The Pros and Cons of Online Color Analysis

I appreciate each and every share. Thank you!

Updated 3/31/2022

3 decades of women in flattering colors

The Pros and Cons of Online Color Analysis

With the advent of online everything, of course, you could expect there to be online color analysis also. This entire week has been talking about how finding the colors that look better on us. Does that mean you need to do it?

Quote of the day: “There is no way to make people like change. You can only make them feel less threatened by it.” Frederick O’R. Hayes

And how does one feel less threatened by a proposal? My guess would be to learn about it more because like everything….the more you do, the easier it becomes.

That’s why I wanted to give you some objective pros and cons about the different options for color analysis from my point of view below. I’d love to hear your thoughts too.

If you missed out on individual outfits and how we were categorized with Your Color Style’s online color analysis guide, you can peek back to see the details for Charlotte, Nancy, and myself.

Women wearing colors that fit into the online color analysis

Denver Botanical Gardens Chatfield Farms

This One Fell Swoop is an exhibition that I’ve seen advertised at our local botanical gardens. I thought it might be a great neutral backdrop to show off the wonderful colors that we would be wearing for this week’s theme.

However, our individual photos did not turn out as great as I thought they might because of the flashes of sun that came through.

Needless to say, all four of us were amazed at this display of artwork. Nancy and my mom had both seen something like it on their travels, yet they both thought this example was far more impressive. Just look at how big the structure is when we are standing in front of it.

On top of that, we also were able to visit the butterfly area. You may think you are too old to have fun checking out all the butterflies, but we seriously felt like kids again. We were snapping photos and trying to find all of the varieties. And then they landed on all of us except me (yes, I did feel left out).

My History with Color Analysis

A little personal history about color analysis and myself over the years. I remember back when I was about 16-20, my mom took me to someone to “get my colors done.” At the time I was pronounced a spring, and given a color wheel to use. Did I use it? Maybe a little, but it was back in the day when I was a starving student and ended up only buying the best deals anyways. I wasn’t as interested in flattering colors.

Then about 12 years ago, I had a knitting friend go to someone here in Denver for this same idea. My friend had a color wheel that she was carrying around, and I thought it might be high time to reconsider this notion. So I visited this lady and I remember it cost over $200 for the session. Did I use it this time? Well, a little, but my rationale for not sticking to it was I was working. And as a dental professional, I felt the need to stick with more dark and muted colors.

So fast forward to last spring on the blog when Pamela reached out to ask if the three of us would like to have an online color analysis. I think I was finally in the mindset to take this idea of wearing colors that look good on me and run with it. Sure, you could call me a slow learner, haha! And I’ve been trying hard to follow the information Pamela sent at that time.

And now, after being on Jen’s podcast and learning more about her Your Color Style site, I have learned even more. Not that I am a pro by any means.

Butterfly gardens in our online color analysis outfits

Pros and Cons to Online Color Analysis

First, let me start off right now to explain that I do get a commission if anyone signs up or purchases from Your Color Style with my link. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s a great fit for everyone. Let me explain and compare.

Options

Let’s talk about the options. One, you could go to a style or image consultant to have it done in person. To give you an idea of that here in Denver, I checked the price that the woman who updated my mom’s makeup would charge. Miriam’s price is listed at $150 for a customized chart.

As for online color analysis, I’m sure there are more than the two options I’m comparing, but these are the two I know and have used. And while we can get many things in life for free, it’s good to remember both of these women are running a business doing this. So it’s only fair they charge a reasonable rate for their expertise.

Pamela’s online color analysis that we used last spring on the blog. For 60 pounds which is about $76 USD Pamela takes photos you send her along with a questionnaire and provides you her breakdown of what colors look best on you.

The method we used for these photos is Jen’s Your Color Style Kit, which is more of DIY learning. Jen also has a free class when you sign up for her emails.

Background of Style Analysts

Now I also think it’s important to know a little background about the person or method you’d want to use. Sure, maybe anyone can help you, but a little background never hurt.

For Jen of Your Color Style she has a bachelors in fine arts, so color and color theory are easy for her. She was certified in 3 different color analysis systems. However, in her opinion, each of these systems, including seasonal color analysis, was missing something. They didn’t clearly address women in midlife. Grey hair. Women in transition. So Jen created color palettes that could be easily customized to suit your personal coloring and tone. She also values education so that the more you know about color the easier it will be to identify the colors that will look good on you.

Pamela of Style Yourself Confident has been trained as an Image Consultant. She feels that the world as a whole often regards the older woman as invisible but she feels it’s easy to take back control of the way you look and feel with a little fun, flexibility, and plain old-fashioned common sense. 

Taking photos of butterflies

Photo credit: Rob Filogomo

So How Do you Decide If/Which Online Color Analysis is Right for You?

Here’s where I look at the pros and cons of each system.

Pamela’s method comes neat and tidy right to you without much work on your part. I felt like her information she sent over is very detailed and helpful. It includes information about color along with which ones are better for you, and which colors you should avoid. She even dives into makeup and jewelry.

Jen’s method is a learning process where you are sent 12 color cards to determine between 4 different color categories and the variations in them. At the same time, you have access to the online course (where the color types are explained) and are then invited to join the private Facebook group which is a helpful tool to get others’ opinions and discussions.

My Thoughts

So this is how I look at it. Not that either method is better. And basically, the cost between these two systems is even. It’s more about you and how you learn and how much time you want to put into it. It’s kinda the difference between giving a man a fish and he eats for a day versus teaching a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

I can see how Pamela’s method would be better for those of you who don’t have the time or energy to figure things out.

And Jen’s method is nicer for when and if your look evolves and maybe your hair color changes. Because you will always have access to the online course and can refer back to it over the years. Jen also has a myriad of other options to help on your journey including a personal color analysis where you don’t do any of the work. (You would find this under her “Shop” tab on her site where it says Professional Color Analysis.)

As for me, I feel like I’m still learning. I basically know which colors look better on me. But I still have trouble, especially with greys. I KNOW that a warm grey would look better on me, but I can’t always tell if the grey is warm or cool. It’s a process of learning and seeing it over and over, I keep telling myself. And so I keep trying to figure it out. If someone keeps only telling me, how will I learn it on my own? Of course, that is not important for each and every one of you. That’s why this decision is so individual.

I’d also like to point out that this isn’t the end-all when it comes to colors we should wear. I challenge some of the “rules” in this article.

Whew…that’s was a long post. If you have ANY questions about any of this, please feel free to email me (Jodie@JTouchofStyle.com) and I will give you more tips and ideas to figure out what might be best for you.

Welcome

Signing up for my emails gives you updates on great deals and activities that you might find interesting along with sneak peeks of what’s going on in our personal lives that I don’t share here on the blog.  Just add your email address to the box that says email below. 

How You Can Help Me

My site contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links, it helps support my business (at no additional cost to you) so thank you!

Share, share and share wherever you can!!

Follow me on other social sites to get totally different outfits and perspectives about life. You can find me on these platforms: FacebookPinterestInstagram, and YouTube.

Scroll to Top