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Color Me Beautiful: Discover Your Natural Beauty Through the Colors That Make You Look Great and Feel Fabulous
Color is magic! No matter what kind of clothes you like to wear, the right colors can make the difference between looking drab and looking radiant!
You can wear every color of the rainbow. Shade makes the difference. Using simple guidelines, professional color consultant Carole Jackson helps you choose the thirty shades that make you look smashing.
What color season are you?
Spring: Your colors are clear, delicate, or bright with yellow undertones.
Summer: Cool, soft colors with blue undertones are right for you.
Autumn: You look best in stronger colors with orange and gold undertones.
Winter: Clear, vivid, or icy colors with blue undertones make you look best.
Color Me Beautiful will also help you:
• Develop your color personality
• Learn to perfect your make-up color
• Use color to solve specific figure problems
• Save money by designing a color-coordinated wardrobe for all occasions
• Discover your clothing personality
• Determine the fabrics that are best for you
• Use accessories successfully—from stockings to scarves
You can wear every color of the rainbow. Shade makes the difference. Using simple guidelines, professional color consultant Carole Jackson helps you choose the thirty shades that make you look smashing.
What color season are you?
Spring: Your colors are clear, delicate, or bright with yellow undertones.
Summer: Cool, soft colors with blue undertones are right for you.
Autumn: You look best in stronger colors with orange and gold undertones.
Winter: Clear, vivid, or icy colors with blue undertones make you look best.
Color Me Beautiful will also help you:
• Develop your color personality
• Learn to perfect your make-up color
• Use color to solve specific figure problems
• Save money by designing a color-coordinated wardrobe for all occasions
• Discover your clothing personality
• Determine the fabrics that are best for you
• Use accessories successfully—from stockings to scarves
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
152 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 28, 2016
You only need to look at the two pictures above to understand how the famous Color Me Beautiful method works. On the left, the woman has just decided to buy a copy of this book, believing that some crap about how her coloring is associated with a time of the year is magically going to make her twice as attractive. On the right, she has gone pale with rage after discovering that she's shelled out her hard-earned dollars for an obvious Photoshop scam which [continued for another 200 glossy pages]
May 1, 2016
Recently a thread of Clever Cool Types on Goodreads were dissing this, which made me think about it some more.
This book is of the recent past period that people always spurn the most viciously. In this case, awful, AWFUL pictures of middle American women wearing hideous clothes, hideous hair and makeup. I didn't say hideous makeup because it would be redundant. Not only that, it has become a capitalist industry propagating via the Internet, a rather ironic development since part of the original message was to spend less.
But one of the commentators on the dissing thread caught my attention for his rather patronising attitude that it was a cheap con to get the gullible. That really jarred with me. I don't know many dumb women. The women I know who wear makeup, get their bodies changed, spend fortunes on perfume (and a gadzillion other things I disapprove of) are scientists and doctors and teachers and lawyers and politicians and diplomats and options traders and world champions of this or that. They couldn't be a less gullible group. None of them are conned into the stuff they do.
I was introduced to this book by an artist, as it happens, a strong-willed person, if ever there was one, who has always led her own life. You go to her house and she will show you things of glory she has made, the glory of which is embedded in the colours. She understands colour. I didn't (and probably still don't). You have to read this book, she said. Know your colours. I love the open-mindedness of Mary-Anne. If she judged this book by its cover, or by the photos in it, she would have put it back on the shelf and wiped her hands afterwards. But she judged the book by what it said. If it wasn't the first book to talk about this, it was at least the first to make the ideas accessible to the world at large. These days you'd say it went viral, I guess. Mary-Anne used to buy ever copy she could find to give all her friends: it is how I got my copy.
Colour affects my mood and needless to say, the colour I carry around on me all day is going to have that effect. Colour is an extension of me. Without knowing the science of it, I am aware that some colours make me feel good and some colours make me feel bad. To have some explanation of this was a liberating experience, as knowledge so often is.
