Color Me Beautiful

"This is truly a weird book. Are you winter, spring, summer, or fall? Carole Jackson, with a Dorothy Hamill haircut in evidence, proceeds to group women into one four seasons, each with its own rigid color palette. Do you wear black? Forget it unless you're a "winter". Redheads(falls) can only wear olive green, orange, or yellow. Yikes! Try to figure out what season you are. It's not always clear, which seems a bit flawed. This seemed to have a fair amount of marketing involved. I think they had their own makeup line at one time. Anyway, it's good for a few laughs. I think most adults know what colors look good on them, and what you feel the best in. "
~ Written on 2008-05-03

"I love this book. My grandmother gave me this book when I was about 10 or so. She had it and thought I might be interested. I looked at this book so many times when I was a teenager that it eventually fell apart. I know I am a cool, but I have never been absolutely sure which season I am, but I love this book for many reasons. Even though it is way before my time (I am only 27), it still has a lot of cool tricks and ideas for boosting your skin tone. The color guides for each season are very helpful as well. It gives a very specific list of colors for each. This book is a great reference for determining a color palette that works for your coloring. In response to another comment, I agree color choices are largely based on instinct and emotional response. However, I have found that a lot of the colors I am naturally drawn to are suitable colors for a cool complexion. Try this book. It is really cheap and has a lot of good information. Trends, styles and looks change throughout the years, but it still is a great resource for putting together a cohesive and complimentary look. Hey, a lot of things from the eighties are coming back!!"
~ Written on 2008-01-24

"[***** = breathtaking, **** = excellent, *** = good, ** = flawed, * = bad]

Well, you may laugh and think of this book as too-1980s! (I think it's first date of publication was 1981.) But unlike big hair and shoulder-pads, this method of determining one's personal colors stands the test of time. (The actual styles recommended in the wardrobe section are outdated, but the color information and photographs make up for this.)

Basically there's four color-groupings named after the four seasons. To find out which group you fall into, have a good look at the color of your hair and eyes. Also, try putting a white sheet of paper under your wrist for a neutral background while you determine whether or not you have a blue- or a gold-undertone to your skin.

This works for all ethnic groups, which are dispersed fairly evenly across the four groupings. What works for your sister or mother might not work for you. Once you're familiar with the color diagnosing you can always use it to help the men in your life shop.

Winters and Summers have a blue-undertone to their skin and look good in silver-toned jewelry. Winters look good in deep, clear colors like black, navy-blue, true red, and pure white. Summers get a lot of blue-gray and rose tones. Autumns and Springs have a gold-undertone to their skin and look good in gold-toned jewelry. Autumns look good in earth tones, and Springs get a lot of off-white, ivory, and pastel.

I'm simplifying greatly; it's best to have a look at the photographs in the book which are amazingly convincing. Especially the ones that have the models dressed in the "right" and "wrong" colors so you can see the difference. Don't bother to buy the hideously expensive color-swatches offered separately from the book as an aid to on-the-spot shopping: the excellent photographs are good enough. "
~ Written on 2007-12-19

"I learned a ton from this book, there are plenty of great advices and tips that really help. If you also want to look super sexy check out this book - How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You Simple tools, straightforward advice, real women, a great read!"
~ Written on 2007-10-25

"This is an excellent book which I refer to often. The pity is that the colors I need never seem to be available. "
~ Written on 2007-08-16