It is a pleasure to introduce you to Danielle Raymo. After analyzing her colors several years ago, I have enjoyed observing her slowly introduce Bright Winter colors into her life. Her personality and style are subtle. Wearing bold colors wasn't appealing at first, except with lip color. After learning she was a Bright Winter, she started with the very important first steps of getting rid of the warm tones in her hair, ensuring her favored red lipstick is a bright, cool red and that her clothing basics are in the cooler tones - black, white and cool brown rather than warm brown, khaki or taupe. Her overall appearance is more balanced and she is honoring her natural coloring and her personality. Danielle is a perfect example of a person who looks great in black, loves wearing black and should wear black! And starting from there as a baseline, she can now accent her wardrobe with the brighter colors that will harmonize and enhance rather than feeling garish.
What prompted you to have a color analysis?
First came the class, then came the color analysis. I own Rochester Brainery, which is a community classroom and event space in Rochester, NY. Kerry reached out about teaching a class through Rochester Brainery on personal color analysis. I thought it sounded like such an interesting topic, so we booked a class. It was intriguing but after attending the class myself I was hooked.
How has it changed your life?
I love shopping, but was in a bad habit of purchasing items that a week later I just didn't feel were right. It turns out, most of those clothes weren't Bright Winter colors, and turned out not to really be my style either. They were trendy, yes, but not really me. It's really changed the way I shop.
In what ways has it changed the way you approach your business?
I wouldn't say it's changed the way I've approached my business as a whole, however I often take a look at the apparel my business and other businesses offer. With the exception of black or a true white, most businesses don't choose Bright Winter colors for their apparel. They keep it safe - heather grays, muted colors, gold accents. The next time I have to order apparel I'll be keeping an eye on what's available in my seasonal tones.
What has been the biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been color. Many of my favorite retailers aren't making clothes in Bright Winter colors, so I default to purchasing those styles in black and white. To be fair, my closet has always been 50% black and white, however I would love to explore a more colorful wardrobe.
Any interesting things happen while you are wearing your colors?
One funny thing has always been thinking back to my prom dress junior year. That was almost 20 years ago but it's probably the most bright winter dress I've ever worn. It was a jewel toned, shiny, coral color. I remember putting it on and my Mom saying "wow, that is your color". To this day, we still reference the color of that dress. I think that's just an example of how the right colors can really make lasting impressions.
What was the biggest surprise?
Initially I was shocked I was a Bright Winter. They're colors I don't naturally gravitate to as someone with a more classic style - I usually go for black and white. But there were signs along the way that totally made sense once Kerry determined I was a Bright Winter. While it has its challenges, things also started to make sense fashion-wise.
Tell me about your favorite color in your palette.
Red. I have always loved a bright, dramatic red lip and what an excuse to wear one on the daily.
Tell me about your closet.
My closet right now is full of classic basics, and I don't intend for that to change too much. I love pieces that all fit together easily, like a capsule. I did a lot of closet cleaning out before COVID-19, and haven't repurchased much yet. But I'm excited for the day we can go out to dinner again and attend events and I have a reason to replenish in color.
Danielle founded Rochester Brainery in the Neighborhood of the Arts in Rochester, NY in 2013. This community classroom offers classes on a variety of topics from local authors, actors, artists, chefs, graphic designers, distillers, and more. The unique space is also an event space and houses a carefully curated selection of Made in Rochester items for sale.
If you would like to continue reading about the Bright Winter journey, please check out the 2020 featured Bright Winter, Gail Ferraioli.
photo credit: Rachel Liz Photography
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It’s a treat to introduce you to this month's colorful lives feature, Soft Autumn Tim Stich who is also my son!! Tim’s experience with shopping for clothing and wearing color is unique as I become a color analyst when he was quite young. When he and his sister Clare were little, I tried dressing them in bright colors with strong patterns as was the style then.....but even before learning about personal color harmony, I started to sense that the clothes overwhelmed them and began dressing them in softer colors and solids. I was even shocked the other day to discover when I pulled out his school photos that every single photo (even before I learned of his color palette) was taken in a Soft Autumn color. You can see how his life has evolved wearing the soft, earthy colors that suit his ruddy hair, freckles and soft blue/green eyes.
Over the years, he has mostly been very eager to wear what suits him and looked to me to help him distinguish soft autumn colors from the two seasons nearby - warm autumn and soft summer. We enjoy shopping together, especially now that he lives in Manhattan and the shopping is abundant. It can be a challenge to find his colors in sizes and style that fit but when its perfect, it feels great and he knows it. Read on to learn more about what it’s like to be a guy whose mom is a color consultant!
I am so excited to introduce you the “entertainingly irreverent” (Associated Press) Soft Summer, Valerie Peterson. Valerie is an extraordinary storyteller in a variety of media including scriptwriting, screenplays, fiction, non-fiction and book publishing/consulting. I analyzed her colors years ago in Rhode Island at a girls weekend hosted by a mutual friend (color analysis and girls weekends make a great combo!). In the years since, Valerie has embraced her Soft Summer colors in spite of living and working in New York City where black is a standard and practical.
It was a thrill when her publisher chose a photo of my family for her wonderfully spirited book, Peterson’s Happy Hour. On page 46, you can find me with my family - brothers, Mike and Tim and my parents Marcia and J. Michael Jones circa 1970. The book features many more photographic gems and recipes for a fabulous social gathering!
In this month’s colorful lives blog, Valerie shares her journey with her color palette. As with all her writing projects, she is humorous, colorful and entertaining! She has kept in great condition and still uses the Sci Art swatch book that I provided back in those days!! Be sure to check out her large body of work on valeriepeterson.net and read more in the blog:
While doing color analysis in Boston in June, I had the pleasure of meeting Danielle Burton and giving her a 12-Season Color Analysis. Danielle had recently experienced a 4-Season Color Analysis with a House of Colour consultant and was told she was a Winter. I was skeptical that she was any type of Winter (in the 12 season system, there are actually 3 Winters - Dark Winter, Cool Winter and Bright Winter). Her light eyes, natural lighter and soft brownish hair and skin tone were much more consistent with my clients who fall into the lighter seasons, especially Summer.
Since her hair had been highlighted, we covered it with a neutral gray cap to do the testing portion of the analysis, ensuring that the lighter color did not sway the results of the analysis. It was clear from the beginning that Danielle was responding more harmoniously to the cool tones even some of the lighter cool winter drapes which was consistent with her 4 season color analysis.
But, while she contrasted with any drapes that were dark and bright, she was softened and balanced by the lighter cool tones, particularly Summer. The dark colors brought out shadows under her eyes and the brighter colors overwhelmed her and brought attention to themselves. In the end, she looked lovely and perfectly balanced and harmonious in the Cool Summer colors!
"While I had a great experience at House of Colour, I do think they are missing out on a ton of research and color science by not including the 12 seasons and variants. The added layer of cool vs bright vs dark was a huge difference for me and really solidified which category I best fit”.
Enjoy reading more about Danielle’s experience with both systems and her reaction to her diagnosis as a Cool Summer:
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