Why Some Colours In Your Palette Do Not Work

[@dianaholbrook]

Awesome topic! This confused me for years. If I didn’t look good in ALL the colors of the palette, I thought I must be a different palette. Now I am finally back to the spring palette where I belong and embracing only the colors in it that are my personal best ❤

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy those Spring colours! ☺️💕

[@KaliKali-hv9bt]

Exactly same beliefs i had

[@a91170]

Thank you. Wish you would show more examples in a longer video. As a Soft Summer, I found some colors in my palette that made me look bruised. Thanks for the clarification.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Great idea! It would be tricky to cover all sub seasons!

[@almondmilk4601]

Cool yellow doesn't look good on me even though my undertone is cool. I think only some Winters can pull off lemon yellow.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Yes 💯 and for other winters it would look wonderful! 🔆

[@DeepWinterQueen82]

@@almondmilk4601 deep winters and bright winters look good in cool yellow

[@Renee856]

I came to the same realization! I am a soft summer, but unlike the brown haired women usually shown as examples for soft summer coloring, I have very low contrast and light coloring. This caused me to think I was a light summer for a long time because a good part of the soft summer palette is way too dark for me. But no, I do not look my best in light summer shades, the "muted" aspect is more important for me. A soft summer palette that can be found on the internet is just a generic example and of course not all colors will look good on everyone with the same color season. I now focus more on how colors look on me, instead of sticking to the standard soft summer palette.

[@a91170]

Same here. A honey-blonde Soft Summer...

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Nice! I can understand why you may have been placed in Light Summer from your description but of course we know there’s more to it than that ☺️💕

[@trishagoodwin4069]

Sounds like my husband, he is soft summer and that muted aspect is the most important. My mother was light summer, platinum blonde, the palest skin and eyes and light was the most important thing on her.

[@pinkroses135]

I have experienced this. I'm in soft summer but some of the lighter or non denimy blues don't look so amazing on me. I have a slight yellowness to my skin, a very rosey overtone and some romantic essence to my face (which had me thinking I was warm way back when I didn't know because a faded red suited me better than a blue). However, a taupey mushroom color in suede or a soft fabric is 👌🏻. The pink and green tones as well. I think someone's essences, the textures they are choosing and if they're in a flow season may be a factor in it too.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Yes colour is a complex thing and how they make you feel is also worth looking into! ☺️💕

[@wendybarker590]

Brilliant wee video, thank you. As a light spring in my mid 70s, the colours in my palette that work best for me veer towards the cooler end of my palette, and remind myself that low contrast works best. I've also learned not to saturate myself with colours that are meant to be my accent colours only (ie a pop of colour in a scarf or patterned top). I receive the loveliest comments when I stick to this formula although it can be tempting, particularly this current winter, to venture down a more intense route. Your channel is amazing and I appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Oh thank you so much Wendy! I appreciate that! ☺️💕

[@marcusboyes943]

Happy birthday for this week Sarah! 🙂

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thank you!! So kind of you!

[@marcusboyes943]

Yellows, oranges and browns have never ever looked right on me as a Cool Summer 🙂

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

💯☺️

[@DeepWinterQueen82]

I am a deep winter. I avoid orange all together . Yellow I only wear neon yellow or a pastel yellow. Cause they are cool toned

[@marcusboyes943]

@@DeepWinterQueen82 The cool colours are amazing 😊

[@ggr9068]

Wonderful examples! I agree wholeheartedly. The depth of skin tone absolutely matters. I have been typed as a deep winter, however I find the darkest of lipsticks don’t look great on me. I love them on deep winters with deeper skin tones. But as a light-medium skin olive person, I find the medium-dark range looks better than a truly dark shade.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for sharing!! Yes I can totally understand that! ☺️💕

[@DeepWinterQueen82]

@@ggr9068 I am a deep winter and light / medium skin as well but not olive at all. I can rock a dark brown or burgundy lip

[@JibaBrahma]

Hey same here, as a deep winter I tried deep lipsticks but that overpowers me.. rosy pink , wine red are best..

