4 Seasons vs 12 Seasons: Which Colour Analysis System Is Right for You?
If you've spent any time researching colour analysis online, you've probably noticed that not everyone is working from the same system. Some analysts talk about four seasons. Others reference twelve. There are mentions of sub-seasons, flow seasons, Kibbe types, and more. It can feel overwhelming very quickly, especially when you just want to know which colours suit you.
Here's a clear, straightforward breakdown of the two main systems and how to think about which one is right for you.
The 4 season system: where it all began
The four season system is the original. It was popularised in the 1980s and divides everyone into one of four colour seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each season has a distinct palette built around a combination of undertone (warm or cool) and depth (light or deep).
It's a beautifully simple framework and for many people it's exactly enough. Knowing you're an Autumn or a Summer gives you a clear, usable palette and a filter for every shopping and styling decision. The four season system is accessible, easy to understand, and genuinely transformative when applied consistently.
For most people, this is the ideal starting point.
The 12 season system: going deeper
The 12 season system expands each of the four seasons into three sub-seasons, giving a total of twelve distinct palettes. Each main season divides into variations based on a third characteristic alongside undertone and depth, usually described as chroma: how clear and vivid your colouring is versus how soft and muted it is.
So instead of simply being a Spring, you might be a Light Spring, a True Spring, or a Bright Spring. Instead of just a Winter, you could be a Dark Winter, a True Winter, or a Bright Winter. Each sub-season has a more refined palette that accounts for the nuances in your specific colouring.
The 12 season system is more precise and can feel more accurate for people whose colouring sits close to the border between two seasons, or who have always felt like the broader four season palette was slightly too wide to be truly useful.
So which system is better?
Neither is objectively better. They serve different needs and different levels of detail.
The four season system is ideal if you're new to colour analysis, want a clear and immediately usable palette, or prefer simplicity over granularity. It gives you everything you need to make confident colour choices and build a wardrobe that works.
The 12 season system is worth exploring if you already know your broad season and want to refine further, if you've always felt like you sit between two seasons, or if you're the kind of person who loves detail and wants the most precise possible result.
The important thing to remember is that the 12 season system is built on top of the four season system, not instead of it. Understanding your main season first always makes the sub-season easier to identify and more meaningful when you get there.
A word of caution on going too deep too soon
One thing worth saying honestly: the internet has taken colour analysis into increasingly complex territory. Beyond 12 seasons there are 16 season systems, Kibbe body types blended with colour theory, and highly specific sub-categorisations that can leave people more confused than when they started.
If you find yourself deep in online forums debating whether you're a Soft Autumn or a Dark Autumn without yet having a professional analysis, it's worth stepping back. Self-diagnosis at that level of granularity is genuinely difficult, even for trained analysts. The nuances are real, but they're best explored with professional guidance rather than alone on a screen at midnight.
Where to start
Start with the four seasons. Get a professional analysis that places you clearly within your main season and gives you a full, usable palette. From there, if you want to go deeper, you have a solid foundation to build on.
That's exactly how My Colour Season is designed. Your analysis is built on the proven four season system, personally reviewed by a trained analyst, and delivered with everything you need to start using your colours straight away.