The House of Colour is a style system that categorizes people into seasons based on their natural coloring and dominant facial features. The four seasons are Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Knowing your House of Colour season can help guide you in choosing the most flattering clothing colors and styles.
How the House of Colour seasons work
The House of Colour system was created in the 1980s by international colour expert and founder of House of Colour, Bernice Kentner. She identified 12 characteristics related to a person’s natural coloring that could be used to determine their seasonal palette.
These characteristics include:
- Hair color (warm or cool)
- Eye color
- Skin undertone (warm, cool, neutral)
- Skin clarity (clear, freckled, ruddy)
- Contrast level between hair, eyes, and skin
- Facial features
By analyzing these factors, each person is categorized into one of the four seasons:
Spring
Springs have warm and delicate coloring. Typical features include:
- Warm undertones
- Fair skin
- Rose cheeks
- Light ash blonde, golden blonde or red hair
- Blue or green eyes
- Low to medium contrast between hair, eyes and skin
Summer
Summers have cool, soft coloring with muted characteristics:
- Cool undertones
- Fair skin
- Blue eyes
- Ash blonde, mousey brown or dark brown hair
- Low to medium contrast between hair, eyes and skin
Autumn
Autumns are warm with yellow undertones and sharper contrast:
- Warm yellow undertones
- Fair to olive skin
- Hazel or brown eyes
- Red, auburn, strawberry blonde, golden brown or black hair
- Medium to high contrast between hair, eyes and skin
Winter
Winters have striking coloration with cool undertones:
- Cool undertones
- Fair or olive skin
- Blue, gray or green eyes
- Dark brown or black hair
- High contrast between hair, eyes and skin
Once you have been analyzed and matched with a season, you can use the color palettes and style recommendations associated with your season to look your very best.
Spring Color Palette
Springs suit clear, warm hues that complement their delicate coloring. The recommended colors for Spring are:
| Color Family | Spring Palette |
|---|---|
| Neutrals | Ivory, Cream, Camel |
| Greens | Seafoam, Aqua, Moss Green |
| Blues | Periwinkle, Sky Blue |
| Purples | Lavender, Soft Lilac |
| Pinks | Soft Rose, Salmon |
| Reds | Cherry Red, Coral |
| Yellows | Buttercup, Lemon |
| Oranges | Peach, Melon |
Springs should avoid black and stark white. Very bright, clear colors can also overwhelm their delicate features.
Spring Style Guide
Here are some style tips to help Spring women shine:
- Silhouettes: Flowy dresses, circle skirts, open necklines
- Details: Ruffles, bows, lace accents, embroidery
- Patterns & Textures: Floral prints, watercolor patterns, chiffon, silk
- Accessories: Cameos, pearl jewelry, pastel scarves, floral hair clips
- Makeup: Peach and pink lipstick, rose gold eyeshadows, blush
- Nails: Sheer pinks, nudes, pale corals, French manicure
- Hair: Warm highlights, flipped ends, loose waves
The overall Spring look is pretty, feminine and delicate.
Summer Color Palette
Summers suit soft, cool colors that are harmonious with their understated beauty. Recommended colors include:
| Color Family | Summer Palette |
|---|---|
| Neutrals | Dove Grey, Ice Blue |
| Greens | Seafoam, Aqua |
| Blues | Powder Blue, Ice Blue |
| Purples | Lavender, Periwinkle |
| Pinks | Baby Pink, Rose Pink |
| Reds | Strawberry, Raspberry |
| Yellows | Buttercup, Lemon |
| Oranges | Melon, Peach |
Summers should avoid black, brown and stark white. Bright, neon colors can overwhelm their delicate features.
Summer Style Guide
Here are some top style tips for Summer women:
- Silhouettes: Flowy dresses, A-line skirts, wrap tops
- Details: Lace accents, pleats, pearl buttons
- Patterns & Textures: Watercolor prints, chiffon, silk
- Accessories: Pearl jewelry, floral hair accessories
- Makeup: Pink lipstick, grey-taupe eyeshadows
- Nails: Sheer pinks, nudes, French manicure
- Hair: Ash highlights, glossy waves, chignons
The overall Summer look is graceful, fresh and understated.
