Have you ever pondered the cool, green needles of a whispering pine tree or marveled at the way the sun plays its rays over dappled, green landscapes? If you are your own unique version of one of the icy, majestic “Winter” personalities, you would look striking in the clean colors of the pine and bold, red carnations; whereas one of the lively, youthful “Spring” archetypes would look her irresistible best in the sunlit, happy tones of freshly cut grass and juicy peaches that express her own brand of bubbling vitality.
Similarly, an elegant, genteel “Summer” type (whether she be in the “Classic Summer,” “Iridescent Summer,” “Jeweltone Summer,” “Sunset Summer,” or “Renaissance Summer” category) would naturally stun draped in luxurious, Grecian robes that summon the colors of a moody sky before a rainstorm over a garden of demure, pink roses; while you hot, spicy “Autumns” would rock the rich, oily shades of desert sand dunes or a flaming sunset with unrivaled flare.
The best place to find your own personal style is in the post called “Expressive Style Transformation.” Further, “Fresh Concepts on Personalized Color” explains how to find your own, one-of-a-kind color palette taken from the colors in your wrists, palms, hair, and eyes (from David Zyla’s book Color Your Style). But below is a list of the general essences of each seasonal group to guide you in the right direction before you proceed to further narrow it down in terms of which type of Winter, Spring, Summer, or Autumn you may be. No one else on earth has your exact personality or optimal, expressive colors (although these archetypes highlight elements you might have in common with your general category, or archetype).
1. Winters
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Can you observe the colors of the fruits and vegetables in nature or your local supermarket? The beautiful, clear, greens of the watercress or mint could easily be classified as “Winter.” They seem to be completely free of warm, yellow undertones, and they look striking with bright, optic white and classic, rose-red. These ambitious, “Winter” gems have the ability to transfix, to hypnotize you into following them, à la Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Taylor, Sandra Oh, Victoria Beckham, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Connelly, Keira Knightly, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Penelope Cruz, and Johnny Depp.
2. Springs
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What about the Winter’s slightly-warmer sister season? Consider the juicy, deep pink of the inside of a watermelon; the soft, warm blush of a fresh peach; or the cheery, green hat on a crisply-off-white fennel bulb. These fresh, warm-to-neutral tones are the ammunition of the effervescent Springs (such as Reese Witherspoon, Amy Adams, Rihanna, Eva Longoria, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Latifa, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Chloe Sevigny, Will Smith, and Julia Roberts). They are not all overly bright, but they are all “shot with light,” as David Zyla aptly puts it. These Springs can make you feel invincible and ageless, and you will never stop laughing at their entertaining antics! You will constantly be asking them permission to use their catchy sayings, and their youthful auras will refresh you (regardless of age).
3. Summers
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Think luxurious, baked-and-cooled greens of gorgeous, towering, “Weeping Willow” trees in the hot, hazy, afternoon summer sun; or the cool, moody blues of the sea after a storm. There you have your nurturing, appropriate, captivating Summers (Scarlett Johansson, Andie MacDowell, Grace Kelly, Julianna Margulies, Uma Thurman, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Beyoncé Knowles, Greta Garbo, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Denzel Washington, Brad Pitt, and Diane Sawyer), and you will rarely have a more enjoyable, uplifting conversation with anyone. The time will fly!
4. Autumns
And now, for the smouldering, dry/spicy, edgy Autumns!
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For some reason, I gravitate to this season, probably because those dashing Autumns make outstanding style look so easy (à la Kate Winslet, Jessica Biel, Rita Hayworth, Sophia Loren, Jodie Foster, Cindy Crawford, Katherine Hepburn, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie)! Imagine yourself riding a powerful, gorgeous, Arabian stallion over the endless sands of the desert, or gazing into the flaming sunset at the end of another amazing, adventurous day!! This encapsulates the fiery, magnetic (and often highly-protective) Autumns, and few can withstand their heat!!!
Conclusion
Knowing what season you are is the first step to presenting yourself in the most authentic (and therefore trustworthy) way during that fleeting-but-vital first impression! Whatever your season, you need not stop at your expressive wardrobe. This is for homes too! Let them, as well as your colors, speak silently for you!! And, above all, follow your instinct, and have fun!!!
