Wearing colors that truly reflect you can boost your confidence, create a lasting impression, and save both time and money in building a wardrobe that flatters.
Let’s be real. In this world filled with high-pressure deadlines, heavy traffic, and increasing monthly dues, spending time and effort to make ourselves look and feel good can be yet another challenging task on our to-do list. Totally understandable. But, just so you know, the solution could be as simple as knowing—actually knowing—the colors that suit you or, better yet, tapping a professional color analyst to do it for you.
Take a look around, and you’ll see that colors have always been key to making a positive impression—from the interiors of your home, the car you drive to get-togethers, and most especially with the clothes you wear every day. Colors help you create your identity, build your confidence, and greatly impact how others see you. And for all those times you’re standing in front of a mirror and couldn’t decide which dress or top will bring out the best in you, a professional color analysis session will do the trick.
A color analysis is a method for identifying an individual’s most flattering color palette by matching their natural features with special color characteristics like warmth, coolness, depth, and saturation. The goal is simple: to determine a set of harmonious colors to enhance your skin tone, eye color, hair, and overall natural beauty. The process is not new, as color analysis was an emerging practice around stylists way back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It resurfaced as a trend on TikTok over the past year, thanks to Gen Zs who are just learning about it and even flying to South Korea for the best color analysts.
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How does color analysis work?
The POST discovered what got people talking during a quick color analysis session with certified Toronto-trained image consultant Jeanne Harn during Watson’s “Flip It, Flaunt It” event in July. Harn is the founder and owner of Imahe Academy, which offers personality development services, including professional color analysis, modeling, and image consultations, designed to “help you look good, feel confident, and own your presence—inside and out.”
Harn began our session by asking me to sit on a chair in front of a well-lit mirror and cloaking me with a plain white cape similar to one you’d wear when getting a haircut. Then, she proceeded to drape two different cloths of seasonal palette under my chin. The first one has strips of “winter” colors on them, or cool, deep, and clear hues, such as sapphire, emerald, ruby red, royal blue, black, and white. Meanwhile, the other cloth is for the “summer” colors, or cool, light, and muted tones such as soft purple, pastel blue, dusty pink, powder blue, and cool gray.
Season color system used by professional color analysts to identify one’s palette | Photo from conceptwardobe.com
While both palettes appear to suit my fair-to-beige skin tone, Harn said the key is to “examine which one makes you glow” or gives you that “wow” factor. Between the two, the summer color palette creates a natural, harmonious contrast with my skin, enhances my features, and thus gives a fresh, vibrant glow.
After that, Harn used another pair of fabrics—one gold and another silver—to determine which color of jewelry I look better in. The comparison showed that I should opt for gold jewelry, typically recommended for individuals with warm undertones, characterized by yellow, peach, or golden hues in their skin. Silver jewelry is meanwhile suited for those with cool undertones, with hints of pink, red, or blue beneath their skin’s surface.
Our session lasted about 10 minutes, offering just a glimpse of what you can expect in a full color analysis session in Imahe Academy’s training center in Capitol Hills, Quezon City. The basic program (P10,000) typically starts with color analysts assessing your skin tone, hair color, and eye color, then identifying your skin’s undertone. After that, they’ll proceed to color draping using a comprehensive seasonal system that would determine the specific color palette that would best complement your features. Those who want to enhance their image with more than just a color analysis can opt for a full package (P15,000) that includes recommendations on the right neckline, makeup, hair color, and wardrobe styling
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The power of color analysis
Now the question is, it worth trying or spending on a professional color analysis? Based on our quick session with Harn, my answer would be an absolute yes. Since then, I have been pretty picky about the clothes and accessories that I buy, opting only for those with “summer” colors that I know would flatter me and keep me looking my best at all times. I find it especially helpful when shopping online. Gone are the days that I would have a dress refunded or exchanged for another item just because it didn’t look good on me when I thought it would.
For Imahe Academy, getting a professional color analysis comes with these benefits: (1) Make your skin look healthier and brighter, (2) enhance your natural beauty effortlessly, (3) boost your confidence because you simply look right, and (4) save you time and money—no more buying shades that don’t suit you.
Harn told The POST that, like everything else in her personality development center, her color analysis services are rooted in her desire to empower women. “What better way than to empower women by making them feel and look prettier, more confident in and out?” she said. “I’m not just talking about the physical. In my sessions and classes, I teach the ABCs of image: appearance, behavior, and communication. And I believe every Filipino, not just women, needs those three things to be the best version of themselves. When you actually know how to look, act, and feel good around people, you can achieve what you want to achieve, pursue what you want to pursue in life.”
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