The book may have been a simplistic generalisation, but gee it was good, the core of it. Nothing brings that home to me like thinking of Genia. Every now and then I knit something in a colour I shouldn't wear. I know when I'm knitting it that I shouldn't be. But I finish it and put it on. Genia is a Siberian who has never heard of Colour Me Beautiful. Every time, however, she sees me in something I shouldn't be wearing, something that breaks my season colours, she scolds me. The correlation is 100% and that is for the obvious, simple reason that the book works.
and from my original thoughts:
-----------------------
Changed my life? Only a teensy bit, really......
This book is of the recent past period that people always spurn the most viciously. In this case, awful, AWFUL pictures of middle American women wearing hideous clothes, hideous hair and makeup. I didn't say hideous makeup because it would be redundant. Not only that, it has become a capitalist industry propagating via the Internet, a rather ironic development since part of the original message was to spend less.
But one of the commentators on the dissing thread caught my attention for his rather patronising attitude that it was a cheap con to get the gullible. That really jarred with me. I don't know many dumb women. The women I know who wear makeup, get their bodies changed, spend fortunes on perfume (and a gadzillion other things I disapprove of) are scientists and doctors and teachers and lawyers and politicians and diplomats and options traders and world champions of this or that. They couldn't be a less gullible group. None of them are conned into the stuff they do.
I was introduced to this book by an artist, as it happens, a strong-willed person, if ever there was one, who has always led her own life. You go to her house and she will show you things of glory she has made, the glory of which is embedded in the colours. She understands colour. I didn't (and probably still don't). You have to read this book, she said. Know your colours. I love the open-mindedness of Mary-Anne. If she judged this book by its cover, or by the photos in it, she would have put it back on the shelf and wiped her hands afterwards. But she judged the book by what it said. If it wasn't the first book to talk about this, it was at least the first to make the ideas accessible to the world at large. These days you'd say it went viral, I guess. Mary-Anne used to buy ever copy she could find to give all her friends: it is how I got my copy.
Colour affects my mood and needless to say, the colour I carry around on me all day is going to have that effect. Colour is an extension of me. Without knowing the science of it, I am aware that some colours make me feel good and some colours make me feel bad. To have some explanation of this was a liberating experience, as knowledge so often is.
The book may have been a simplistic generalisation, but gee it was good, the core of it. Nothing brings that home to me like thinking of Genia. Every now and then I knit something in a colour I shouldn't wear. I know when I'm knitting it that I shouldn't be. But I finish it and put it on. Genia is a Siberian who has never heard of Colour Me Beautiful. Every time, however, she sees me in something I shouldn't be wearing, something that breaks my season colours, she scolds me. The correlation is 100% and that is for the obvious, simple reason that the book works.
and from my original thoughts:
-----------------------
Changed my life? Only a teensy bit, really......
May 23, 2016
I've been meaning to read this for a few weeks now due to some confusion over my undertone. My mom and I have talked about this book for years. It's a light and fluffy topic, but it's loads of fun to us. I wasn't going to read this for style advice. I know what looks good on me (i.e., black) and I like what I like. Either way I figured I might as well read it all. Cue my existential crisis. All my life I thought I was a Winter, but nevermore! Having a warm undertone apparently means I'm an Autumn.
Being an Autumn means I'd look good in orange. I hate orange with all the hate anyone can have in their heart. It looks like sick.
And it's not just orange, but all the Autumn colours. Fuchsias look great on me, but being an Autumn means they don't. Apparently I can't pull off black and true white because I'm an Autumn. Whilst I have a warm undertone and the Autumn traits all apply to me, I look best wearing Winter colours. I'm flummoxed. Am I a Winter or an Autumn?
This book didn't answered all my questions, but it was fun to read. In the end, I think it boils down to common sense. This definitely isn't accurate for me, but it's still fun to talk about.
Being an Autumn means I'd look good in orange. I hate orange with all the hate anyone can have in their heart. It looks like sick.
And it's not just orange, but all the Autumn colours. Fuchsias look great on me, but being an Autumn means they don't. Apparently I can't pull off black and true white because I'm an Autumn. Whilst I have a warm undertone and the Autumn traits all apply to me, I look best wearing Winter colours. I'm flummoxed. Am I a Winter or an Autumn?
This book didn't answered all my questions, but it was fun to read. In the end, I think it boils down to common sense. This definitely isn't accurate for me, but it's still fun to talk about.
