I wanted to quickly address the subject of how many colors there should be in an ideal color palette. Over the years one of the main questions I’ve received from people who had a custom color palette created for them is: “OK, what do I do with all these swatches now?”
At first, the sheer number of colors can be daunting. The palettes created by PSC trained analysts contain about 100 distinct colors. I say “distinct” because they are not paint chip shades that range from the lightest to darkest version of a specific color. And that’s because an individual may be able to wear one shade in a paint color strip, but not a darker or lighter version.
So, this whole issue was brought home to me recently when I had a discussion with my friend and colleague, Nina (that’s her palette below to the right.) She explained that she liked the idea of a smaller, tight palette of colors. Here’s my opinion about why that is.
90% Striking Contrast
Nina is primarily a Striking Contrast (winter) color type and has a lot of the Dramatic style essence in her style archetype mix. Both of those qualities – Dramatic style and Striking coloring – suggest someone who cuts to the chase, doesn’t like a lot of frou frou, is direct, and knows who they are. They pick a very few of their neutrals and very few of their colors and that’s what you will see in their wardrobe over the years and decades.
All those element reinforce a lifestyle and fashion expression that is simple, has clean dramatic lines, is highly curated, and doesn’t have any need to change much over time.
It definitely works for her.
How Other Color Types Choose Their Clothes
But of course, we are all unique and we all have a unique combination of fashion style and coloring markers.
Mostly Spring (Lively Bright)
Many of those with a lot of Spring-like coloring (we call it Lively Bright) love lots of color options, love playing with color and color combinations, and adore jangly accessories. The more colors they can play with, the merrier.
Mostly Summer (Subtle Blended)
The gentle Summer-coloring types (or Subtle Blended) share a similar simplicity to that of a Striking but likely welcome the wider range of shades available to them within one color family. They do “tonal” dressing beautifully. (Tonal is when you wear multiple shades of one color, as long as they are all in your palette.)
Mostly Autumn (Earthy Rich)
And then the autumn types (Earthy Rich coloring) simply require a lot of options because their neutrals are, well, unusual and different. Black, white, and gray are rarely the neutrals found in the palettes of those with a high percentage of autumn coloring. So, the many shades of brown, olive green, charcoal, dark burgundy and warmer navy colors invite a very wide range of brighter colors for them to pair with those neutrals in order to come alive, and to avoid looking drab.
What Else Determines The Colors You Wear?
When you add in the person’s style essences (or archetypes) that adds another layer of information about which colors the person would favor and what the wardrobe might look like. This is why color analysis is so specific to the individual. This is why it’s extremely difficult to place someone in a color “box.”
So, the value of a large color palette – for anyone – is simply that it gives you options. It gives you the parameters of how far you can go in one color direction. More importantly, it helps you train your eye to recognize what might work for you and what might not. And of course, you certainly don’t have to try to find all the colors available in your palette to incorporate into your wardrobe. That would be challenging…and expensive! You can curate a wardrobe of colors within your palette that really speak to you and about you.
BTW – I’m having SO much fun working on my color course. We’ll look at dozens of palettes, hundreds of women within the seasonal color essences, go into great detail about variations of seasonal essences, explain how colors are determined, define the meaning and psychological effects of each color category, look at how to combine colors for each color harmony, show several outfit ideas for each color harmony, and more. I think you will love it.
Take good care of yourself, and stay healthy, happy, and safe.
Andrea’s books and new video series:
