Seasonal colour analysis vs Dressing your Truth

Do you remember the 80s?  If you answered "yes", the chances are that at some stage during that decade you decided to go for a colour analysis.  I certainly did - after being encouraged by the transformation of a work colleague - and I was told that I was a "winter". This meant that I could wear black, lots of icy colours and many bright colours as well.  According to the colour analyst, that is! In reality, when I went shopping clutching my colour swatches, many of the colours just didn't suit me.  I ended up with a wardrobe full of clothes in the most flattering of winter's colours and was reasonably happy with the way I looked, but I knew that the system was far from perfect.

Winter colours - most of them were too harsh or dark on me.

Then we entered the 90s and colour analysis had become a bit more sophisticated, with the basic four seasons being subdivided and new categories emerging such as light or deep, soft or clear, cool or warm.  It made more sense than dividing millions of women into just four groups.  I was made redundant during this decade and offered a free colour analysis as part of my redundancy package. So what type of "winter" was I now that there were additional categories?  Actually, none of them!  This colour analyst told me I wasn't "winter" after all: I was a " bright spring". Confused?  I certainly was. This time I didn't bother buying a swatch of colours, after all some of my winter colours had suited me and others hadn't, so would this be any different?  I did buy a pretty scarf though in bright spring colours, which I still enjoy wearing.

Seasonal colour analysis is based on the colour of your hair, skin and eyes but, as I discovered, it doesn't suit everybody.  It started out with four groups, then expanded into twelve groups and, at the last time of checking, it was now sixteen groups.  Why is this?  Can any colour system, no matter how many groups there are, really be defined in such a way that all women can find their perfect colours within that system?

Spring colours suited me more, being slightly lighter as well as bright.

A new century and a new system to help women find their most flattering looks, but this time we are talking about more than just colour.  "Dressing your truth" returns to the idea that there are just four types of women, but they aren't using your colouring here: this system is based on your energy and recognising your true nature. The four types are bright and animated (T1); soft and subtle (T2); rich and dynamic (T3); bold and striking (T4).  When you are dressing your truth, you don't just dress in certain colours, you also take into account the design line, texture, fabrication and pattern. Colour or chroma is just one of five elements, and it's amazing how much difference combining all five elements can make when choosing new clothes.

I received a colour card with a difference.  When using colour analysis I tried to match the colours in my swatch exactly, but with Dressing your Truth the secret is choosing colours that are in harmony with your card and that "pop" when the card is held up against them..

I was surprised to find that the colours shown for type 1 all suited me.  How could this be?  My actual colouring wasn't part of the equation, and when I looked at their website: Dressing your Truth,  I realised that within each type there were many different women, from blondes to brunettes, short and tall, slim and not-so-slim, representing all age groups.  You have to admit that the before and after photos on their website are inspiring and seem to prove that this system works.

Once you know your dominant type, you can start thinking about your secondary type, though it doesn't change the colours that you should be wearing.  I realised that many of the elements for my type 1 are elements that I am naturally drawn to: rounded or V-necklines; textures that feel crisp rather than chunky: light to medium-weight fabrics, that feel light and fresh on the body: animated patterns.  And of course I do love bright jewellery!

Wearing some type 1 colours!

This system simplifies shopping.  It's not just a case of rejecting clothes that are the wrong colour for you, but if the colour is right and the style or pattern are wrong, it is also a "No. No".  You soon learn to pick out the right clothes and discard the rest.  I have loved wearing the clothes that suit my type and received many compliments too. I feel good about myself and more confident as I learn to recognise my true type.

If you are intrigued by the concept as much as I am, why not try the free Dressing your Truth course?  Then leave your comments here so we can see what you think about it!