July 28, 2016
Published in 1980, "Color Me Beautiful," is a bit dated as personal color analysis has now taken the 4 seasons and broken them down into 12 sub-groups for a more accurate color palette. Nonetheless, this is a great starting point if you want to find out what colors you can rock and which ones you should avoid like the plague. (For example, I look lovely in coral, but mustard gold makes me look like I've been out drinking all night and someone offered me raw oysters for breakfast.) I remember my mother and her best friend going in the 1980's to "get their colors done." This was a big deal way back then. They left their color analysis appointment with little swatch booklets that they could take on their (numerous) shopping trips. Now, I'm seeing the light too... after all of these years wasting money on clothing in shades that did nothing for my Spring skin tone. My son's little girlfriend even had fun when we found the colors that suit her little 15 year-old Autumn self. This book even has neat-o color pages for each season. I know I am driving my poor husband insane with this book, following him around, wanting to figure out his colors. He just runs away in his black t-shirt. I think he's hiding under the bed. Sigh....
March 22, 2020
The oldest, original and still the best book on the subject. the swatches are quality too. I've had a copy of this book since i was 8; studied faithfully and highlighted to hell (i didn't know how to highlight right back then). Love it. If you are a clear spring/spring with a winter lean though, the swatches in the color me beautiful for men will be better for you. They came out a wee bit darker in the printing which suits your color better. I am that season so i know. her make up book is outdated but, it is a very good for learning make up and skincare for a newbie. I also like that the makeup swatches go by season and not just one companies brand in the season.
July 22, 2017
Bought it decades ago and -despite being an artist and THINKING i had a good eye - it totally and for the better improved my look, saved me money shopping, and made me understand why some items in my wardrobe , although i had tailored them to my body or loved the fabrics...just had never quote worked or made me feel as pretty as i'd thought they should. The items that i realized i always looked and great in had blue undertones. The ones that were off had yellow. THIS BOOK IS A CLASSIC FOR A REASON
March 30, 2020
1980, all the rage. Saw a mention in BH&G and remembered I read this book back in the day! I disagreed with it and today proudly sport black, red, and purple with my red hair.
February 5, 2022
Seems cheesy at first glance, but actually quite helpful. I carry the color swatches with me when I go shopping, and it helps avoid a lot of mistakes.
The author is a winter, and provides plenty of advice for all color seasons, which is great in a field that seems to be dominated by Autumns recommending colors like rust, mustard, and olive (which look terrible on me).
The author is perhaps a bit too unforgiving when it comes to the wearing of black for non-Winters. I do try to keep it away from my face, but the usefulness of black trousers, shoes, and bags is hard to resist. In addition, anyone in classical music is likely to need at least one all-black outfit for concerts, which is just unavoidable.
The author is a winter, and provides plenty of advice for all color seasons, which is great in a field that seems to be dominated by Autumns recommending colors like rust, mustard, and olive (which look terrible on me).
The author is perhaps a bit too unforgiving when it comes to the wearing of black for non-Winters. I do try to keep it away from my face, but the usefulness of black trousers, shoes, and bags is hard to resist. In addition, anyone in classical music is likely to need at least one all-black outfit for concerts, which is just unavoidable.
May 12, 2009
Would have been embarrassed to put this on my list of oh-so-scholarly reading, but it's been too much fun to read (dare I say cover to cover), discuss, and learn from! Sometimes it's fun to laugh at the 70s style/celeb references, but overall, it is definitely a classic beauty/style volume. (It has changed/will change my wardrobe and how I shop/dress.) I think even Stacey and Clint would approve of the basic, timeless tenets.
February 10, 2021
Always a good idea to pick this book while transitioning to a new phase that demands a new look. It helped me understand my colors, shape and structure well and helped me pick an image for myself that I intentionally want to create rather than letting an image "happen" to me. I had fun reading it!
August 25, 2016
In Color Me Beautiful, Carole helps you find your best "look" through colors palettes that are personally your own. These color palettes are named like, and similar to the seasons; winter, summer, autumn, and spring. Carole describes in her book that each woman has her own season out of the four, and each season has its own colors. out of these colors, you can pick out clothes, your makeup, accessories, hide flaws through color perception, plus more.
