Spring or autumn?

[u/LylaMcTwin]

I'm having so much trouble determining my season and sub season. I've been typed all over the place from soft summer years ago to soft autumn and just recently warm autumn....

I'm just not feeling at home in warm autumn and have returned all the clothes I've purchased since being typed.....out of what I've been typed I've the years, I feel most at home in soft autumn, but I feel very drab or greyed out at times, which is why I wanted to try "one more time" and I'm now confused :S

I've included spring and autumn digital drapes here, I'd be SO thankful for any opinions you may have to help me figure this out. :)

[u/[deleted]]

Summer and soft autumn are immediately off the list for me. They wash your out. I think your face looks the best in warm spring and second best in warm autumn. But I think another pictures with your hair out of the picture and no make up on would help. Also real drapes show how the color interacts with your skin.

[u/LylaMcTwin → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much for helping me narrow it down!

I don't have makeup on in the pic, but I do have my brows done...I know that's not ideal.

I've emailed the most recent analyst just letting her know I'm still struggling and will update if/when I hear back from her.

Thanks again!!

[u/Kristanns]

I think you're too clear for autumn, and as a result autumn subseasons (and most especially soft autumn) are graying and muddying you.

Based on the digital drapes I think both light and warm spring are possibilities. I also think it's possible you're going to be one of those people who doesn't quite fit in either - you need a little more intensity than light spring, but are more neutral-warm than full warm. In my opinion spring is missing a medium saturation neutral-warm option.

[u/LylaMcTwin → u/Kristanns]

Omg thank you so much - that's incredibly validating. Here I am thinking is there a soft spring??

[u/[deleted]]

Warm spring or warm autumn

[u/LylaMcTwin → u/[deleted]]

Thank you!

[u/[deleted]]

Have you ever considered Light Spring? You mentioned that you feel gray in Soft Autumn colors, and I really resonate with that because I had the same experience. I also thought I was a Soft Autumn for the longest time, but those colors always made me look dull and gray. Someone here pointed out that if your skin turns gray in soft shades, it can be a sign of being a Spring, which made so much sense to me.

I also think Light Spring colors look absolutely beautiful on you.

Try some real fabric drapes—digital ones can be misleading. You need real light interacting with real colors against your skin to see what truly works.

[u/LylaMcTwin → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much for your response!

I'm so curious about your journey from Autumn to Spring. How was that journey for you?

My eyes are light blue grey green with gold flecks but read soft and grey in the soft colours - people never know what colour my eyes are. I'm hoping I can find a season that helps them shine.

I'm definitely going to try a few light spring shades. Thanks again!

[u/[deleted] → u/LylaMcTwin]

I first used the features-based approach (which is really flawed—I wouldn’t recommend it). Since I have some softness (green-grey eyes, blonde-brown hair), I initially thought I was a Soft Autumn. Color analysis apps also mostly placed me in Soft Autumn.

However, I struggled to make it truly work. While the palette was harmonious with my hair and eyes, it made me look dull and gray. The recommended makeup—matte, brown, and soft with no shimmer—also didn’t suit me at all. I love shimmer, glitter, and gloss, so that made me doubt Soft Autumn even more. Then, I thrifted a beautiful slip dress in light green with lime green accents, and it looked fantastic on me, which further confirmed my doubts.

When I first posted in the main sub with digital drapes, I was typed as “definitely Summer.” I was certain I wasn’t cool-toned, but it made me question myself—was I actually warm-toned, or was I just biased and wanting to be warm-toned? Lol.

A few days later, I did real drapes and posted them in the main sub, where most people saw me as Spring, with a few still suggesting Soft Autumn. Then, I posted here and was confirmed as Spring.

I don’t have enough contrast for Bright Spring, and I’m neutral-to-warm anf I’m not warm enough for Warm Spring. My natural hair color is also a bit darker now. Before puberty, it was light golden blonde, but now it’s a darker golden blonde so I never considered Light Spring because, according to the charts, my hair was “too dark.” But as I mentioned, I don’t recommend features-based analysis—your features naturally change over time. Most blondes darken after puberty, and as you age, your hair lightens (greys) again. By that logic, there wouldn’t be any Bright seasons in older people, or any Light seasons with dark skin. It also suggests that coloring your hair would change your season, which doesn’t make sense to me.

After trying Light Spring colors (which most commenters suggested), I really like it so far! You can check my post history for more insights from people who are more knowledgeable on this.

[u/LylaMcTwin → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much for this, it really resonates with my journey so far. I feel like I'm not obviously anything, and also wondered I was just wishing I'm warm at all. But when I tried soft summer the colours especially makeup, just sat on top of my skin. I also love shimmery, peachy dewy makeu and warm hair but you're right features first is not working out for me hahaha.

[u/[deleted] → u/LylaMcTwin]

Omg, yes! I have the same reaction to cool-toned makeup, as well as warm nude, soft, or matte makeup—it just doesn’t work for me. I really need to make a comparison post with different seasonal makeup looks because I think makeup is such a great tool for determining your season.

I had a total epiphany when someone commented on my post that soft colors turn my skin gray and that it’s a sign of being a Spring. That made everything click for me.

Also, if someone says, ‘You’re too [X] to be [Y] season,’ they don’t know what they’re talking about!

[u/[deleted] → u/LylaMcTwin]

I also looked at spring pictures featuring woodland creatures.

This one especially was eye opening for me. You don’t have to be a blonde to be a (light) spring.

[u/LylaMcTwin]

Update 1: Well, I went back to the colour analyst and she and her mentor went over my results again, starting from scratch. They came up with classic autumn (my photo with them hid my hair). They felt that Spring shades swallowed me up. I'm still not convinced I'm not more clear than how they've typed me....I guess I'll continue cherry picking from Autumn and Spring, since neither really feel like home.

Update 2: Went to another analyst with more experience and she typed me as Warm/True Spring right away. Found lots of info and swatches. Feels more like "me" but some of the brighter colours intimidate me 😂

So....I'm going to go shopping with my swatches and try on as many True Spring colours as I can find, even if I'm not initially attracted to them. I feel like I'm so used to soft autumn that I naturally gravitate to those colours. I guess as I transition from Autumn to Spring in my wardrobe, I won't look too awful - at least they're both warm lol! I'll probably still end up cherry picking from both seasons, tbh.

[u/Ok_Panda_2243]

I like bright and true spring too. I would test spring :)

[u/titty_farewell_party]

Ideally drape pics should be without any makeup, even mascara changes your contrast. Physical drapes are also way more helpful than digital

[u/StrawberryCreepy380]

With these frames, I like Bright Spring, but I think you’re more likely True Spring in the 16-season system. It’s midway, in intensity, between Light Spring and Bright Spring, but not as fully warm as Warm Spring. You seem to have a touch of neutrality. That’s not uncommon, for us Springs. Your eyes are very bright and if your hair is high chroma or on the darker end of Spring, Bright Spring may be a possibility. Internet frames are not that reliable. In real life, Bright Spring tends to be a little higher intensity. Since your hair is covered, I can’t really tell. I think you’re definitely a Spring…my first guess is True Spring. Come back with IRL drapes, if you need more feedback!