Five Minute Friday: How Color Analysis Can Elevate Your Boutique Styling Game
14 Nov 2025 · 9 min
Podcast episode (Five Minute Friday) featuring Amanda Fairley and Nikki Bogardes of Prism 12 discussing personal color analysis. They explain why color creates first impressions, describe benefits for wardrobe, confidence, and authenticity, and contrast the traditional four-season method with a more precise 12-season approach. The hosts invite listeners to connect via Prism12 contact channels.
Chapters
Hello, Boshi Cov members. I am Amanda Fairley and I am here with Nikki Bogardes and together we represent Prism 12. And we are so excited to be here with all of you today to talk about one of our favorite topics, color analysis. Now, Nikki, you've been in the color analysis world for 16 years. Can you share with us what color analysis really is at its core?
I certainly can. Sixteen years. It's like part of my DNA now.
Yes.
What colors we wear can attract or distract. Colors add balance and harmony or they can add discord and imbalance. Your perfect colors have the same quality as and feel as your skin. Colours in harmony with your skin tone bring life and vitality to your coloring and extremely pleasing to the eye of the beholder. An in person color analysis is extremely valuable because it teaches you to use color purposefully to your advantage if you want to present yourself in your most beautiful image. Personal color analysis must be the first step that you take to create a foundation of flattering colors. Remember, it's color that creates the beholder's first visual impression. A personal color analysis is key to getting the most out of that first vital sensation that you leave with someone. The right fit, shape, brand of what you wear will never again be as important as the right colour. Wearing colours in true harmony with your skin tone will make a dramatic difference in how you feel about yourself and, and how you are seen by others.
Yes, absolutely. I mean, everyone sees what you're wearing when you show up. So it is that first impression that you are making. Absolutely, yes.
The color is always the first impression. Always.
Absolutely, yes. Very powerful.
So, Amanda, why is color analysis very important? How would you describe it?
Yes. Oh, you know, color analysis is so important because it truly helps you make those intentional choices about what you wear. So when we know our best colors, like this rust color I'm wearing, you can simplify your shopping. You can save money by avoiding any of those pieces that you won't wear. And you're building a wardrobe that truly reflects who you are. So beyond the closet, it's truly about authenticity. Wearing the right colors allows your true personality to shine without distractions so that you can show up in your life and business as your authentic self. And. And that's how I truly feel about the colors that I wear and the colors in my season, they are me. And it is so amazing to show up in that way. Now, Nikki. Yes, yes, yes. Many people have heard about the traditional four season method and so I would love for you to share out what sets on our 12 season method apart from the traditional four.
I would be.
Delighted to.
Seasonal color analysis originates from the natural color harmonies found during the four seasons of the year. You are a dark autumn and that color is a perfect autumn color. Initially, it was presumed that all skin tones could either be warm or cool. Winter and summer are cool, autumn and spring are warm. However, analysts found that warmth or coolness of hue was not definite and found it difficult, if not impossible to determine.
The reason for this difficulty is that all colors are not 100% warm or cool. In fact, most fall somewhere in between. The area in between warm and cool is referred to as neutral. A color's hue therefore, can be warm, cool or neutral.
Interestingly, 2/3 of the human race have skin tones that fall into the neutral category.
Understanding this color analysis was refined and expanded to include these neutral tones with each season. Two others have been established to allow for the many beautiful tones that fall into the neutral area in between a season. For example, in between winter and spring or spring and summer, summer and autumn, autumn and winter. These 12 tones make color analysis three times more precise. They also beautifully encompass the full range of tones found in all races and nationalities.
So I have a way to describe this. If you think of there are three categories, three measurements of a color.
The four seasons only measure one whether it's warm and cool. There are two other measurements dimensions of color and if you don't know that, then it's like buying a bra and only getting one.
The one bit right, but not knowing the cup size or the having the strap size right. That's my explanation of why you need these three dimensions of the colour. If it's neutral, then one of the other categories of colour have an influence. Whether it's bold and bright or soft and gentle or dark or light.
Yes, Nikki, I love the description with the bra and I'm sure many listeners will be able to resonate with that and it really connects. It really does speak to needing to have all three dimensions of color for having an accurate analysis. So thank you so much for sharing that. Nikki and I, we love helping people see themselves in a new light and in their most authentic way. Color analysis is such a powerful tool for your confidence, wardrobe, how you speak to yourself, and even how you show up in your career and life.
So if you're curious to understand more about the dimensions of color and where you fit between warm, cool or neutral, we would love to connect with you. We we'd love to hear from you.
Yes, yes. So please find us@prism12.com we're also on social media so Facebook and Instagram. So come find us, come ask us questions. We're always excited to share this work and help people truly discover the power of color in their lives. So thank you so much Boutique Hub for having us and we look forward to connecting very soon.
Thank you.
Thank you.
That's it for five Minute Friday you guys. I hope you found some quick actionable steps you can put into play in your business right away. As always, if you're not yet a member of the Boutique Hub, I would love to personally invite you to join us. It's where all of the daily conversations happen. The up to date what is working now in the industry conversations, the latest trainings, trend reports, discounts, resources and of course access to thousands of wholesale brands that you also know and love. So please take a minute, follow the link in the show notes and we would love to invite you to join us inside of the Boutique Hub.