[@katiefrancis6067]

Wow! I am a bright winter with fair skin and wondered why I never liked white on me, this makes so much sense. Thank you for the helpful video!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching Katie ☺️💕

[@a91170]

Hi, Sarah. Could you PLEASE do a video on whites? I crave wearing white, but as a Soft Summer it is so hard to find.😢

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Great idea!

[@elaine3020]

Brilliant advice. Makes sense. Thank u

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for watching! ☺️💕

[@DarryWillis]

Definitely true for me although it’s more with shades of colours. There’s one orange top I have that looks dynamite, but can’t seem to find any others easily. Same goes for yellows. Luckily most bright pinks, warm greens, and teals work so I stick with those when ordering online and choose other colours in the bright spring palette more carefully when I can try them on. Thanks for this insight! So glad I’m not the only one who sometimes struggles. Xx 😘

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for sharing!! You’re definitely not the only one ☺️💕

[@AlexLouiseWest]

Thank you, it's very useful. I think essence blend and personality might play a part too. I'm very watery / ethereal, which is easy to do with a Cool and Soft (Summer) palette. In theory, you could construct a more earthy look with Summer using cool browns, beige, blush pink, etc, but on me personally, it looks a bit odd. It's just not who I am. I'd actually love to see a video about people whose essence or personality seems to be at odds with their palette, e.g. a Summer who loves fire, or a very earthy Winter. I'm sure there would be ways of representing their personality using their colours??

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Personality can definitely play a role. It’s finding that balance of what objectively looks good and what works subjectively ☺️💕

[@Miki_Merhavi]

Great video! Can you cover the trend colours for autumn/winter 2025 similarly to your video last year?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Great idea! Watch this space!

[@ronzahdd]

Thank you for this video Sarah! You are the best 😊

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

You are so welcome! 🤗

[@Margriet811]

This makes perfect sense! As a mixtype of summer and autumn (muted type) I don’t look good in the pastels that are in the palette. I need a little more depth/contrast on my skin as well. The somewhat deeper smoky greens and blues, the rosebrowns and soft eggplants look amazing on me ❤

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Perfect! Glad it makes sense! 💕☺️

[@Dani-lc9hq]

I'm a bright winter but because I'm blond and fair skinned some of the colors I find too dark for me. Black is great but as soon as any color turns a bit too dark it makes me more pale. And I also found out that if I want to wear brown I can do a summer muted pale brown, it doesn't make me glow like bright colors of course but it doesn't make me look as washed out as some other muted colors interestingly enough, it's kinda neutral.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Oh interesting range of chroma! Thanks for sharing! ☺️💕

[@g3andrea]

Another great video, Sarah! I too struggle with wearing most whites/lighter colors as a Winter (probably deep). Only a pure white will do, but I still looked washed out without contrast. But, if I can always throw on something black and look fine (even without makeup). I also struggle with the warm colors in my palette, and rarely wear reds unless it is December or February. My surface tones lean more golden with a tan and my eyes are hazel, so I can pull a bit from my sister season of Deep Autumn for the teals and purple tones.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks Andrea! It sounds like you’ve got a good understanding of your colours ☺️💕

[@User-2cents]

Clothes and skin and contrast. 😊h. ❤

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

💯☺️

[@Dani-lc9hq]

Thank you for talking about this!! I was thinking about this but haven't really heard anyone talk about this!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for watching! If you have any other suggestions, let me know ☺️💕

[@allyirvine7537]

Just what we’ve all been wondering Sarah and you’ve answered it beautifully clearly.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks so much Ally! ☺️💕

[@allyirvine7537]

Also, that top is a stunner on you! 😍

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Oh thank you! Getting the wear out of it while the weather is still ok! 😅🔆

[@julesdm6905]

As a deep Autumn, deep mustardy-gold should look nice, but it makes me look pale and tired. At least I'm aware of it and stay away.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Nice! Good that you are aware! ☺️💕

[@TakTitam]