While I was reading, I came with the not-so-sure conclusion if I am a winter (medium olive skin, brown hair, medium-dark brown eyes). Though, after using the palette more, I starting adapting to the colors and started finding more outfits to wear than ever. I do recommend this book as a for every woman who is struggling with clothing, fashion, makeup, or color matching. Even though it is a bit outdated, it can still be adapted and is a good starting point.
While I was reading, I came with the not-so-sure conclusion if I am a winter (medium olive skin, brown hair, medium-dark brown eyes). Though, after using the palette more, I starting adapting to the colors and started finding more outfits to wear than ever. I do recommend this book as a for every woman who is struggling with clothing, fashion, makeup, or color matching. Even though it is a bit outdated, it can still be adapted and is a good starting point.
June 11, 2016
This book is fine, if a bit dated. I know I read this one years ago when it seemed like everyone was 'doing their colors'. It would be great if you've already got some sense of your skin tone and other attributes, but I find myself puzzling (now as then) over if I'm a pale Winter or Autumn or maybe a Spring. I look at the colors and think well I look good in this shade, but not that. Heavy sigh. I am fashion-challenged. This book will not change that. I'm just hoping to retire soon and maybe just live my life in jeans. Then I won't need to dress nicely for work. This is why my pants are all black, navy or grey. It makes dressing for the day simpler.
August 31, 2020
Dated, interesting, and foundational. Obviously any fashion book from the early 80s is going to be dated, but I think she's right that some colors suit you more than others, and that dressing in your specific most flattering colors can make you more beautiful. I realized that it wasn't my hair that was too dark for me, it was my clothes. Good book, but I'm mostly interested to see what people have done in the last 40 years to build off Jackson's work.
January 11, 2023
Very informative! The only problem was that the division of the categories were too blurry, I am still not sure if I am a Winter or an Autumn, which was what I wanted to know in the first place. I guess the only thing left is to do process of elimination with both palettes or pay someone to tell me what my season is.
April 20, 2014
This book was life-changing for me and many of my friends when it came out. This is the technology of color that truly makes people look their best. I gave it only 4 stars rather than 5, however, because it wasn't quite complete. And one particular omission had me thinking that I and my whole family were winters for many years, when really, only 2 of us were, and I wasn't one of them! Later on, another book came out called COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL'S LOOKING YOUR BEST, which was by Mary Spillane and Christine Sherlock. (I'm still trying to find out how this transfer of authorship came about.) The new book expanded on the original technology, dividing each of the 4 seasons into 3 subseasons, as well as including more colors in each palette. It was because I knew I looked great in black that I had thought, per Carole Jackson, that I must be a winter. But the new book included black in the Deep Autumn palette, and an astute salesperson in a department store recognized my daughter and me as autumns.
I recommend buying both books. Read this one first. It's brilliant! But you need the second one to have the completely workable system.
I recommend buying both books. Read this one first. It's brilliant! But you need the second one to have the completely workable system.
January 27, 2016
I owned this book years back, then have no idea what happened to it, so got it again as I remember it being so useful. The color combinations make a lot of sense. It's dated but the color matches aren't really something that goes out of style. Since this book I mainly shop by "my colors" and finds it works every time. The month stuff is a bit confusing and I do suspect many people are a mixture more than the book allows and wish there were easier ways of telling - this part could stand to be updated!
July 26, 2011
Silly and completely inaccurate now but it was one of the first books that showed the lay person how to look at color and style for their body more objectively. And you've got to love that 80's styling. Lots of makeup under harsh lights: yes!
August 20, 2008
I used to be obsessed with this book before I even thought about makeup. great for 7yr old girls.
May 2, 2023
The truth is that you can wear almost any color; it's the shade and intensity that count. (38)
Chapters 1-5 are the best and are fairly timeless. (The rest of the book is rather dated advice about makeup, fashion/style, hairstyles, and wardrobe planning. While I love what Jackson does with color theory, I also love the wonderful freedom, flexibility, and vibrancy of today's more modern wardrobes.)
