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It is my pleasure to introduce Dark Winter, Meg Casebolt, founder of Love At First Search, an agency that guides small online business owners, especially female entrepreneurs in creating search friendly websites and strategic content. She helps her clients to optimize how they show up in search results in Google, Youtube, etc - Search Engine Optimization.
For years, I had heard from many colleagues that I needed to seek out the services of the world's "Queen of SEO". I was so inspired when I finally connected with Meg and shocked to learn she was located right in my hometown of Rochester, NY. She's fun and down to earth and easy to place your trust in with her exceptional knowledge of how the internet search world works.
I learned to start by identifying the core essence of my business, to choose visuals and words that would be send out a clear message in an appealing way and how use all the tools to help viewers see me clearly and navigate around my site effortlessly. It is so similar to how I help my clients understand their coloring and style and how to authentically maximize a natural look in the simplest, most streamlined way. Meg and I both help our clients to be seen!
Read more about Meg's journeys with her color analysis and how it has influenced her online image.
Growing up in the 80s, my mom had "had her colors done" at a color party, and she knew that she was a "winter" ... and both of us knew that we weren't the same (she has light hazel eyes whereas mine are dark brown) and that I looked overwhelmed in colors that were too bright (like vivid pinks, which look great on her).
I think because we didn't know, and my eyes were brown, we sort of just assumed that brown = autumn ... but I look awful in oranges! So for all this time, I just felt confused and sorta bleh.
Then I met Kerry, through some colleagues and decided to give color analysis a try. Kerry explained that there aren't four palettes but twelve, and my mind was a little bit blown. We went through the color analysis process, and went back and forth a bit between Dark Winter and Dark Autumn to see the difference--that I actually did belong in the winters! My dark hair/eyes and fair skin tone looked great in the darker end of the Winter group.
Turns out my mom and I are both winters but I'm Dark and she's Bright - while she can be bold in her choices (those magentas and ceruleans that I thought disqualified me from Winter because they were too bold for me) whereas I choose richer tones (I can pull off burgundy and forest like nobody's business).
So what does this mean for me?
For years, I was highlighting my hair, trying to make myself feel less dark, more glowing ... but the warm, gold tones of the highlights ended up looking brassy against my cool skin. But after my color analysis, I decided to embrace the darker, bolder tones that look best on me. It even gave me the courage to do something I'd always wanted to do but didn't think I could pull off: dye my hair purple! (Yes, I brought my swatches with me to the hair stylist, Andrea Bonawitz who thankfully is already familiar with Kerry's work!)
I'm also way more likely to lean into a bold lipstick choice -- I used to think going too dark would overpower me and make me look washed out, but I've found that the right tone can actually bring my face to life! And switching my blush from a warmer peachy color to the Indigo Tones plum blush made a huge difference too.
I also took some time to purge all the old "autumn" clothes out of my closet, to make room for more black, eggplant, burgundy and teal not only makes it easier to find complimentary options in my closet, but I know that everything I reach for will feel more "right." Plus I've never loved clothes shopping, so now that I know what I'm looking for, I can pretty much skip the mall during the seasons when the stores will be pushing other color palettes and feel ok with only shopping around the holidays.
I think the biggest difference for me is how I show up on my YouTube channel.
While Kerry was explaining the whole process, I found myself thinking of the fantasy romance series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, in which the heroine Feyre finds herself in the Spring Court surrounded by light colored peonies and white roses, and never quite feels at home. Then she is kidnapped into the Night Court, where she embraces her own darkness as part of her beauty, and it's there where she finds her home.
My color analysis, and newfound identity as a Dark Winter, gave me permission to let go of the feeling that I need to be light and soft and muted to be beautiful. There are plenty of people who do well with light and soft ... but I'm not one of them. My strength comes in my boldness, and embracing the darkness gave me the ironic permission to truly shine.
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I am thrilled to introduce you to my friend, colleague and dreamwork mentor, Warm Spring Kristina Hutch Matthews. Kristina is an artist, writer, animal lover, healing arts practitioner and so much more! Her mother is also an accomplished and prolific artist and together they run the Penfield Arts Center.
We immediately clicked when we met and I was excited to give her a color analysis given her natural talent for all things aesthetic. I wasn't surprised to see her closet immediately following the analysis was filled with muted colors. That is typical these days, especially for those with a creative style. But, I was shocked to see her closet a few months ago. She has completely transformed it from the dusty colors of the past to lighter and brighter colors focused especially on the warmth of Warm Spring. She has learned that the golden browns of her hair and eyes work perfectly as neutrals replacing blacks and grays.
Over the years, I have utilized many personal development tools but it was Kristina's dreamwork class that has given me the most incredible AHA moments. I thought the class would be fun and interesting and help me understand why I saw a whale or something like that but dreamwork is so much more!! Kristina has a talent for giving feedback and fresh insight into a situation that may be challenging or lingering from the past. My understanding of how to remember and process dreams has truly been life changing and transformative. Kristina has brought so much color into my life! Read more about her journey with her artistry and healing practices as well as her personal color journey in this month's blog:
What fun to introduce the incredibly colorful Bright Spring, Natalie Rae Dickerson! I met Natalie when she was in the process of taking over the fabulous fine clothing store, Panache Consignment from my client and colleague Joan Lincoln. Meeting Natalie was like a burst of fresh air. She radiated warmth and vibrancy and was very game to learn more about what colors would be ideal for her. It was no surprise that she absolutely popped in the bright colors and that she jumped right in head first into wearing them. Every time I pop in to the shop, she is shining in some new combination of her colors. She redesigned the store to be organized by color and I find it so easy to find colors for myself and my clients. Read more about her international journey in the world of fashion and color in this month's blog.
It is a thrill to introduce you to Bright Winter, Bianca Calascibetta founder of UCO, a creative marketing firm. When she enthusiastically called me to schedule a color analysis after seeing another client of mine looking pulled together, I knew I had to get her in for a consultation asap. Her excitement was infectious and it only increased when she saw herself in her colors and out of the drab bronzers and muddy cosmetics she had been wearing. Her BRIGHT personality and dramatic but romantic style suited the bold, saturated colors. When I had the pleasure of helping her edit her closet, I could see that she was used to toning herself down with dull colors so that she didn't stand out. How refreshing to see her in colors and styles that suit her personality and coloring. The affect is harmonious and draws you in. Learn more about her experience and unique insights in this month's blog.
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