I am wondering also about some colors that are not in yhe palette or sister palette and still look good. E.g. as a bright winter brown looks good on me. My favourite dress is medium bright brown with a bold print but I can also wear light brown with a bright lipstick.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Good question! All palettes crossover and the contrast in your dress will play a part too! ☺️🤩

[@Miki_Merhavi]

My favourite color is blue and I find it the most flattering on me (cool winter). My issue is that I struggle to wear other colors because they don't look as good on me as blue. How can I add another one or two accent colors?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Your colour consultant should be able to advise you on that. It would be difficult for me to say what would work without having analysed you myself ☺️💙

[@DeepWinterQueen82]

@@Miki_Merhavi try some purples because purple has blue in it

[@tequilamockingbird4989]

Hey miki cool winter colors are jewel tones so you could try a very cool bluish emerald green, or really cool ruby color or amethyst or even plums. I am sure they d suit you beautifully. Of course both silver and platinum color is going to look stunning on you. Hope this helps ♡♡♡

[@EliseMarquamJahns]

This was wonderfully helpfu--thank you! I don't know if this would be true for most people or not, but I feel that as I've gotten older (and my skin has gotten paler--which happens to most of us as we get older), black--which I used to love wearing--looks just a little too harsh on me. Just wondering if you've found this to be true with older women you've worked with through the years.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad it was helpful! Yes black definitely gets more difficult to wear as the years go by! I will do a video on black soon!

[@EliseMarquamJahns]

@@sarahryanthestylecoach Great--looking forward to it!

[@gardenhappy4]

Interesting to know! Thanks.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for watching ☺️💕

[@mamamoon8075]

I'm also a winter and love the lip color you're wearing! Can you please share what it is?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thank you. I think that was Bobbi Brown Plum Rose ☺️💕

[@AndreeaC.]

I feel my mustard yellows aren't my best, i love the greens, teracota,reds ,oranges , periwinkles,soft beiges and olives best on me. When i received my best colours i had not many yellows in there.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks for sharing!! ☺️💕

[@julesdm6905]

This is me as well.

[@kwosilait2855]

Thank you--thank makes so much sense!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad it makes sense ☺️💕

[@Allesea159]

So how do we figure out the 'why' without an analyst? I'm a verified light spring and I see that some colors work amazing on me and others don't work as well. I narrowed it down to those colors which doesnt work are the lightest, warmest and the most muted ones. At first I thought my analysts mustve gotten it wrong as so many light spring neutrals did not work for me and the light colors completely washed me out. I also went blonde at some time which looked horrible on me. So I went back and they told me that I have a medium contrast level rather than low, hence why the medium and brighter colors work better than softer and lighter colors. I'm also leaning more neutral-warm then warm, hence why the very warm ones aren't as good either. They also told me that I should avoid grey like the plague, should go for a golden brown for hair color rather than a blonde and that they found in their analysis that bright spring worked better than warm spring. That was such an eye opener. To have a personal, made to measure advice made all the difference to me, or else I wouldn't have believed them saying I was a light spring. It's also logical and I can implement that and use that information when shopping. However I also noticed that for example an apricot works amazing on me, while a light spring yellow in a similar value and chroma is not as good. And that baffles me, because why does this warmer orangey color work better on me than the more neutral leaning yellow when they're the same value and intensity? I haven't asked yet. I can imagine it can be tough DIY'ing. I narrowed myself down to a spring when DIY'ing, but I have a graphic design and art background, so I know color well. But narrowing down to a subseason was hard. And then trying to personalise your own palette is very even more difficult, because you often can't figure out the why. You can maybe see what does and does not work, but the why behind it - no idea. That would take a lot of trial and error and trying to find patterns I think, and most of us won't have the equipment to do so. So how do we do that without having to harass our analysts?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

It may be tricky as a person’s personal bias can creep in preventing them from being objective when looking at colours.

