Tampa Bay color analysts weigh in on TikTok trend
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Lisa K. Ford doing color analysis on a client. Photo: Courtesy of Lisa K. Ford
Americans are turning to social media and certified color analysts to find out whether they're a muted autumn or more of a cool summer.
Why it matters: Having an expert determine which color "season" you are could offer a confidence boost when you shop and get dressed, but color analyses can be pricey and come with limitations.
Driving the news: Search interest in "color analysis" and "season color palette" reached a record high this year in March, and "what colors look good on me" was a breakout search over the past month in the U.S., according to Google Trends' Jenny Lee.
How it works: You sit — usually smocked, with hair back — in front of a mirror while a color professional holds fabric swatches up to your face to determine where you fall within four seasons and three subgroups under each.
- There's plenty to assess: hair color, eye color, complexion, overtones, undertones (a major factor) and facial features.
Flashback: The practice rose to prominence in Asia, but an American book from the '80s helped create its foundation.
- Looking through that book as a child inspired Valora Abbett to become a certified color consultant almost two decades ago.
- She sees clients online, but is looking for studio space near her Clearwater home to do in-person analyses.
What they're saying: "If you wear colors that don't relate to your natural coloring, it can put forth an image that isn't really you," she told Axios. "If you're wearing colors that aren't harmonious, you'll feel off and people can feel that or they can see the disharmony."
Price tag: Color analysis ranges from $150 to $500 in the U.S.
Zoom in: While that can seem expensive, Tampa image consultant Lisa Ford told Axios it's an investment that can save people time and money in the long term, while taking away the dreaded feeling of opening your closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear.
- "It's something they'll have for the rest of their lives. Their colors aren't going to change when they're done," she said. "I've been in my color space for 18 years. If I go out shopping to pick some pieces up it's going to go with everything in my closet because they all work together."
Between the lines: Color is important, but Ford says it's just the first step in figuring out a person's unique style.
- Her consultations include figuring out which silhouettes are best for a client's proportions and their style personality.
Go deeper: Carly's color analysis