I spent $130 to get my colors professionally analyzed, and learned I've been wearing the wrong shades my entire life

Paige DiFioreAug 29, 2022, 20:19 IST

I had an expert tell me which colors I should and should not be wearing and it rocked my world.Paige DiFiore

I paid a color analyst to tell me which colors make me look my best and which make me look my worst.
With photos of me, she determined my undertone (warm) and season (autumn) — I was wrong about both.

I had never given the colors I wear much thought until a recent TikTok effect made me reflect on my choices.

White sneakers are probably the one consistent part of my wardrobe.Paige DiFiore

I made many TikToks with the effect and solicited opinions from everyone in my life, but my "season" remained a mystery.

The filter made me think I was definitely not an autumn.TikTok

A peek inside my closet also left me feeling confused.

On the left, I borrowed salmon, light brown, and beige shirts from my boyfriend and made the facial expression those colors make me feel when I wear them.Paige DiFiore

This got me researching the trend of finding your colors and seasons.

I thrifted the book "Color Me Beautiful" for under $10.Paige DiFiore

I gave up on the TikTok effect and tried Jackson's online quiz — but it was really dated — then photo-analyzing technology. I still couldn't figure out my season.

The quiz based on Jackson's book only showed examples of white women — not very helpful to people of color.https://carolejacksoncolors.com/

I gave up on the TikTok effect and tried Jackson's online quiz — but it was really dated — then photo-analyzing technology. I still couldn't figure out my season.

At first, I assumed I was a "winter."

Lucy Liu, Viola Davis, and Zoey Deschanel are some of the celebrities who color analysts say are "winters."David Livingston/Getty Images; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Kering; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Finally, I turned to an expert who would analyze my colors for me.

I had to send the analyst photos of my face without makeup in natural lighting.Paige DiFiore

In addition to selfies, I sent her photos of my palm and wrist, which would help her determine my undertone.

I took both of these photos in front of the same window and I still don't know my vein color.Paige DiFiore

The analyst also asked for photos of me wearing a few different colors.

Again, I took these photos in natural lighting without makeup.Paige DiFiore

Finally, I met with Dina to get my results.

Silver is best on people with cool undertones and gold is best on those with warm undertones.Paige DiFiore

According to Dina, I have warm undertones.

On the left, I'm wearing a cool blue-green. On the right, I'm wearing a warmer olive green.Paige DiFiore

Because I'm warm-toned, she said, gold jewelry would flatter me much more than silver.

Gold is most flattering on people with warm undertones, according to my color professional.Paige DiFiore

Dina also explained how contrast and softness can come into play when determining someone's season.

Actress Alexis Bledel also has dark hair, but her eyes are bright and cool-toned, making her contrast and clarity higher.Paige DiFiore; Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Hulu

At last, Dina narrowed me down to the two warm seasons.

Tessa Thompson and Taylor Swift are springs. Victoria Pedretti and Ana de Armas are autumns.Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netfilx; Amanda Edwards/WireImage via Getty Images; HENRY NICHOLLS/Reuters

According to Dina, I am a "true autumn."

The warm brown definitely makes me pop more than the cool one does.Paige DiFiore

My undertone was a deciding factor in my season.

Navy (left) is my power color but black (right) is not.Paige DiFiore

Dina also explained why I'm not a winter like I'd initially suspected.

Dina said Julia Roberts is an autumn and Liv Tyler is a winter.Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images; Paige DiFiore; Jeff Spicer/BFC / Contributor/Getty Images

After a week, I started to really embrace that I was an autumn.

Me, wearing my power colors — olive green (shirt) and gold (eyes).Paige DiFiore

After our meeting, Dina sent me an autumn color fan where she marked colors I would look best in.

Dina marked my most flattering colors on the back of the wheel.Paige DiFiore

Here are some of the best tips I've gathered about finding your season.

Most of the examples in Jackson's book are white women with very '80s style.Paige DiFiore

If you want to find your season, there are a few experiments you can try, including the fuchsia-versus-orange test.

Even though I love it, the cool fuchsia kind of makes me look sickly.Paige DiFiore

Winters have a cool undertone and are the only season that shines in black and stark white.

Jameela Jamil and Selena Gomez are likely winters.Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP; Steve Granitz/WireImage

Summers look best in cool-toned, muted colors.

Leona Lewis and Olivia Wilde are likely summers.Courtesy of Dina Scherer; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for La Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco; Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

Autumns have warm undertones and look best in orange and gold.

Rihanna and Ana de Armas are likely autumns.REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni; Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Springs have a warm undertone and look best in exciting, vivid colors.

Kerry Washington and Jamie Chung are likely springs.David Livingston/Getty; Getty Images

But don't let your season (or the season you think you might be) stop you from wearing what you love.

I think we can all agree I am NOT a summer — I look so washed out.Paige DiFiore

I'm a Canadian who tried Chick-fil-A for the first time, and I don't get why Americans love it so much

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I spent $130 to get my colors professionally analyzed, and learned I've been wearing the wrong shades my entire life

I had never given the colors I wear much thought until a recent TikTok effect made me reflect on my choices.

I made many TikToks with the effect and solicited opinions from everyone in my life, but my "season" remained a mystery.

A peek inside my closet also left me feeling confused.

This got me researching the trend of finding your colors and seasons.

I gave up on the TikTok effect and tried Jackson's online quiz — but it was really dated — then photo-analyzing technology. I still couldn't figure out my season.

At first, I assumed I was a "winter."

Finally, I turned to an expert who would analyze my colors for me.

In addition to selfies, I sent her photos of my palm and wrist, which would help her determine my undertone.

The analyst also asked for photos of me wearing a few different colors.

Finally, I met with Dina to get my results.

According to Dina, I have warm undertones.

Because I'm warm-toned, she said, gold jewelry would flatter me much more than silver.

Dina also explained how contrast and softness can come into play when determining someone's season.

At last, Dina narrowed me down to the two warm seasons.

According to Dina, I am a "true autumn."

My undertone was a deciding factor in my season.

Dina also explained why I'm not a winter like I'd initially suspected.

After a week, I started to really embrace that I was an autumn.

After our meeting, Dina sent me an autumn color fan where she marked colors I would look best in.

Here are some of the best tips I've gathered about finding your season.

If you want to find your season, there are a few experiments you can try, including the fuchsia-versus-orange test.

Winters have a cool undertone and are the only season that shines in black and stark white.

Summers look best in cool-toned, muted colors.

Autumns have warm undertones and look best in orange and gold.

Springs have a warm undertone and look best in exciting, vivid colors.

But don't let your season (or the season you think you might be) stop you from wearing what you love.