Chapter 12, on closet decluttering, is surprisingly useful, though:
1. Remove everything not in your current size
2. Remove everything you haven't worn for a year (with exceptions for fancy/specialty clothes)
3. Separate "right" colored items from "wrong" colored items, add in "wrong" colored items as applicable (sometimes you just really love something in a color not part of your season!)
4. Make a list, organized by clothing type, of what you have to catalog your wardrobe
5. Determine what items, if any, are missing from your wardrobe
6. (Modified from Jackson's original plan of keeping swatches of fabric with you…) Keep pictures of your wardrobe on your phone: good to know what you have and what colors so that if you're shopping, you can tell what could go with an item you're looking at
Jackson walks you through how to figure out what season you are and provides a handy guide to help if you've narrowed your broad colors down. For me, deciding between winter and summer, I asked myself: "Do I look good in pastels, like powder pink or blue (Summer), or do I need darker or brighter colors because pastels make me look washed out (Winter)?" (43) Summer's colors are 'softer' and a bit more muted than Winter's colors. And then Jackson provides more checklists to help you figure out which season you are.
Earlier in my life, I had gotten suckered into the "everyone should own a camel-colored sweater!" So I tried one on and immediately felt washed out and very blah. Should have been my clue that I wasn't an autumn or a spring, but I hadn't figured things out yet!
Winters are a varied bunch (skin tone, eye color, hair color), more so than the other seasons, but all look best in cool, clear colors. They come alive in true, vivid, and icy colors with a blue undertone.
* Neutrals: pure white, black, navy, true gray.
* Basics: burgundy, true red, true blue, true green, emerald green, pine green
* Can do "icy" colors--not muted with gray. ("Icy" = almost white with a drop of color. These are not the same as pastels.)
* Yellow is tricky. Generally only bright lemon yellow and icy yellow work well.
* Avoid orange, beige, and brown!
But how do you really know if a color works on you?
* Right color: brings a healthy color to your face, minimizes lines/shadows, face pops out and pushes the color into the background
* Wrong color: makes you look pale or sallow, accentuates lines/shadows, color pops out and pushes your face into the background
So when you're looking to add a piece to your wardrobe:
* Pay special attention to your neutral and basic colors since those will be the backbone of your closet (coat, dress, etc).
* Don't get discouraged if you can't find a color that suits you during any given fashion season--color trends come and go, so try again later. You probably will have better luck shopping during your own season.
* Even within your color palette, not all colors look amazing next to your particular skin tone. You can still wear the color as an accent, but not right next to your face.
Downsides: dated language, lack of diversity of models, dated makeup tips, and weird stereotypes about fashion/styles.
Overall, I'm glad I read this to help me better think about colors and clothes. Very useful!
Chapters 1-5 are the best and are fairly timeless. (The rest of the book is rather dated advice about makeup, fashion/style, hairstyles, and wardrobe planning. While I love what Jackson does with color theory, I also love the wonderful freedom, flexibility, and vibrancy of today's more modern wardrobes.)
Chapter 12, on closet decluttering, is surprisingly useful, though:
1. Remove everything not in your current size
2. Remove everything you haven't worn for a year (with exceptions for fancy/specialty clothes)
3. Separate "right" colored items from "wrong" colored items, add in "wrong" colored items as applicable (sometimes you just really love something in a color not part of your season!)
4. Make a list, organized by clothing type, of what you have to catalog your wardrobe
5. Determine what items, if any, are missing from your wardrobe
6. (Modified from Jackson's original plan of keeping swatches of fabric with you…) Keep pictures of your wardrobe on your phone: good to know what you have and what colors so that if you're shopping, you can tell what could go with an item you're looking at
Jackson walks you through how to figure out what season you are and provides a handy guide to help if you've narrowed your broad colors down. For me, deciding between winter and summer, I asked myself: "Do I look good in pastels, like powder pink or blue (Summer), or do I need darker or brighter colors because pastels make me look washed out (Winter)?" (43) Summer's colors are 'softer' and a bit more muted than Winter's colors. And then Jackson provides more checklists to help you figure out which season you are.
