Blog · Kleuranalyse Online
12 season color analysis: what are the 12 types and which one are you?
There are 12 seasonal types, divided over spring, summer, autumn and winter. We explain how 12 season color analysis works, which colors belong to each type and how to find out which one you are.
Which colors make you glow?
Some colors make you look fresh and rested, others make you look dull or tired. That is no coincidence. With 12 season color analysis, everyone belongs to one of twelve seasonal types, and each type has its own palette that brings out the best in you.
Below we walk you through all 12 types: how they work, which colors belong to each one and how to recognize which season suits you. Plus the mistakes we see most often among our clients.
How does 12 season color analysis work?
The method is based on the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each season has three types. Which type you are depends on three characteristics of your skin, hair and eyes combined:
Spring and autumn are the warm seasons, summer and winter the cool ones. Within each season, one characteristic is decisive. A Light Summer is above all light, a Soft Summer above all soft and a Bright Winter above all clear.
The 12 season color analysis types at a glance
This is a general overview. In a color analysis we look at the combination of all your features, and that combination is slightly different for everyone. Click on a type to see the complete color palette.
Spring
Warm, light and clear. Spring types look their best in fresh, sunny colors.
Sound familiar? Light skin with a warm glow, blonde or light brown hair with a golden sheen and clear, light eyes. More about the spring type →
Summer
Cool, soft and elegant. Summer types look their best in cool, soft colors with a fresh feel.
Sound familiar? A pink or bluish undertone, ash blonde or cool brown hair and soft or greyish eyes. More about the summer type →
Autumn
Warm, deep and earthy. Autumn types look their best in rich, warm colors inspired by nature.
Sound familiar? A golden or warm undertone, (dark) brown or reddish hair and warm green or hazel eyes. More about the autumn type →
Winter
Cool, clear and high in contrast. Winter types can carry strong, pure colors with ease.
Sound familiar? A cool undertone, dark brown to black hair and intense eyes. More about the winter type →
What we see most often
Among our clients, Soft Autumn and Soft Summer are the most common types. But people who do not yet know their type also tend to reach for soft, muted colors: beige, taupe, grey and dusty rose. Those colors feel safe. They do not stand out and seem to go with everything.
The thing is: safe is not the same as right. For a truly soft type these are beautiful colors. For many other types they work against you. A winter type needs contrast and clarity; in muted shades she disappears and her skin quickly looks dull. A spring type misses the warmth and freshness in greyish colors that make her come alive.
Signs that a color does not suit you:
- Your skin looks sallow, grey or rather red
- Dark circles and shadows under your eyes stand out more
- People notice your clothes first, and only then you
A color that does suit you makes your skin look more even and your eyes brighter.
Choosing based on someone else
Another pitfall: choosing colors because you liked them on someone else. Your friend’s camel coat, an influencer’s olive green. But her skin, hair and eyes are not yours. What looks warm and healthy on her may highlight exactly the wrong things on you.
Which of the 12 seasons are you?
Want a first direction? Try these three steps, ideally in daylight and without make-up:
- Test different colors. Hold fabrics or garments under your face. Which colors make your skin look fresh and even, and with which ones do shadows and redness stand out more?
- Look at your contrast. Is there a big difference between your hair, skin and eyes, or does everything blend softly together?
- Determine your undertone. Does gold suit you better than silver, or the other way around? That often says something about warm or cool. You will find more tips in our blog about warm or cool undertone.
You can get a quick first indication with our free color test.
On paper, one client ticked every box of a winter type: dark hair, light skin and lots of contrast. Yet she ended up in the summer palette. Next to her face, the softer summer colors simply did more for her. Checklists help you on your way, but in the end what you see is what counts.
Certainty with a 12 season color analysis
Looking at yourself objectively is difficult. Undertone and contrast are easily misjudged, and then you end up buying clothes that do not quite work after all. In a color analysis, we do that work for you. You receive:
- An objective analysis of your undertone, contrast and clarity
- Your personal color palette
- Tips for clothing, make-up and accessories
- Optionally a color fan to take with you when shopping
Not sure whether it is worth it? Read what a color analysis costs and why it saves you money.
Looking for inspiration? On our Pinterest page we collect outfits and color combinations for each seasonal type.
Frequently asked questions
Which seasonal type is the most common?
Among our clients, Soft Autumn and Soft Summer.
Can you have a neutral undertone?
Yes. Your undertone then lies between warm and cool. Contrast and clarity determine which seasonal type you belong to.
Can your seasonal type change?
Your undertone stays the same. Your contrast can change, for example when your hair turns grey. You usually stay in the same season, but some colors then work slightly differently.
What is the difference between a season and a seasonal type?
There are four seasons. Each season has three seasonal types, twelve in total.
Read also: How do you discover your power color? and How to build a wardrobe you love.
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