Understanding the 12-Season Color System
A complete guide to finding your seasonal color palette
The 12-season color system is an expansion of the traditional 4-season color analysis. While the classic system categorizes people into Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter, the 12-season system provides more nuance by identifying three subtypes within each season.
The Four Seasons
Each season has distinct characteristics based on three factors:
- Temperature: Warm (yellow-based) or Cool (blue-based)
- Value: Light or Dark
- Chroma: Clear/Bright or Soft/Muted
Spring Palettes
Spring palettes are warm and light, like the season itself. They work best with clear, warm colors.
Summer Palettes
Summer palettes are cool and soft. Despite the season’s name, these are muted, gentle colors.
Autumn Palettes
Autumn palettes are warm and muted, featuring rich earth tones and harvest colors.
Winter Palettes
Winter palettes are cool and clear, with high contrast and bold, saturated colors.
Finding Your Season
The key to finding your season is understanding your natural coloring:
- Determine your undertone - Are you warm (golden, peachy) or cool (pink, rosy)?
- Assess your contrast level - Is the difference between your hair, skin, and eyes high or low?
- Consider your best colors - Do you look better in muted or clear colors?
Once you know your season, shopping becomes much easier—you’ll know exactly which colors make you look your best.