Personal Color Analysis
“They took a simple picnic. Fresh brown bread, white Wensleydale cheese, crimson radishes, yellow butter, scarlet tomatoes, round bright green Granny Smiths and a bottle of mineral water. They took no books….They walked down through flowering lanes. The high hedges were thick with dog-roses, mostly a clear pink, sometimes white, with yellow-gold centres dusty with yellow pollen. These roses were intricately and thickly entwined with rampant wild honeysuckle, trailing and weaving creamy flowers among the pink and gold.”
-A.S. Byatt
Color is powerful.
Color is one of the first descriptors we reach for when we tell a story, and arguably the most evocative.
The colors and styles we wear, the feelings we inspire: these details feature heavily in others’ impressions of us, from loved ones to friends we haven’t made yet to people we may never see again.
Are they seeing the genuine you?
At the beginning of your appointment, I’ll give an introductory lesson about the twelve seasonal tones and their respective color qualities. We’ll talk about the relationships between different seasons, and what we’ll be looking for during your analysis. We’ll also chat about some common color illusions.
During your color analysis, I’ll use controlled, full-spectrum lighting and a series of harmonized fabric drapes from NDU Colors to identify your most impactful colors in both clothing and makeup.
After we’ve identified your season, we’ll spend some time looking through the beautiful 12 Blueprints Luxury Drapes. While the test drapes are designed to induce color reactions and test between seasons, the luxury drapes are specifically designed to show you the full potential of your season in clothing.
If you wear makeup or are interested in wearing makeup, we’ll take a look at your products to see whether or not they harmonize with your palette. You will also have the opportunity to see and try some color cosmetics for your season if desired, such as blush and lipstick.
You’ll receive extensive instruction from me regarding using your swatchbook to harmonize clothing. If you’ve brought any makeup or jewelry from home, we’ll use your swatchbook to determine whether or not they harmonize with your palette.
At the end of your appointment, you’ll receive your season’s archival canvas color fan to keep, as well as a wallet-sized color card for your season. You will also receive exclusive, lifetime access to my resource page for your season. This page contains a great deal of written information about your season, including color keywords for your season, makeup guidance, and information about how to combine your colors in outfits. It also includes a makeup list, which includes various brands and is updated fairly regularly.
Because the integrity of the color analysis environment is so important, this service cannot be offered virtually. I exclusively offer Personal Color Analysis services at my studio in the St. Matthews area of Louisville, KY.
My PCA Philosophy
I want you to look happy and healthy. I want you to look like you get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious food, drink water, have vibrant relationships with others, and are fulfilled in your chosen pursuits. Of course, we’re still ourselves when we’re sick, tired, or feeling blah…but even under those conditions, we don’t want to look like we’re sick or tired!
I want you to look like yourself. If you’re very fair, I’m not trying to add color that isn’t there. If you’re very dark, I’m not trying to make you look lighter than you are. If your skin is golden, it’s golden. If it’s olive, it’s olive. If it’s pink, it’s pink. Many people have combinations of different tones in the face. For example, many women have a golden olive skin tone with some surface pinkness, or a rose-beige skin tone with peachy accents. I want all of the tones of your face to be in balance.
I want to define your eyes, but not over-sharpen them. Your eyes should never look hazy, murky, or like the drape is competing with them for attention. Your eyes also shouldn’t dominate the drape, leaving what you’re wearing behind. I want your eyes to look multidimensional and real alongside your skin and facial features. I want to see the genuine color of your eyes and any patterns that may be present.
Importantly, I want you to be engaged throughout your analysis. I’ll describe the effects I’m seeing, ask about the effects you’re seeing, and take all the time we need to get it right. I’m not interested in simply prescribing you a season. I want you to see why you are your season and no other, and to understand your place in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost?
Personal color analysis appointments are $400. This price includes:
A thorough, personalized draping in the 12-tone method of color analysis
Your season’s archival canvas swatchbook + wallet-sized color card including 78 colors each ($100 value)
Consultation on how to use your new swatchbook to shop for your season and analyze your current wardrobe
Consultation on color cosmetics for your season
Discussion of any questions you may have about your season
Lifetime access to my digital resource page for your season. Your seasonal resource page is a living document and includes: a written description of your season, a refresher on how to harmonize with your swatchbook, guidance on choosing jewelry and glasses, guidance on clothing and putting together outfits, color keywords for your season, links to visuals for your season, links to blog posts for your season, makeup guidance for your season, and a regularly-updated makeup list for your season with various brands.
what color analysis system do you use?
I work with the 12-tone system of color analysis, created by Kathryn Kalisz of Sci\ART. Kathryn Kalisz utilized Albert Munsell’s 3-dimensional theory of color to create the 12 seasons. Each season is fully distinct from one another, with its own formula of hue, value, and chroma. In this system, a Soft Summer is as different from a Soft Autumn as a Soft Autumn is from a True Autumn, so it’s not as simple as “congratulations, you’re an autumn!”
