Seasonal Colour Analysis v. Artistic Colour Analysis
- Joanna
- Dec 30, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
This article describes:
What is Seasonal Colour Analysis?
Difficulties with Seasonal Colour Analysis
The Stylemap 'Artistic Colour Analysis' Service
What is Seasonal Colour Analysis?
In seasonal colour analysis, the analyst seeks the greatest amount of colour harmony between the client's natural skin tone and the colour drapes, placed near the face. Usually, the colour temperature; the colour brightness and colour depth of different colour drapes are systematically compared to find the set of colours that show the greatest harmony with the client's skin tone.
The goal of the analysis isn't to find the colour drapes that perfectly complement the client's skin tone and colouring, but rather to discover one set of colour drapes out of a number of sets (4, 12, 16 or more, depending on the system) that complement the client's skin tone, more than the other sets.
The results of the analysis, when applied by the client to their wardrobe, tends to create a more flattering and cohesive selection of clothing, than the client's previous choices.
Difficulties with Seasonal Colour Analysis
No absolute values. Each colour system does not define the absolute values of light, dark and brightness that it uses to define and separate each of the seasons or categories. This also applies to value differences between different colour analysis systems, with no absolute colour values defined.
Subjectivity. In both the analyst and client. The analysis process is a comparison exercise that relies on a series of subjective judgements. Many analysts develop a very good eye for colour, but the client will still receive a subjective opinion.
Olive skin tones can be difficult to place into the existing seasonal categories and sub-categories, which highlights problems with categorisation.
Individual colouring is not easily accounted for, with clients looking and feeling radiant in some of their colours, but not others. In my experience clients often end up wearing only some of the palette they have been given by the analyst.
The Stylemap 'Artistic Colour Analysis' Service
This is an online service where I create your precise, personalised colour palette using advanced colour theory and analysis of your skin, hair and eye tones to determine your ideal depth, brightness, contrast and hues. I advise you how to wear the colours and which accent colours work best.
I use a colour picker and the HSL colour generator to determine your best colours, which allows for full control of the three aspects of colour: Hue, Saturation and Light. I translate these colours into RGB and Hex, with codes given, so you are able to use them, regardless of your screen.
If you book the Face & Body Type Style Analysis, I use your Style ID to align colours with your most effective style impact, using clothing, accessories, hair and make up.
If you also book the Psychological Style Analysis, I use your archetypal and elemental energies to align colours, to add deeper psychological resonance to your individual palette.