[@Allesea159]

@@sarahryanthestylecoach trueee! however I usually prefer yellow over orange, so I'm pretty sure thats not the case here

[@kammylace]

Thank you, Sarah, for an excellent video. It was so helpful to see the examples. I would love to see more videos like this where you analyze the outfits people are wearing to help us "see" what works better. I learned a lot from this video. Thanks for sharing your content!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad it was helpful! And thank you for the suggestion! Great idea ☺️💕

[@Just_Kirsty]

To me it's been more confusing that I can wear most colors of my own palette but also look stunning in certain colors of other palettes. That confused me a lot. I was already aware that not all colors of my own palette would work for me, and didn't bother that this did happen. But being within the Spring family, looking stunning in many true autumn and some soft autumn colors and also looking quite nice in certain winter colors was a bit confusing to me. Summer seams to be my worst palette though, it just makes me look VERY dull and like someone pressed the "mute" button on me. I do prefer the brighter spring colors on me, but the orangy reds and reddish oranges from the autumn palettes as well as some of the "army greens" I do love on myself. (Same with autumn teal and warmer blues in general.) - Don't take my profile photo here on yt as a reference, it's heavily color graded and nowhere close to my natural coloring. (I used cool white,very bright lighting, camera white balance set to 3200 K, and even pulled the hue more into blue back then, that was just the look I liked 10 years ago for whatever reason. That backdrop I used is more of a reddish purple color for reference and the shirt I wore was a very warm, bronzy color, that wig had more of a slightly warm leaning grey color, and my eyes look mostly like a light-medium ocean green like those from the spring palette or let's say, they resonate the most with such a color. So yah... very off truth.) But by now I did accept that I don't HAVE to stick to my palette, I can stray across the seasons and find colors that I truly love on myself, and use them to create whatever image I wanna create.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

All palettes overlap so it’s good to know what can be borrowed and still look amazing!

[@deborahbunting5958]

Thanks!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Hi Deborah. Thank you so much for your generous support! It means a lot and helps me to keep producing videos just like this one! Best wishes from Ireland!

[@mariacorretge6615]

So true!

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thanks Maria! ☺️

[@reettaelina]

That's what I was thinking🎉

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

☺️💕

[@LauraNixon1]

I'm really confused. In the summer and autumn, when my skin has picked up the sun, I suit warm colours - I look right in rusts, coppers, darker golds and rose golds, more orange/coppery/peach based lip and eye, browns, ivory tops, certain more yellow leaning khaki shades, but also a smattering of more yellowy mid greens and blues (it has to be exactly the right shade or it looks wrong). At that point of the year with a hint of colour (and it really is a hint because I'm so pale) I suddenly look awful in black, plummy or berry colours and navy... And then the winter into early spring months happen (England) and suddenly I'm suiting deep dark berry toned pinks, black, copper mixed with plummy/cranberry eyes. My contrast is far stronger whereas in the summer my skin and hair are nowhere near as contrasting with each other. This in itself doesn't phase me too much - I just adapt. But... Every time I get my skin or colour checked, I get told I have rosy undertones and that I'm cool toned. No matter what time of year. The skin on my body is more of a warm-side-of-beige. I know really pale skin is fairly transluscent so I'm more likely to "look" different in colouring in the winter but I don't understand how warm colours would suit me for 60% of the year if I'm pulling cool toned with rose undertoned skin? I'm not exaggerating when I say that any kind of pinkish colour (even dark and berry) or black or navy or burgundy that works on me in winter looks dire in the summer 🫤 And cool soft tones look awful on me no matter what season, so it isn't a matter of me being typically soft and borrowing from a cool toned sister season. I've heard it all over the years - You're Winter, You're Autumn, soft, not soft, wear peach tones, don't wear peach tones, blah blah... I'm struggling to trust any type of categorisation so I now just rely on eyeballing things item by item against myself at the time of year that I think it might suit.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

This confuses a lot of people. This is your skin tone changing. One must base their colours on undertone which does not change.

