’m seeing there are colours that don’t suit me as well as they used to and I’m switching my neutrals over to greys and navy.
The pecan pie looks delicious – rather like a giant butter tart.
Butter tarts are my weakness š
I did color analysis many years ago, with the cloth draping, skin tones, etc. and it was very helpful. I don’t follow it as strictly as I used to, but it’s still useful. Regarding hair color, the best stylist I ever went to (she’s now retired), told me that my hair was coming in platinum gray, and it would be a great look for me with my skin tones. She was right! I haven’t colored my hair in many years, and I get compliments on my gray hair.
My kind of post – various topics all in one post! As far as color analysis, there is a woman in my area who does them and I feel she is spot on. She came to my house and did a personal analysis with various fabric colors she brought. I have a keychain of those colors to take with me when I shop. My good colors lean towards vibrant colors like reds, royal blue and black. Pinks, grays and army greens wash out my skin tone. She also suggested how to “highlight,” not color, my hair to get more depth and have more agreement with my skin tone by adding a couple of shades of red. She also said as I age and my hair grays, that my skin tone will change and the colors we looked at that day may not be the most flattering at this point. I turn 60 next month and have some gray – it is coming in sporadically. So I use highlights to make it look purposeful and blended, otherwise I’d have one big shock of gray in the middle of my head and a few around my face. Since I’m definitely not a fashion maven, the color analysis helped me immensely. Thanks for the pie recipe! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
She sounds very helpful! Happy Thanksgiving to you too
Happy Monday! Dentist today soā¦..
Wow! Iāve been called a spring (mostly) and that was decades ago when color typing was super popular around here. No one hit terribly detailed with warm or cool but back then I assumed cool. My latest venture was a virtual color typing and it was Summer. Maybe Iām a Soribg/summer. Is there such a thing?
I color my hair at salon but have had the woman who highlights add both lighter and darker highlights for contrast. Iām fairly happy with this process.
Like you Iām organized and ready for the thanksgiving holiday!