The names of the seasons can sometimes lead people in the wrong direction. The two seasons where I think this comes into play the most is the two “dark” seasons. It was difficult for me to claim Dark Autumn for myself without a lot of support from the online community–I felt kind of crazy, being as as light-to-look-at as I am and claiming this rich, dark season.
This is what people think Dark Autumn looks like:
But it can absolutely look like this.
I wouldn’t fit into the first image, and who knows if these women are even Dark Autumns at all. Out of the women and men I’ve seen who have gone to analysts and come back as Dark Autumns, you’ll find everyone from natural blondes to the darkest brunettes.
I do think that with the Light seasons, they do tend to look more like you imagine. The light-to-dark range in these palettes isn’t very dark, and you need to have a person who truly cannot handle a wide range of depth–this is especially true with Light Spring.
You can see how wide the range is for Dark Autumn and Dark Winter in comparison:
(These palettes are the Invent Your Image palettes.)
I was reminded by this the other day, when Color Harmony posted a blog post breaking down the Dark Autumn palette into groups–groups of color and then light/soft/dark/bright. (Blog post is in Russian, but you can run it through Google Translate.) Many seem to think that the only way the Dark Autumn palette can look in clothes is like this image from Sabira’s blog post, representing the dark colors in DA:
But this set is no less Dark Autumn than the one above:
What Dark Autumn colors seem to have in common to me, and what I can see in myself, despite my apparent lightness, is that it is like all of the colors just have a touch of Burnt Umber in them. The colors can be bright or even light, but there is always that touch of brown. When I got my prescription sunglasses with dark brown lenses this summer, my first thought was, “Whoa, the entire world is Dark Autumn when I look through these.”
The names of the seasons are just that, names, helpful ways to categorize the seasons. Sure, Dark Autumn and Dark Winter go deeper than other seasons. But that doesn’t mean that’s the only trick they have up their sleeves. (For a look at Dark Winter through new eyes, check out Rachel’s blog post on Dark Winter’s brightness.)
Mel
October 22, 2015 at 7:22 pmDark Autumn is a beautiful palette, and there is something especially lovely about a DA blonde, IMO. And you are especially fortunate that you have found your color home without having to pay big $$$. I’m glad you trusted your own eye and are now satisfied.
I don’t look like a Glorious Spring (CMAS system). I have dark brown hair with only a hint of red and which is now 50-percent gray. I have dark brown-orange eyes, a medium-beige skin tone, and I am medium-high contrast. All my adult life I’ve believed I was a winter because of my coloring. But in wearing any winter color, I always felt like part of me was hidden, and I looked angry or depressed. In succession, I tried BW, DW, DA and BSp. In doing so, it dawned on me the warmer the color got, the better my skin looked. So I bought a CMAS Spring fan from a retired color analyst who took a discerning look at me and said: Glorious Spring. What? Glorious Spring is the warmest of all the seasons. I didn’t believe it possible at first. But when I tried it, I was quickly convinced. It complemented my skin, brought out the sparkle in my eye, and made me look younger. What more could a 53-year-old ask for? For me, there is no need to get a full draping. I am happy with Glorious Spring. I just wish there was more about this season on the internet. There are no make-up suggestions for someone like me: a medium-high contrast Glorious Spring with dark features. Spring lippies are almost always too bright or too light. I have no doubt, though, because of the way Glorious Spring colors bring me to life.
stylesyntax
October 24, 2015 at 9:40 pmCan you match a lipstick to deepest reddish/pinkish shades on your Glorious Spring fan?
Elizabeth Stewart
December 4, 2015 at 9:57 amLike you, I’m a natural blonde with blue-green eyes and pale skin who was analysed as a Light Spring, and the colours looked awful on me! I looked really washed out and ill in them. The colour that have won me the most compliments are forest green, deep tomato red, teal and warm purple, all autumn colours. In the end, I went for another analysis with a different consultant from another company, and she told me I was an Autumn Leaf! And I now have great tops in all my autumn colours, and everyone loves them! I think the problem is partly that CMB look at the client’s own colouring and decide what colours will suit them, whereas the House of Colour and Sci/Art systems (where I was analysed as an Autumn) cover up your hair, and look at the effects the colours have on your skin. The only thing I don’t like about being Autumn is that so many companies think you have a personality that must match your colours. They say Autumns are dynamic, good business women, leaders, and so on, and that is absolutely not me. I’m a writer and artist, quiet and introverted, and I think the whole personality thing here is rubbish. But I do love the Autumn swatch book I got, and enjoy wearing my colours now.
stylesyntax
December 4, 2015 at 10:35 amI wasn’t actually analyzed as a Light Spring; it was just what people thought when I was in online groups and asking for suggestions, so it was the first season I really tried. I definitely agree that you can’t really know what colors will suit a person until you have the colors on them. I have to be so specific with light colors, whereas I have a lot more leeway with dark shades–and you’d never think that by looking at me. I’m glad that you were able to find an analyst who was able to look past blonde hair and light eyes and skin and see you for who you are!