Colorful Lives, Dark Autumn Tamra Asmuth

November 01, 2021 2 min read

Indigo Tones Blog Colorful Lives Dark Autumn Tamra Asmuth

I am thrilled to introduce you to a Rochester treasure and the hippest Optician on the planet - Dark Autumn, Tamra Asmuth, founder of One Hip Chic Optical. Tamra and I realized our shared  passion for color and art during her color analysis many years ago. Since then we have collaboratively helped our mutual clients to confidently wear eyeglasses that enhance their unique style, face shape and coloring.

Eyeglasses are the most important accessory choice and a crucial investment in a wardrobe that works. When referring clients to Tamra, I have complete confidence that she will assist them in finding frames that compliment and reinforce all they learned about creating their own personal color harmony during their color analysis consultation.

One Hip Chic offers an interesting selection of unique frames by designers from all over the world. Her local shop was recently named "America's Finest Optical Retailer" by Invision, a leading industry magazine.

 Personal Color Analyst Kerry Jones in purple eyeglass frames from One Hip Chic OpticalOne Hip Chic founder and Optician Dark Autumn Tamra Asmuth

I am regularly stopped and asked about the colorful frames I wear.  My current favorites are the these purple gems that Tamra helped me choose that match perfectly with my Light Summer colors, so different from her richer, warmer Dark Autumn colors.  Read on to learn the influence color analysis has had on Tamra's approach to her wearable art wardrobe and her unique business. 

As an optician and owner of an artful optical boutique, helping my customers choose the right frame is of utmost importance.  I take into account a person's face size and shape, their prescription and visual needs and, of course, their coloring. 

Many years ago, a beloved customer came to One Hip Chic Optical in search of a new pair of glasses. Out of her purse, she pulled a colorful swatch book.  She told me about her experience with Kerry and how it had really helped guide her decision-making with regard to clothing (and glasses).  I was intrigued.  Very intrigued.  And, so, I scheduled an appointment with Kerry to have my own colors done.

Through Kerry, my curiosity about color has deepened.  Since my own color analysis, I've had the pleasure of watching her perform nearly a dozen others on my family members, friends and customers. I learn something new each time.  Having each of Kerry's swatch books in my boutique really comes in handy when a customer tells me she's visited Indigo Tones and is a soft summer or a cool winter.  I am so grateful to Kerry for the knowledge she's shared with me.  It is truly invaluable for both my personal and professional life.

Indigo Tones Dark Autumn Swatch Book palette with Dark Autumn eyeglass frames from One Hip Chic Optical Rochester, NYDark Autumn Tamra Asmuth in One Hip Chic Optical Eyeglass Frames

I love all the colors of my dark autumn palette (they soothe me).  I see the value of creating visual harmony and of wearing just the right vibrancy of my colors. Through my customers, I see the effect wearing the right colors has on their mood and their self-confidence. Every day, I hear stories about the compliments they receive. I like to think that by wearing our correct colors, we're making the world a more beautiful place.

Schedule an appointment to check out frames with Tamra at One Hip Chic.


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Personal Color Analyst Kerry Jones with Son, Soft Autumn Tim Stich
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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!

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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:

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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.

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