Why It Might Be Time to Ditch the Swatch Book

Real talk: If you've ever been told you're a “Winter” and therefore must avoid brown at all costs… this one's for you.

Let’s clear the air right now. Color analysis isn’t the enemy. But the way it’s been used to put women into neat little boxes? That’s where the real issue lies.

If you’ve been relying on a decades-old seasonal color system to dictate what’s “allowed” in your wardrobe, chances are… it’s holding you back more than it’s helping you shine.

And listen. Especially if you’re a woman in midlife, your coloring, your energy, and your sense of self have all evolved. Your style tools need to evolve with you.

🚫 Why Seasonal Color Systems Fall Short (Especially After 40)

Seasonal color analysis had its moment, but let’s remember where it came from: the hair and makeup world, not the fashion world. These systems were originally designed to guide lipstick and hair dye, not full-body outfits in real life.

And here's the kicker: fashion is fluid, and personal style is even more so.

Most rigid color systems don’t account for:

• The texture or reflectiveness of fabric (yes, it makes a difference!)

• The light you’re in (sunlight vs. overcast vs. indoor lighting)

• How a color makes you feel

• And perhaps most importantly: how people respond to you in that color

Your emotional and energetic response to color is just as important as whether it “technically” suits your undertone.

💡 A Better Way to Use Color

Instead of asking, “Am I allowed to wear this color?”—let’s ask:

• How does this color make me feel?

• Can I mix it with a neutral I already love?

• Does it reflect who I am right now?

Here’s how I guide my clients when it comes to color:

1. Start with neutrals you love, then add in trend colors in small ways (a scarf, a shoe, a necklace).

2. Observe your emotional reaction. If a color makes you stand taller and smile bigger, it belongs in your closet.

3. Experiment with tones and placement. Maybe that hot pink blazer overwhelms you, but a raspberry lipstick is magic. That counts.

4. Play with color combinations. Complementary, analogous, and even monochromatic looks are your creative playground.

🧠 Why This Matters So Much in Midlife

As women over 40, many of us are re-evaluating more than just our wardrobes.
We’re shifting careers, navigating body changes, becoming empty nesters—or stepping into new versions of ourselves.
Your style, and your use of color, should support who you are becoming, not cling to who you used to be.

This is about more than just “what looks good.”
This is about how you show up, and how your clothes can help you feel like yourself again.

🛠️ Let’s Build Your Style Toolkit

My approach is never about restricting or dictating.
It’s about giving you the tools to make confident choices, even when I’m not in your closet with you.

✅ Want to dip your toe into color? Try mixing one bold hue with a trusted neutral.
✅ Ready to go all-in? Try a triadic color scheme (like red, yellow, and blue) in different textures and saturations.
✅ Need to ease in slowly? Go monochromatic in your favorite shade, but vary the fabrics.

Color is not just a trend, it’s a tool. A joyful, expressive, and deeply personal tool.

✨ Let’s Rediscover Your Signature Style

If you're ready to explore color your way, without rigid rules or outdated systems. I've got a free resource for you:
👉 Download my “5 Shifts to Unlock Your Signature Style” guide 

And if you’re ready for a deeper transformation, you’re invited to join the waitlist for
🎯 The Signature Style Experience—my 12-week program that helps you reclaim your confidence, presence, and sense of self through style.

Let’s make getting dressed joyful again.
Let’s clear the chaos, love the skin you’re in, and have so much fun with color.

You deserve to be seen.
And you were never just one season anyway.😉