Discover your color palette and your style type.

Your Style ID Says to Avoid Earth Tones, but You're an Autumn... Now What?

9/11/2017

Some Style Identities call for you to steer clear of "earth-toned" color schemes. For example, such color schemes would be aging on an Ingenue, and too heavy on an Ethereal.

But hey -- some of us are Autumns. Our colors are earth tones, right? What are we supposed to do?

To resolve this seeming contradiction, we'll first remember that color is always relative. Just because you're an Autumn, it doesn't mean that your colors always look like "earth tones" on you. Next to your Autumny skin, they just look like colors.

So, to avoid looking like you're wearing an entire earth-toned color scheme, just avoid the combinations that create that effect. Google "earth tones" and look at the images: you'll see that the "earth tone" effect is generally created by combining your browns and neutrals with blues and greens -- basically, earth and sky. Occasionally you'll add some yellow or red for accent. All of this worn together reads as "earth toned."

Wear just your blues, or just your blacks and whites, or just your pinks and purples, and you definitely won't have an earth-toned effect, even if your colors are coming from that "earthy" Autumn palette.

The reverse of this is true as well: if you're a Natural, and your Style ID calls for earth-toned color schemes, combine your greens, browns, blues and neutrals together and you'll create an appropriate effect -- even if your palette is objectively cool:

Next to True Winter skin, this kind of palette will look plenty earthy. :-)

13 Comments

Beth

9/11/2017 01:42:42 pm

I like what you said here. It is funny when you take a "quiz" and they ask, if you like "earth tones" you might think of Desert-like colors; but then, you forget; all colors are earth tones. Flowers might be blue, pink, yellow, lavender. Trees and grass are varying shades of green and the ocean and sky usually appear blue to most human eyes. So, "earth tones" is rather misleading. Perhaps, the "color gurus" need to adjust their "nomenclature" for clarification.
However, I do have an unrelated question regarding perfume/fragrance. I am sure you remember Avon's Soft Musk. I have no idea why they took such a pleasant and popular perfume off the market. Could you please tell me what "style identity/ type" might be its "best fit" or it would be matched to. .. ? Thank you very much.

Rosetta

9/12/2017 08:30:06 am

Well, "earth" usually refers to the ground of the earth, so flowers, trees, grass & sky wouldn't be part of that, even though they're definitely part of nature :) So "earth tones" as a description of colors of desert, sand, other ground & soil is about right, IMO. Now "tones of nature" would be another thing entirely ;)

9/12/2017 08:44:40 am

Rosetta; I kindly and respectfully disagree. "Earth" is "Nature" and "Nature" is "Earth." All Tones of Color belong to the "Earth" which includes the "Sky" All are One as We are One; as is Each is Uniquely Individual as Each One of Us is. I still say that the usage of the term; "Earth-Tones" in the manner of many "color gurus" can be misleading to those who are not "Autumn" but consider themselves having some "natural" in their style-set. It can be misleading to those who are "Autumn" but do not feel comfortable in the "natural" style set. Unless, we are considering colors artificially manufactured by human beings like "plastics" or "synthetic" we need o consider all the colors of the "earth" and "sky" as "earth-tones" including those wonderful "rainbows" after a storm. I appreciate your concepts on the matter, however.

Rachel

9/12/2017 09:30:23 am

What's the alternative term to "earth tones," though -- "dirt tones"? :-) Nobody would go for that.

9/12/2017 09:37:42 am

Avon's Soft Musk is perfect for a Romantic Natural or a Romantic-Natural-Classic. :-)

Beth link

9/12/2017 12:59:13 pm

Thank you, Rachel, for your response about my Avon Soft Musk question. It is very informative and helpful. Could you also, instead, consider Ingenue, in place, of the Romantic; as it is said that the Ingenue is a more youthful or "shorter" Romantic regardless of "age."
As far as an alternative word to "Earth-tones" I might suggest we look to the Deserts of the world, especially the Southwestern American Deserts for inspiration. I spent many years in that part of the country and it seems the colors there fit what I had previously called "earth-tones." So, these colors, also go in and out of style over the years. For some, they never go out of style.
As aside to "dirt" Demeter Fragrance has one of their most popular fragrances as "Dirt." I have never tried it; but, a lot of people seem to like. "Dirt" has both negative and positive connotations. We think of getting the "dirt" on someone in a negative sense. But, we like the "dirt" in our garden and many don't mind getting their hands "dirty" working in their gardens. Then, if there was no "dirt" the whole planet would starve and die. Yet, the Bible enjoins us to desire "clean hands and a clean heart." Ah yes, life is a paradox. But, I think if we look to the desert tones; instead of earth-tones, this would fit the Autumn coloring, in particular just fine. There are also other colors, hues and shades in the Desert that are useful to the other seasonal and seasonal blends, also. Thank you.

9/11/2017 09:27:52 pm

This is great - and such a change from the way style analysis is usually done: all the boho is all autumn all the time, all dramatic is winter, etc. But clearly people aren't that easily pigeon-holed. It would be boring of we were! And I love unexpected combos. Isn't that the essence of style, to break rules and yet make it work? I'm loving that natural winter picture.

I recently was puzzling over this same question re: color to ID combo: how to translate style ID ethereal-natural-classic to light summer. Then I saw a pic on 12Bluepints of a pale rainbow against a stormy sky. Has been my wardrobe inspo since. Neutrals with a little magic color. :)

9/12/2017 06:19:45 am

Oh, I love it when an article hits straight at me! :) As this one does - I'm an Autumn, and also have Ingenue & Ethereal in my style ID blend. :) And yes, it can be very challenging at times. Especially as I love the darker colors most (I believe I'm DA), and all Ethereal & Ingenue boards are full of very light tones... So for me it's not so much the earth tones thing, but a darkness issue.

Also, makeup can be a problem, as all recs for Autumns & especially DA are just very heavy, matte, opaque - all kryptonite for I & E! So how to adjust this? (Of course, I do the adjusting the best I can, but would love some "official" pointers as to that, too.)

9/12/2017 09:35:11 am

Hi! I'm working on makeup guides. I can't say when I'll be done, but they are in the works. :-)

Meredith

9/12/2017 03:08:34 pm

Yes makeup guides! I am hoping that you'd consider including makeup application styles in addition to color and product recommendations. So for example, which type suits a cat eye, cut crease, rosy blush, contouring, bold lips, etc.

10/25/2017 06:05:44 pm

I think Ingenues and Ethereals are more flattered by lipgloss than a thick coat of lipstick, so maybe try to find some DA-appropriate glosses? If that still doesn't give you enough depth of color, try layering a generous coat of gloss over your MLBB lipstick.

Looking at Rachel's Ethereal Style ID board indicates Ethereals look good with highlights and shimmer, so you could also experiment with contouring and/or strobing, and I'd be surprised if you couldn't find shimmery metallic versions of DA eyeshadows (some of these can also work as a light dusting over the cheekbones).

A blush shade that gives you a "glowy" look would also be great for an I/E blend. If you have trouble finding this, I recommend EleaBlake's makeup draping kits.

Lena

9/15/2017 03:30:52 am

Rachel, is a style analysis mainly based on facial features? How important is body shape, height etc? Does that matter at all? Thank you.

Jamie

4/30/2018 12:30:16 am

Hi, Rachel! I have a Classic Style ID and my season is Bright Spring. Isn’t it that Classics look good in neutrals? Should I stick to Bright Spring neutrals? Isn’t that too boring when my season calls for bright contrasting colors? Thank you.

Truth is Beauty

Your Style ID Says to Avoid Earth Tones, but You're an Autumn... Now What?

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