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As much as I try to be a discerning consumer on social media, I feel like I believe it every time I hear someone passionately declare on their phone, “This (insert trend here) is going to happen.” Absolutely change your life.” Lip balm for summer Fridays? Bought. Magnesium? I take it every evening. Even my Goodreads is full of book recommendations I’ve gotten from influencers that promise you’ll never be the same after reading them. Honestly, sometimes I agree, but sometimes all I can do is get an overpriced makeup product and a few more Sephora points. The latest trend to take over my FYP and that I’ve been hyper fixated on since the first video I saw is color analysis.
If your algorithm is similar to mine, you’ve seen TikTok videos in which someone drapes large swatches of fabric over another person and, depending on the color, offers mild insults or the highest praise. This process is called color analysis, in which a professional will determine the most flattering color season (spring, summer, fall, or winter) for you based on characteristics such as your skin’s undertone, whether your facial features are light or dark, and whether your facial features are light or dark. finds The facial features are muted and soft or bright and clear. Each season also has a sub-season that has the same characteristics but the colors differ slightly. Of course, everyone who completes these appointments on my TikTok FYP says that it has – wait for it – changed their life. Unfortunately, these color analysis appointments aren’t cheap, costing around $300. In the name of journalism (and to satisfy my curiosity), I used TikTok filters to determine my color season and figure out whether wearing these colors really makes a difference or if this trend is one to skip. Read on to see what I learned.
When self-evaluating to find my color season, I took a three-step approach. First, I thought about what colors I usually get compliments on when I wear them. Typically these are light pinks or blues with an occasional hint of green, so I kept that knowledge in mind for my next two tactics.
Next, I turned to TikTok, where, thanks to the virality of color season analysis, many filters have emerged that allow you to digitally dress the way someone would at an in-person appointment. When trying these filters, experts recommend standing in front of a window with good natural light (but not direct lighting), wearing little to no makeup, and brushing your hair away from your face. You’re looking for a color that will reduce shadows on your face, reduce redness, make your teeth look whiter, and brighten the whites of your eyes. You want a color that makes you shine but doesn’t overwhelm you. Out-of-season colors can cause a yellowish appearance to the skin, accentuate dark circles under your eyes, or cause you to fade.
With these filters, I automatically thought that the spring and summer colors flattered me more than the fall and winter colors, which is consistent with my original theory that blues, light pinks, and greens are some of my better colors. Additionally, at this step, a few of my friends told me what they thought looked best (most said spring), and a sympathetic color analysis expert opined that my defining quality was bright (this will play a role in determining my subcategory), and so on I would fall under spring or summer.
Finally, I turned to an unexpected color analysis expert: ChatGPT. I still wasn’t sure what undertone my skin was, and as someone who has never successfully found a good concealer or foundation in my 22 years, I was concerned about whether I could correctly identify it. After seeing a viral TikTok where users use the photography app to get specific hex color codes for their skin, hair, and eyes, I decided to give it a try. ChatGPT told me I had warm undertones, meaning I would fall into the spring or fall category. Combined with my other methods, this resulted in my color season being spring and my subcategory being bright spring. My palette is warm and light and contains many pastels such as pink, blue, yellow, purple, green as well as beige, ivory, gray and brown neutrals. After I found outnce I knew what color season I was, it was time to put my wardrobe to the test. Here’s what I learned after dressing strictly in the bright spring palette.
When I started this experiment, I opened my drawers to put together a few outfits and was greeted with a sea of black tops. In an effort to ditch my college-girl style and opt for something more mature, I accidentally deleted all signs of color from my wardrobe: black dress-out pieces, plain black tops, and black track tops. Name an occasion and I have a black top to wear with it, which is more in keeping with Elizabeth Holmes/Steve Jobs fashion choices than a chic post-grad woman. I don’t even particularly like black, but I live in the age of quiet luxury and elevated basics – it turns out black is the new…black.
When I discovered that black was one of my worst colors (ouch) and was undesirable for this experiment, I knew I would have to use some skill to put together easy spring outfits with my current wardrobe, which was much more difficult than I was originally expected. Sometimes I was tempted to stay in my matching light beige robe all day instead of making the effort to find an outfit that matched my vision.
While it took more effort to put outfits together when only sticking to certain colors, it also forced me to step out of my comfort zone. Unable to rely on the same sweater I wear to death every week, I had to raid my closet to put outfits together. This allowed me to be more creative and use pieces I wouldn’t normally reach for, and it also made me feel more confident.
Not only was it an incentive to wear bright colors that I would normally shy away from, but I also felt great knowing that I was innovating with my current wardrobe and styling old pieces in new ways. I still relied heavily on the neutrals in my palette, but for someone who usually resorts to a black basic the moment an outfit needs more consideration, it still felt fresh. Without buying anything, I felt like I had lots of new ways to wear my clothes.
I 100 percent believe that you should wear clothes that make you feel confident and that other people’s opinions should not influence what you wear. Still, my love language consists of words of affirmation and I’m a fan of compliments here and there. I was very surprised that when I wore a color in my palette that I wouldn’t normally reach for, my friends noticed and were kind enough to talk me into it.
I really enjoyed this experiment and will definitely make the effort to add pieces from my palette to my cart next time I go shopping. However, I won’t be fully committed to the world of light spring anytime soon. As fun as it was to mess things up, it was also incredibly limiting. Committing to my color palette would render half of my next colors useless, and just because one method claims those colors are “unflattering” on me, many of them make me feel confident (not to mention expensive and it would be unsustainable to replace all of these items of clothing). ). If you love something – wear it! Don’t let this TikTok trend (or any other) make you feel like you can’t do it.