Earlier in my life, I had gotten suckered into the "everyone should own a camel-colored sweater!" So I tried one on and immediately felt washed out and very blah. Should have been my clue that I wasn't an autumn or a spring, but I hadn't figured things out yet!
Winters are a varied bunch (skin tone, eye color, hair color), more so than the other seasons, but all look best in cool, clear colors. They come alive in true, vivid, and icy colors with a blue undertone.
* Neutrals: pure white, black, navy, true gray.
* Basics: burgundy, true red, true blue, true green, emerald green, pine green
* Can do "icy" colors--not muted with gray. ("Icy" = almost white with a drop of color. These are not the same as pastels.)
* Yellow is tricky. Generally only bright lemon yellow and icy yellow work well.
* Avoid orange, beige, and brown!
But how do you really know if a color works on you?
* Right color: brings a healthy color to your face, minimizes lines/shadows, face pops out and pushes the color into the background
* Wrong color: makes you look pale or sallow, accentuates lines/shadows, color pops out and pushes your face into the background
So when you're looking to add a piece to your wardrobe:
* Pay special attention to your neutral and basic colors since those will be the backbone of your closet (coat, dress, etc).
* Don't get discouraged if you can't find a color that suits you during any given fashion season--color trends come and go, so try again later. You probably will have better luck shopping during your own season.
* Even within your color palette, not all colors look amazing next to your particular skin tone. You can still wear the color as an accent, but not right next to your face.
Downsides: dated language, lack of diversity of models, dated makeup tips, and weird stereotypes about fashion/styles.
Overall, I'm glad I read this to help me better think about colors and clothes. Very useful!
Want to read
April 15, 2023"Color Me Beautiful (Lee's Book)
I'm a summer-
The summer palette has classic colors, reflecting the calmness and conservatism, and the summer woman is most often a poised, gracious, even-tempered person, ideal in classic clothes and soft prints! She's the elegant, but feminine type. :)
Classic-
Even, regular features, medium coloring, well-proportioned body. The classic woman is tailored, conservative but smart, and always well-groomed. Typically she has good posture, a sense of formality, and poise. :)
Avoid extremes, use fine fabrics, soft straight lines, and immaculately tailored clothes to achieve distinction. No bouffant or crisp silhouettes-the classic stays up to date in a conservative way. Her hemlines go up and down just a little and she switches to the latest look only after it has become established. Fabric may be shiny or matte, but not too heavy. Find cotton and jersey, tissue wool and wool crepe, fine knits, and Quiana are all good. Prints must be middle of the road, small to medium stylized designs, paisley, and polka dots. For a summer classic, a watercolor effect is nice. Smoother fine fabric is always better than a rough texture for a dress. Choose a controlled neat hair style-no casual windblown loo. Make-up conservative, but do wear it. Because classic is medium, wear enough makeup, jewelry, and accessories to look smart. You can find classic look exciting.
Princess Grace"
Written in Barbara's 1984 Calendar, the smaller book in the left front cover pocket.
I'm a summer-
The summer palette has classic colors, reflecting the calmness and conservatism, and the summer woman is most often a poised, gracious, even-tempered person, ideal in classic clothes and soft prints! She's the elegant, but feminine type. :)
Classic-
Even, regular features, medium coloring, well-proportioned body. The classic woman is tailored, conservative but smart, and always well-groomed. Typically she has good posture, a sense of formality, and poise. :)
Avoid extremes, use fine fabrics, soft straight lines, and immaculately tailored clothes to achieve distinction. No bouffant or crisp silhouettes-the classic stays up to date in a conservative way. Her hemlines go up and down just a little and she switches to the latest look only after it has become established. Fabric may be shiny or matte, but not too heavy. Find cotton and jersey, tissue wool and wool crepe, fine knits, and Quiana are all good. Prints must be middle of the road, small to medium stylized designs, paisley, and polka dots. For a summer classic, a watercolor effect is nice. Smoother fine fabric is always better than a rough texture for a dress. Choose a controlled neat hair style-no casual windblown loo. Make-up conservative, but do wear it. Because classic is medium, wear enough makeup, jewelry, and accessories to look smart. You can find classic look exciting.
Princess Grace"
Written in Barbara's 1984 Calendar, the smaller book in the left front cover pocket.
