How to Find Your Seasonal Colour Palette

Before having a colour analysis session with a stylist I spent hours researching the best ways to discover my seasonal palette. I scrolled through many stylists on Google and watched lots of Tiktok and Youtube videos of others getting their colours done. From creating Colourcat, I’ve continued learning about colour analysis and have put together this guide to help you find the approach that’s right for you.  

Colour analysis can be expensive, so to ensure no one is excluded from finding their colours I have included a variety of options. Going to a colour analyst or stylist is the ideal option, however if you get a bit creative there are some free alternatives that may help you discover your season.

Visit a Colour Analyst or Stylist

If your budget allows, visiting a professional colour analyst is the most accurate way to determine your seasonal palette. Most colour analysts have completed specialist training through organisations such as the London College of Style or House of Colour, giving them the expertise to identify which colours suit you best. 

Many analysts also specialise in particular areas such as Korean colour analysis, and group consultations. It is worth spending time researching different analysts to find someone whose approach resonates with you. We’re currently building a comprehensive directory of colour analysts and stylists across the UK, including their locations and areas of expertise. Until then, Google Maps and Google Reviews are great places to start your search. During my research I have found that there are upwards of 600 to choose from in the UK.

Ask Reddit

A slightly more unconventional but free method to get a colour analysis is via Reddit. The r/colouranalysis (opens in new tab) community has over 100,000 visitors a week who are passionate about colour analysis. Every day, people upload photos and ask the community to “type” them, meaning identify which seasonal palette they belong to. 

This approach won’t appeal to everyone, but it does have the major advantage that you’ll receive lots of opinions rather than relying on just one person’s judgement. For the members of this community colour analysis is a hobby, so while they’re not necessarily professionals some may have a developed good eye for identifying seasonal palettes.

Try a Self-Analysis

If you enjoy learning about colour and have a good eye for detail, self-analysis may be worth trying. Personally, I found it difficult to analyse myself but some people may be able to successfully learn by watching colour analysis videos.

Here are some Youtube Videos I enjoyed watching, one is someone having a colour analysis in Japan (opens in new tab), another is a guide to how to do you own (opens in new tab) colour analysis and the final one is Zooey Deschanel (opens in new tab) getting a colour analysis.

If you want to make your at home self-analysis as authentic as possible you can buy colour analysis drapes online. However, you don’t need to spend money if you don’t want to as using the clothes you already own in a variety of colours is an alternative.

The Wardrobe Exercise

If you’re finding it difficult to judge colours objectively, try this simple exercise inspired by Marie Kondo’s approach to decluttering.

Go through your wardrobe one item at a time and ask yourself:

• Do I feel confident wearing this?

• Does this colour make me look vibrant or wash me out?

• Is this something I reach for regularly or does it stay in the wardrobe?

Once you’ve finished, see if any patterns emerge. You may notice that the clothes you love wearing all fall into similar colour families. This exercise can provide useful clues about which colours naturally suit you.

Apps and AI colour analysis tools

There are some apps that claim to identify your seasonal palette from a photo, making them an inexpensive option. Unfortunately I am unable to recommend any as I couldn’t find one that had amazing reviews. 

Over the last few years AI colour analysis tools have become increasingly popular. A key issue with this is that AI is only as good as factors such as the photo it is analysing as factors such as shadows, makeup and camera quality may influence the results. 

Here is an article (opens in new tab) that I read on AI colour analysis that I found interesting.

Final Thoughts

Colour analysis is a tool to guide your shopping, not a set of rules. It’s purpose is to help you discover colours that make you feel your best, but it shouldn’t stop you wearing colours you love and that make you happy.