Autumn Color Palette
Autumns suit warm, rich colors that complement their golden undertones. Recommended hues include:
| Color Family | Autumn Palette |
|---|---|
| Neutrals | Khaki, Beige, Gold |
| Greens | Olive Green, Moss Green |
| Blues | Royal Blue, Teal |
| Purples | Aubergine, Plum |
| Pinks | Salmon, Spice Pink |
| Reds | Brick Red, Cranberry |
| Yellows | Goldenrod, Mustard |
| Oranges | Pumpkin, Rust |
Autumns should avoid black, stark white and pastels. Neon brights can overwhelm their sharper contrast.
Autumn Style Guide
These style tips will help Autumn women look radiant:
- Silhouettes: Wrap dresses, pencil skirts, open necklines
- Details: Buttons, leather accents, buckles, statement belts
- Patterns & Textures: Houndstooth, herringbone, tweed, velvet
- Accessories: Tribal jewelry, tortoiseshell glasses, leather handbags
- Makeup: Terracotta lipstick, bronze eyeshadows
- Nails: Deep reds, burgundy, nude
- Hair: Rich highlights, brushed up style, long layers
The overall Autumn look is bold, warm, and striking.
Winter Color Palette
Winters are rejuvenated by cool, vivid colors that harmonize with their striking contrast. Recommended colors:
| Color Family | Winter Palette |
|---|---|
| Neutrals | Charcoal, Black, White |
| Greens | Emerald Green, Forest Green |
| Blues | Royal Blue, Navy, Ice Blue |
| Purples | Deep Purple, Violet |
| Pinks | Fuchsia, Bright Pink |
| Reds | Bright Red, Crimson |
| Yellows | Lemon, Gold |
| Oranges | Coral, Tangerine |
Winters overwhelm in pastels and muted tones. Brown, beige and olive are not recommended.
Winter Style Guide
These style tips will allow Winter women to shine:
- Silhouettes: Sleek sheath dresses, straight leg pants, V-necks
- Details: Sleek buttons, silver hardware, polished leather
- Patterns & Textures: Houndstooth, herringbone, tweed, cashmere
- Accessories: Bold jewelry, structured handbags
- Makeup: Wine or bright pink lipstick, smoky eyes
- Nails: Deep Reds, berry tones, classic red
- Hair: Jet black, sleek up-dos, glossy and straight
The overall Winter look is dramatic, bold and elegant.
How to determine your House of Colour season
Figuring out your unique House of Colour season takes professional analysis by a trained consultant. You can make an educated guess, but it’s best to work with an expert. Here are some options for determining your season:
- Take an online quiz. Many House of Colour consultants offer an online seasonal color analysis quiz to give you an idea of your season.
- Get a virtual consultation. Work remotely with a professional color consultant via video chat.
- Attend an in-person workshop. Many House of Colour consultants hold group workshops to perform seasonal analyses.
- Book a private session. Work one-on-one with a color expert for the most accurate analysis.
An expert consultant will have you try on colored fabric swatches, view your photos under specialized lighting, and analyze your hair, eye and skin coloring characteristics. Once your season is determined, you’ll receive a color palette and personal style guide.
Benefits of knowing your season
Determining your House of Colour season provides many style and confidence benefits, including:
- Flattering colors: You’ll have a customized color palette to guide clothing, makeup, and accessory choices.
- Streamlined shopping: Focus on seasonal colors to avoid wasting time on unflattering hues.
- Enhanced self-image: Seeing yourself in harmonizing colors can boost your confidence and self-esteem.
- Professional edge: Strategic use of color helps convey confidence and polish.
- Versatile wardrobe: Build a cohesive wardrobe that mixes and matches beautifully.
- Stress reduction: Knowing which colors work best reduces getting ready time and outfit struggles.
Implementing a seasonal color and style analysis can make getting dressed easy, build your self-confidence, and present your best image to the world.
Conclusion
The House of Colour system categorizes people into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter seasons based on their natural coloring and contrast levels. Knowing your seasonal palette guides you in choosing the most harmonizing colors in clothing, makeup and accessories. Working with a professional House of Colour consultant provides the most accurate analysis to determine your season and customize a color and style guide to support your goals. Embracing your seasonal colors allows you to look and feel your personal best.