December 3, 2022
Both statements are true: you can wear any color you like and not every color looks good on you. I have been curious about my color - the ones that suits me well. Turns out there are color theory on this and thanks to Instagram, now I know that personal color analysis is a thing! And it also has been in trend in 1980s and this is the OG book of the personal color analysis.
In general, this book explains that there are 4 types of color palette which is named by 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Everyone will have only one color palette that suits their coloring. The book also explains body type and style essence, which will guide readers to create their own wardrobe that they will like.
The book is a fun read, even though it is white-centric. Well, it is an old book after all. Now we have 12 and 16 types of color palette theory which divide the 4 types to sub-seasons and more PoC color analysts. I wish the book gave us more color samples instead of wall of texts such as “pine green” “royal purple” “blue gray”.
In general, this book explains that there are 4 types of color palette which is named by 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Everyone will have only one color palette that suits their coloring. The book also explains body type and style essence, which will guide readers to create their own wardrobe that they will like.
The book is a fun read, even though it is white-centric. Well, it is an old book after all. Now we have 12 and 16 types of color palette theory which divide the 4 types to sub-seasons and more PoC color analysts. I wish the book gave us more color samples instead of wall of texts such as “pine green” “royal purple” “blue gray”.
November 13, 2017
This book was good, an easy one to breeze through (plus, once you figure out your season, you don't have to read the parts that apply to other ones.)
It basically reinforced most things I suspected about myself, since I am already fairly good at understanding color. There is a reason I look better in cool colors, a reason why brown makes me look drab but works for other people, and why gold jewelry looks dull for me. If you've ever wondered similar things about yourself, or feel lost trying to pick out clothes that look good for you, I recommend this.
I honestly like the fact that it's never been updated since it's original publishing in 1980. The examples are dated, plus I don't know many people who wear rouge anymore, but the rules to live by never change. It reads like easy guidelines to follow, without the trendiness of today to muddle it.
It basically reinforced most things I suspected about myself, since I am already fairly good at understanding color. There is a reason I look better in cool colors, a reason why brown makes me look drab but works for other people, and why gold jewelry looks dull for me. If you've ever wondered similar things about yourself, or feel lost trying to pick out clothes that look good for you, I recommend this.
I honestly like the fact that it's never been updated since it's original publishing in 1980. The examples are dated, plus I don't know many people who wear rouge anymore, but the rules to live by never change. It reads like easy guidelines to follow, without the trendiness of today to muddle it.
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May 26, 2020A personal book for me, "Color Me Beautiful" brought memories of my godmother. This book found packed away in my garage second-floor was one of the many gifts she gave me when I was thirteen, a gift that made me feel grown and important. Her emphasis was on the beauty: confidence and clothes more than any makeup. Herself a proud teacher from the 1960s into the 20th Century, she also gave me numerous other books for learning over the years: novels, anthologies, and various skills for a successful young adult. Why so much disgruntled judgment regarding this book? Read this as a tool for self-awareness, consideration for personal style, and --if you are determined to insist on your presentism expertise -- an artifact of its time, but be sure to use your consider the challenges and triumphs in which it was set.
September 3, 2024
This was given to me as a gift years ago. You may notice that I'm working on my home library (and adding here)
The results of that reading confirmed that I was naturally drawn to those colors (in clothing) that flattered me most. With only one exception... I do love black slacks and more... LOL but they can be matched with your personal colors around your face especially... if you really get into it... LOL I tend not to be a fashion bug, but if you are, this is a perfect place to start thinking about your wardrobe selections... I'm passing in on to the great-niece, who is now my caretaker these days in my life when I need assistance with shopping or travel...
Do yourself a favor if you think you need guidance... and check out this book, which may have later editions since the one I received....
The results of that reading confirmed that I was naturally drawn to those colors (in clothing) that flattered me most. With only one exception... I do love black slacks and more... LOL but they can be matched with your personal colors around your face especially... if you really get into it... LOL I tend not to be a fashion bug, but if you are, this is a perfect place to start thinking about your wardrobe selections... I'm passing in on to the great-niece, who is now my caretaker these days in my life when I need assistance with shopping or travel...