[@LauraNixon1]

@@sarahryanthestylecoach thank you. I've clearly not been analysed by especially good people 🤣

[@LauraNixon1]

@@sarahryanthestylecoach thank you. I've clearly not been analysed by especially good people 🤣

[@trishagoodwin4069]

I am an autumn that looks awful in brown, especially dark brown, but olive green, rust, camel, ochre, all fine. I think this is because I am a very pale skinned autumn, ivory in fact, and brown just dulls my skin.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Oh interesting! I wonder if you are an Autunm that is bordering Spring? ☺️💕

[@trishagoodwin4069]

Yes, I think maybe so! I can wear some spring colours, but not too bright or too light, so feel I am still autumn, which I was draped. My colouring is quite high contrast, dark hair, eyes, eyebrows, but pale skin. I was always thought to be winter due to that, except when I got draped, I proved warm, deep autumn, and could see why the winter colours always washed me out (although I love them). I dye hair a bit lighter now, but still need a lot of depth, i.e. a dark leopard print is brilliant, black bits, ivory bits, warm browns and golds - it works! @@sarahryanthestylecoach

[@gracie_5]

Hey Sweety, you can wear more of that feminine shoulder free cuts, it looks stunning :) I have a question. I love colors and im a summer (subseason idk), colors are often harmful and chemical. How do i know, if i afford an ethical piece without ill dying? When its self made?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Thank you so much! I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to your question. I think a person who has studied textiles and textile production would know best! Sorry I couldn’t help more!

[@gracie_5]

​​@@sarahryanthestylecoach;). ok thank you. By the way, even after 1 month of color season analysis and being irritated by light vs. bright and decluttering 2/3 of my whole wardrobe..i saw, that even dark navy, gray and pure cool white is too dark or contrasted as summer on me. Then i really understood the first time, that my medium-light colouring means also light or soft navy. In germany, everyone wears black and i wear mint, seafoam and deep rose ^^

[@squidney1122]

I know I have a warm undertone, but I notice that I almost always prefer greens & oranges to warm reds or golden yellows. These colors could all have the same level of warmth/saturation/depth but I still have preferences for certain specific colors. Curious if it's just me and my own preferences or if there is another reason for this.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Your preferences definitely play a part!

[@schatzip]

Would you be able to do a dive into blacks? I am a warm bright spring... golden/reddish light brown hair, blue eyes neutral warm ivory skin tone.. been draped twice and came up bright spring both times. There is no black in HoC for Bright Spring but there is in sci/art. How can you tell when a black leans warm? And what the heck is the color "Chimera" LOL. I put the black to my face and it is way too cool on me even though a warm black swatch. My interpretation is maybe black in accessories okay but not near the face? Just looking for a third party explanation for more insight.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Great idea! Watch this space! ☺️💕

[@gretchen1209]

I just love your videos! Sarah, I am a winter and I would love to know which lipsticks do you wear?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Glad you like them! In my videos I usually wear Bobbi Brown Plum Rose or MAC Cherry with Candy Yum Yum. Check out my video on trying on lots of lipsticks! ☺️💕

[@DeepWinterQueen82]

@@gretchen1209 I am a deep winter as well. I wear mauves, plums, and a cool toned or true red. Ruby woo from MAC is a good red for us .

[@CuriousJS]

I have a question. I’ve been typed a Warm spring (not true spring) in the 16 season system. I truly have not found a yellow color that really suit me. They are all too bright and make me appear gray in comparison. Do you think I was typed wrong? Or is this an example of what you’re talking about? FYI I was typed online.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

I am surprised that no yellows suit you as a Spring! That is quite surprising. There’s a chance you were typed incorrectly by the person who did your analysis. You could go back to them to get more clarity. Sorry to hear this!

[@SadeMetsavirta]

Isn't Katy a natural blonde? Can someone with that kind of lighter hair color be a winter?

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Anything is possible! ☺️💕

[@Theeldritchwitch]

I feel like no color looks really good on me

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

I bet I could find great colours for you!

[@tomars312]

the problem is the palettes are not custom-made and hence some colors won't work on some people of the same color season/type. the spectrum is huge and thus the 12 seasons system is flawed in a way. I personally prefer custom-made palettes.

[@sarahryanthestylecoach]

Correct! A good colour consultant will highlight the colours that work best ☺️💕