Being a smart shopper means knowing the difference between color and style. Sure, they sound like different things. But that distinction often gets muddied. In this post we’re going to explore why this is by looking at the conventional  relationships between certain seasonal color palettes and certain style archetypes.

Winter: Let’s start with winter Bold colors. You’ll often find these in Dramatic/Theatrical cuts and patterns. And the reality is that a lot of Dramatic style types often can, in fact, wear bold colors. Since the nature of winter is that of intensity and drama the patterns and designs expressed in the dead of winter frequently reflect that drama: color blocking, extreme shapes, exaggerated patterns.

Spring:  As winter transitions to spring, the Bright spring palette is found  in the cuts, styles and patterns typical of Youthful/Playful style.  Even the word “spring” suggests a kind of innocence and awakening. Those qualities play well with typical spring patterns and styles: smaller florals, checkered fabrics, bright, playful designs, and more feminine or round shapes rather than the extreme lines and cuts that typically are seen in the striking colors of winter.

Summer: Angelic/Ethereal types might notice that a lot of things in their closet seem to fall into the Soft/Subtle Summer color palette. There’s an automatic relationship we form between those gentle, often grayed colors and the breezy, gauzy fabrics that we can only wear in the summer. These are the colors we also associate with the sort of liquid, diaphanous quality we see in people with a lot of the Angelic style type. Also, since many weddings take place in the summer, we make a connection between lighter colors and wedding attire – both for the guests as well as the bride. (And, by the way, you’ll see a lot of mother-of-the-bride dresses in this grayed palette.)

Fall: And then when autumn rolls around we want to start wearing more layers. Except in a few anomalous years, you’re most likely to find those less popular autumn colored garments primarily in the autumn – cozy sweaters, pants and jackets. You’ll also start seeing more of the Natural/Relaxed textures such as ribbed and cabled knits, corduroy pants and tops, suede in various garments and the heavier weaves of cashmere. (Those feather weight cashmere cardigans are a godsend in air conditioned offices, but you need heavier weights in the winter.) There’s an obvious link between autumn colors and heavier fabrics and textures.

So what you do if – like most of us – your color palette and style types cross multiple seasons and archetypes? If, for example, you’re primarily a  Natural/Relaxed style type but your coloring is very much in the spring Bright palette, rather than autumn? Or if you’re a Youthful/Playful style type but your coloring is clearly that of the winter palette? Or if you have a lot of the three other style types not mentioned here because they cross multiple seasons: Classic, Exuberant, or Romantic?

My advice is this: look for your ideal colors first. Every season you will find something that will work. Maybe it’s just an accessory that you wear with your neutrals. Maybe it’s a sweater or a blouse. Even if you have a only small amount of the current seasonal colors in your personal palette, wear that small amount. Find those one or two great things that highlight your coloring and then wear them to death with your basics for that season.

My book, Shopping for the Real You, offers fundamental guidelines to determine the colors and styles that can work best for you. (A heads up: my mentor John Kitchener is currently offering a discount for individual color and style analysis.)

In the next post I’ll talk about the second element in color versus style confusion: Models, celebrities and magazines.

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