Do yourself a favor if you think you need guidance... and check out this book, which may have later editions since the one I received....
July 11, 2025
This is my first dive into a book about color theory and clothes, and I’m intrigued enough to keep exploring this idea. I recently learned about matching colors to your undertone, and someone recommended this book right away. There’s tons of info online about this stuff, but Jackson’s book breaks it down with simple examples that make the concept click. I’m not totally convinced it works for everyone, but I’m curious to see how it’ll shake up my wardrobe.
Color Me Beautiful shows you how to pick clothes and makeup based on your natural coloring—skin, hair, and eyes. It uses a “Seasonal Color Analysis” system, splitting people into Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter, each with a palette that flatters them most. It’s not about chasing trends but finding what makes you look healthy and confident.
Color Me Beautiful shows you how to pick clothes and makeup based on your natural coloring—skin, hair, and eyes. It uses a “Seasonal Color Analysis” system, splitting people into Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter, each with a palette that flatters them most. It’s not about chasing trends but finding what makes you look healthy and confident.
March 14, 2017
This book is a good introduction to which colors look good with your hair color, eye color, and skin color. I "got my colors done" with a consultant recently and wanted to read this book to get a better understanding of the process. The categories in the book are basic ones, warm/cool, etc., not as detailed as the categories I got from my consultant. I did get kind of confused with all the colors in the book, so I'm really glad I got my personalized color wheel and didn't rely on the book. I did enjoy the second part of the book which talks about figuring out your body type and face shape. I hadn't seen that information before and it was interesting. There were also a lot of tips on organizing your wardrobe and planning your wardrobe.
June 21, 2018
This book gives a simple guide on how to choose colors that are best suited for your skin tone etc. It categorizes each person into a season as we have all heard based on the undertones of our skin. The author states that our season would never change even if we change our hair color because our undertones of our skin stays the same. I don't agree with this. If you are normally a blue-eyed blonde but you dye your hair black and put in dark brown contacts, I think that will affect what colors look good on you. I also think that for many caucasians, our skin tends to get paler as we get older and we loose undertones. So naturally, our what colors we would wear may change. But as a general guide it's ok.
June 22, 2024
Eye opening & life changing!
It's shocking that this book was written in 1984!!! There are so many timeless truths in here. I bought this book expecting to find information that was restricted to the 4 seasons but got much more out of it. I found it very wholesome. It's definitely a life changer in terms of understanding [your] style. I've understood concepts I knew subconsciously, I've learnt more about my body & style, I've understood what I'm doing right & wrong, I've understood why some things just don't work even when I continue forcing issues & I've acquired vocabulary that'll help me explain a few concepts to my friends. This book is a must read if you want to understand yourself & your style 😉
It's shocking that this book was written in 1984!!! There are so many timeless truths in here. I bought this book expecting to find information that was restricted to the 4 seasons but got much more out of it. I found it very wholesome. It's definitely a life changer in terms of understanding [your] style. I've understood concepts I knew subconsciously, I've learnt more about my body & style, I've understood what I'm doing right & wrong, I've understood why some things just don't work even when I continue forcing issues & I've acquired vocabulary that'll help me explain a few concepts to my friends. This book is a must read if you want to understand yourself & your style 😉
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October 22, 2020I read this book after reading sewist-extraordinaire Jasika Nicole’s review of this book. For those interested in curating or sewing a minimalist wardrobe full of only items that will be well-worn and well-loved, this book is a great resource for learning about which colors best compliment your natural coloring, and will work together to create a cohesive and “flattering” wardrobe palette. This book was written in the 80s, and a lot of the language is dated/problematic. I went into the book knowing that, so I just disregarded parts of the book that didn’t work for me, and kept the information that was valuable for me.
March 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read especially since I skipped 2 chapters. Those chapters were how to dress for style. Since it isn’t 1973 anymore, they weren’t applicable to 2020 standards. Since I’ve stopped highlighting my hair 😢 it’s been difficult for me to figure out which colors work best for me. This book helped tremendously. My copy looks terribly outdated and I would love if they would update this book and re-release. To anyone considering this book, don’t judge a book by its cover. 😉
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