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Skin Hair Eyes vs Clothes Colors

[this info I reprinting here from my post at http://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,3755.msg33878.html#msg33878]

I have posted already a post on face makeup colors, face shapes.
http://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2051.0.html

That post had a little on cloth colors to wear.

The main info I got that info on is at
1. http://www.saloneastnyc.com/learn/color_chart.html
2. and http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art36502.asp

You can change what colors you have.
But after I posted those posts, I didnt mention about tanning/skin tinting or lightening and hair coloring. Or you can get different color wigs if you wear them. You can also get different color contact lenses. So actually, you can very much influence what colors you can wear best.

Essentially a person can normally travel along either a

winter <--------->summer
spring <--------->autumn

depending mainly on skin tone and hair tone

Color Wheel, color theory and shifting
I have a color wheel I bought for not much,  from an art supply store (almost any should have a similar one) that shows how they get these colors.
Here is an example that has one side http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Clothes%20Articles/Color%20Coordination.htm
Mine has Primary (red, yellow, blue)
            Secondary (orange, green, violet)
            Tertiary (yellow orange, etc)

On one side it has tints (tint, tone, and shade) commonly used in eye shadows, blushes, and clothing to coordinate.
On the other side of the wheel it has each color when mixed with red, yellow, blue, white , and black

A real cool color tool http://colorsontheweb.com/colorwizard.asp
http://colorblender.com/

Season Undertones
The season colors are based on undertones (color mixed into main hue) of skin mainly (what color is glowing, influencing, or mixed in the skin)

The hair just sort of follows the skin, since it is relating to the skin on your face. Clothing is the window frame for your skin, and your hair frames your face. The clothing then follows the skin and hair shift in tone.


sun added to skin of spring adds gold, and sometimes a little red/orange
spring is yellow undertone
autumn is gold, orange undertone

sun added to skin of winter, adds browns and bieges, hair lightens
winter is vivid, clear and icy blue undertones
summer is soft, cool blue undertones

Looking at the sample swatches, you can see the yellows, red/orange, and blue shift in the colors that come from the same hue. Its just adding in the undertone color, that the skin also has. You can take any color and shift it to the undertone color.


Neutrals vs color

Having said all of this, there is still room for neutrals. Everyone should have neutrals. Color is just more enhancing and alive. Color can bring your skin alive, where as neutrals just mute everything into a almost robotic, lifelessness (good for work and offices).


Lights vs darks, emphasize vs de emphasize
Having said the season, then Lighter colors on you will emphasize, darker will de emphasis and shadow. All of where you use colors (lights and darks) depends on what is your most flattering features, shape of body. You dont want to use a bright color on something you want to hide.

Body shape influence on color, clothing shapes and lengths
Also to be taken into account is shapes, cuts, lengths, of clothes.

http://dapples.stores.yahoo.net/yourbodyshape.html