In all my years of providing color analysis, with new color analysis systems coming and going all the time, I believe the 12-tone system to be the most scientifically accurate method of dividing the color spectrum into seasons while also allowing clients to still tell the difference between them. Additionally, the focus on being able to replicate results with standardized drapes, lighting, and environment is crucial.
12-tone color analysis does not rely on stereotypes about hair color, eye color, skin color, or contrast level in order to determine your season. We are looking for specific visual effects on the skin.
how long have you been doing this?
I’ve been working as a full-time personal color analyst for 12 years. I have been providing color analysis training since 2024.
who did you train with?
I trained as a color analyst with Terry Wildfong of Your Natural Design in 2014. Terry trained with Kathryn Kalisz herself.
I trained as a PCA instructor, also with Terry Wildfong, in January 2024.
Which swatchbooks do you use?
I carry swatchbooks from NDU Colors (Natural Design United) and I absolutely love them. I personally find the color harmony to be unmatched, with distinct palettes that capture the essence of each individual season. I have even painstakingly compared the NDU palettes to the original SciART palettes I’ve collected over the years, and I find they harmonize with seasonal fabrics just as beautifully.
NDU swatchbooks are produced in the United States from high quality, archival canvas. Even the canvas itself is made in the United States!
which drapes do you use?
I use the Natural Design United (NDU) drapes, which are all matte broadcloth.
I also have the 12 Blueprints luxury drapes, and have placed my original set of 12 Blueprints test drapes into my luxury sets (meaning there are more than 15 colors per season for you to enjoy!)
Do you use special lighting?
I use full-spectrum lighting to ensure your analysis is conducted under consistent and replicable lighting conditions. While using natural daylight sounds romantic, natural daylight is disturbingly variable based on where in the world you are, what time of year it is, what time of day it is, what the weather is like, and what direction your windows are facing!
I also use a neutral gray backdrop and wear a neutral gray coat to ensure that there are no background colors impacting your analysis. During the draping process, you’ll wear a neutral gray cape and bonnet.
why don’t you offer online analysis? can chat gpt tell me my season?
Plainly put, online analysis is guesswork. It may be a somewhat educated guess (depending on the analyst), or it may not be. Ever watched a color analysis video on Instagram and thought, “I have no idea what they are looking at?” Well, me too! Sometimes the effects seen during a color analysis are very subtle and nuanced. Without having a client directly in front of me, analyzing the effects of different known drapes, even an educated guess would just be a guess. And these guesses are often based on the lighting of random photos, unknown makeup, etc.
Additionally, while learning your color season is ultimately the main goal of your color analysis, I wouldn’t find it very helpful to simply tell someone “You’re a Dark Winter.” The benefit is in seeing why you are a Dark Winter. What happens in Dark Autumn? What about Bright Winter? What about Soft Summer? What is lost or gained when stepping outside of Dark Winter? What colors might you never choose to wear again? What colors could work for you if you need to choose a dress for a wedding and Dark Winter isn’t available? What are our favorite colors on you within the season? These questions deepen your understanding of what it really means to be a Dark Winter.
Anecdotally, many of my clients have used AI tools to test out their color season before coming to me for an analysis. Sometimes it’s in the ballpark, and sometimes it’s totally off!
can i bring a friend/partner/sibling?
Yes! Please let me know in advance so I can ensure there’s space for your guest to sit and be comfortable.
can i bring my child?
Unfortunately, I cannot accommodate children under 12 during your analysis, as my studio is not child-proofed. Your PCA requires focus, and I encourage you to take this time just for you. However, if your child is 12+ and they can entertain themselves during your analysis, you are welcome to bring them if you let me know ahead of time. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
do you drape children?
Yes! I have draped many children over the years, of all ages. Children can be surprisingly intuitive about their best colors, often preferring colors that look better on them during the draping process even when that color goes against their previously-stated preferences. However, please consider whether or not your child is actually interested in a PCA, and whether or not they are able to sit patiently during the analysis process.
do you offer abbreviated sessions for groups?
I never offer abbreviated sessions, as there is no way to shorten the color analysis process while maintaining accuracy. However, I do offer group sessions. Please reach out to me to discuss logistics and pricing for groups!
can i get a pca if i have rosacea/acne/scars/hyperpigmentation/wrinkles?
Absolutely! Imperfections in the skin are very normal, and they can actually assist in the draping process. Certain colors can cause wrinkles to look deeper, rosacea to seem flared, acne and scars to look irritated, hyperpigmentation to look patchy - the list goes on! Your best season will not erase these aspects, but it will minimize them, drawing our attention to your eyes and the harmony of your features.
Appointments are added to my calendar 1-2 months in advance. If there are no appointments available for the time frame you are interested in, please check back soon! You can also contact me at hello@catelinden.com to inquire about available future dates.