Did you know that colour psychologists often split colours into seasons? Colours stir emotions and different shades of a colour can evoke different feelings. This can affect what we buy, how we perform in the workspace, how people perceive our brand and much more.
It doesn’t mean that a particular colour (for example, blue) is assigned to a particular season, but that each season has a different shade of that colour. Spring shades are clear and light, summer colours are soft, cool and smoky, Autumn colours are warm and deep, and winter colours are cool and bright. Can you guess from the picture below which shade of blue belongs to which season? Answers are at the bottom of the page (but no peeking yet!).
This system is also often used by image consultants to work out which colour group an individual belongs to. I’ve had my colours ‘done’ and not only is it great fun, it’s also an eye-opener, as you may find you’ve been wearing the ‘wrong’ colours for years. It can also save you money in the long run, as you will no longer buy clothes in colours that don’t suit you which sit neglected in your wardrobe.
A fun way to find out what colours might suit you is by doing this quiz on the Kettlewell Colours website (though be aware that they will ask for your email address before sending you the answer). This won’t be accurate though, as they cannot see you! If you would like to find out which colours really compliment your skin tone, ask your friends if they can recommend an image consultant. Julia van den Berg, who is based in Twickenham, West London was my stylist but no longer practises. Click here to find a House of Colour stylist near you.
Look at it as an investment – after all, you’re worth it.
Answers
Serenity is soft, cool and smoky, so is Summer.
Sapphire is cool and bright, so is Winter.
Azure is clear and light, so is Spring.
Kingfisher is warm and deep, so is Autumn.
About the author
Annette Peppis leads the team at Peppis Designworks, a creative hub of established publishing industry experts who create books, branding, marketing material and design templates for leading publishers and businesses. Keep in touch by to Annette’s bi-monthly emails.
