Color Analysis Mistakes Women Make

Color analysis is a term of art used in the image consulting field. The very definition of this term should be enough to make any intelligent woman suspect that the entire concept is based on false premises. As used by the majority of image consultants today, a color analysis is a procedure that supposedly allows a trained individual to look at you and then tell you which colors will look good on you and which colors won’t look good. If you buy such a fraudulent service you are, frankly, wasting your hard-earned money, and this article will explain why so many uninformed women fall prey to such a bogus claim.

color wheel

Color wheel

After I expose the high level of deception involved in the typical color analysis, I will explain exactly how and why a professional can indeed benefit from research about which colors are more or less effective for her profession. Manhattan Makeovers has conducted such research, and the fruits of that fieldwork and investigation can help you as an attorney, banker, CPA, physician, scientist, or artist. But first let’s debunk the misleading things most women believe about a color analysis.

As John T. Molloy, the father of image consulting, has pointed out, there is no rational reason for a woman to think she is a summer, fall, winter, or spring person when it comes to color. Yet the majority of image consultants today subscribe to the discredited Color Me Beautiful theory, which deceptively classifies women into one of these “seasons” and then claims that only colors that pertain to that classification should be worn by her. What utter nonsense! In fact, Mr. Molloy was himself a guest on numerous television shows where these so-called image consultants classified him as summer, fall, and spring. He wondered why he was never called a winter person. This inability to consistently classify a person into one of the four categories is strong evidence that the system is counterfeit.

Girls like the idea of talking to another girl who will drape a swatch of fabric over their shoulder and babble about how, “You’re a spring, darlin’! I can tell just by looking at your skin. Ooo-wee, how much fun we’re gonna have shopping together now, since we know what season you fall into. Oh, my, dearie, just wait until you try on that puce-green sweater I have in mind for you.”

The fact of the matter is that no one can tell you what season you’re classified into since seasonal classification is a sham. Moreover, the only way to tell if you look “good” in a certain color is to try it on and look at yourself in a mirror. If you don’t trust your own judgment, shop with a friend.

But the important point for professional women is that you can know which colors have empirically tested well for women in your field of work. That is, certain colors are more effective for people in sales. If you wear only these colors you are likely to sell more. Other colors and color combinations have tested well for attorneys. Still other colors are more effective for certified public accountants, bankers, scientists, physicians, and artists and musicians. Only fieldwork and testing can tell you which colors are most effective for a person in your profession. Thankfully, Manhattan Makeovers has done all this work for you. And during a makeover and image consultation, we will give you a “look book” with the fruits of that research, customized for your profession. We will sit down over a cup of coffee and answer all your questions, describing the ideal footwear and hairstyle to match the color combinations that will make you more successful.

Naturally, we will also tell you the colors and styles that will increase your attractiveness in social situations, such as luncheons, casual meetings, and romantic get-togethers. These colors and styles are different from those that will work in the office or, if you’re a performer, what is most effective onstage.

Bottom line: Do not be misled into thinking that a color analysis will tell you what season you fall into. That kind of nonsense has been proven false many times over. What you can rely on, however, is empirical research about exactly which colors will make you more effective in your professional and social life. And the people who can tell you that are the analysts at Manhattan Makeovers. Call us today to schedule your complete makeover—and enjoy the many advantages that solid research about effective colors can provide for you at work and play.