For the Exclusive,
By Fatima Zakariya ,
By now we must all be fairly familiar with the myriad of videos across various social media platforms, of vibrantly colored fabrics and filters being held against one's face to determine which colors best suit our skin tone and undertones. Although this may seem like a modern practice, color analysis has its beginnings rooted in the early 1900s.
With the development of color industries and the possibility of creating color swatch books, this science has been applied to determine the harmony of colors in paintings, interior decor, fashion, and of course personal styling. The most modern iteration of this that we are familiar with today involves categorizing each individual into a season based on their hue (warm or cool), value (light or dark), and chroma (muted-soft/bright-clear). These markers, evaluated using hair color, eye color, and skin tone, are then used to assign each person a season, namely- spring, autumn, winter, and summer. Once a season is allocated, a list of colors exclusive to your palette can be identified which can then be used to choose clothing, makeup, jewelry as well as hair color which may be most flattering to you.
Now you might think, why would anyone put so much effort, let alone pay a pretty penny just to pick out what to wear for the day? This may be possible for the countless number of celebrities and influencers who have their color analysis done, but it seems unrealistic in our case.
To restrict ourselves to a singular color palette is not only tedious but economically unviable as well. The process can strip us of the freedom to wear what we like and also make us question the way we have been dressing so far.
Furthermore, not being able to afford to change our wardrobe to fit the so-called “alluring” palettes can cause further distress.
However, it doesn't have to be all bad. The ability to discern whether I am warm or cool-toned and to choose clothes accordingly scratches an itch I can’t explain. Knowing that I can make the most of my wardrobe by just pairing things in a way that suits me, makes me feel more put-together. In a day and age where the way we present ourselves holds significance, knowing that our style is catered to us can help deliver confidence. It allows us to elevate our style within the framework of our existing clothing. Now, choosing a new lipstick shade or hair colour doesn't have to be as laborious as it used to be. Whenever we feel unsure as to what goes with what, this technique can provide us with a cheat code to make our decisions.
So does this mean that we have to throw out all our existing articles of clothing and start over from scratch to fit a certain standard? I don’t think so. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to make improvements to our current ways of dressing and accessorizing. While we do not need to stick to its philosophy to the T, taking inspiration from it and incorporating it in a way that is feasible and genuine to ourselves is the way to go.
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