Four-Season Color Analysis: Complete Guide

What is the 4-season system?

Seasonal Color Analysis was popularised by Suzanne Caygill in the 1980s — it maps innate human coloring to one of four “seasonal families” (Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter). Each family has its own undertone, contrast, and signature palette.

Four diagnostic dimensions:

Undertone — Warm (yellow/golden) vs Cool (blue/pink)
Value — Light vs Deep
Contrast — High vs Low
Chroma — Bright vs Muted

Warm Spring

🌸 Vibe: Fresh, lively, luminous — like early-spring sunshine

Undertone: Warm · yellow base
Value: Medium
Chroma: High
Examples: IU, Hashimoto Kanna, Emma Stone

8 signature colors (HEX):

Coral peach #FF7F50
Cream yellow #FFE4B5
Grass green #7CB342
Mint blue #A5D8E0
Honey brown #C68642
Peach pink #F8C8C5
Bright red #FF6347
Goose yellow #FFE066

5 to avoid: Black, charcoal grey, cool purple, pure white, wine red

Makeup: Warm coral blush + coral lip + brown liner + light brown brow

Outfits: Soft green shirt + ivory pants; coral dress; honey-tone sweater

Hair: Warm brown, chestnut, honey blonde — avoid cool ash, misty grey-blue

👉 Find out if you’re Spring

Cool Summer

🌊 Vibe: Soft, hazy, elegant — like a summer morning

Undertone: Cool · blue base
Value: Medium-light
Contrast: Low
Examples: Liu Yifei, Son Ye-jin, Aragaki Yui, Hailey Bieber

8 signatures:

Misty blue #9CB3C7
Bean-paste pink #E8C8DC
Lavender #C6BCE0
Cedar grey #A4B7CE
Sea-salt teal #B7D8D2
Soft purple #D8BFD8
Smoke blue #9DAFC4
Moonlight white #EAEFF5

5 to avoid: Orange-red, warm yellow, mustard, olive green, warm browns

Makeup: Pink blush + rose dusty lip + grey liner + ash-brown brow

Outfits: Misty blue shirt + ivory pants; dusty pink dress; lavender cardigan

Hair: Cool brown, ash grey, flax brown — avoid warm orange, cherry red

Warm Autumn

🍁 Vibe: Rich, vintage, intellectual — like deep-autumn forest

Undertone: Deep warm · golden base
Value: Medium-deep
Chroma: Medium
Examples: Adele, Beyoncé (warm seasons), Sienna Miller

8 signatures:

Caramel brown #8D5A3F
Brick red #9C5B3D
Olive green #7A8E5C
Pumpkin orange #C2895C
Mustard yellow #D4B27B
Moss green #8B956D
Tobacco brown #A78867
Deep wine #7A2E2E

5 to avoid: Cool pink, pure white, bright blue, electric purple, cherry blossom

Makeup: Orange-brown blush + brick red lip + brown-black liner + dark brown brow

Outfits: Caramel knit + olive blazer; brick red dress; orange-brown coat

Hair: Dark brown, chestnut, deep coffee — avoid cool ash, platinum

Cool Winter

❄️ Vibe: Sharp, crisp, luxe — like a snowy night

Undertone: Cool · blue-purple base
Contrast: High
Chroma: High
Examples: Liu Wen, Lisa (BLACKPINK), Anne Hathaway, Megan Fox

8 signatures:

True red #C71F37
Royal blue #3F4F8B
Pure white #FFFFFF
Black #1E1E2E
Burgundy #7A1F4F
Ice blue #46A0AC
Magenta #E63D63
Violet #5C3A88

5 to avoid: Ochre, beige, warm orange, mustard, cream

Makeup: Cool rose blush + true red / magenta lip + black liner + black-brown brow

Outfits: Black blazer + crisp white shirt + true red lipstick; royal blue dress; magenta sweater

Hair: Pure black, cool brown, platinum — avoid warm brown, chestnut

Which one are you?

Quick intuition:

Spring: warm yellow base, bright eyes, warm-toned hair; bright colors flatter you
Summer: pink-toned fair skin, gentle eyes, natural brown hair; soft colors don’t sharpen you
Autumn: yellow/honey base, deep brown eyes, dark hair; deep warm tones lift you
Winter: cool fair / cool yellow base, sharp features (defined brow & eye); pure colors look luxe

Not sure? Run a 30-second test.

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