You know that top you bought because you loved the color?

Then you put it on, look in the mirror, and something's off.

You look tired. Even after a full night of sleep 😅

Sometimes it's not the top. It's the color near your face.

And that top? It's the one that stays in your closet and NEVER makes it into your suitcase.

So today, we're finding your colors. And more importantly, your NO colors.

🎨 First, the basics

Every color has 3 things going on:

1. Warm or cool. Warm colors have a little yellow in them (camel, olive, rust, coral). Cool colors have a little blue (navy, berry, icy blue, fuchsia).
2. Light or deep. Is it closer to white or closer to black?
3. Bright or soft. Is it clear and bold, or a little dusty?

Every color has all 3 at once. Powder blue is cool, light and soft. Emerald green is cool, deep and bright.

Your skin, hair and eyes have the same 3 things going on.

The colors that match yours tend to soften shadows, even out your skin and make your eyes look brighter.

The ones that don't can make you look tired.

That's why the color that matters most is the one closest to your face.

🙋🏻‍♀️ The best way to find your colors: in person

A good color analyst sits you in good light and drapes fabric under your face, one color at a time. You see the difference right there in the mirror.

Many personal stylists offer this as an add on. They can also help you with hair color, makeup and fabrics.

A color analysis on its own usually costs a few hundred dollars. A personal stylist who does all of this with you can cost thousands.

If you can afford it, it's the fastest and best way to do this. I've seen what a stylist and a colorist can do. And it's really incredible.

If you go this route, read reviews, look at their before and after photos, and ask what's included. You want someone good!

These are some I know of (from social media) just in case you live in any of these cities:

• Chicago: Christine Matsunaga, @tristinstyling​
• Atlanta area (Canton, GA): Laura Johnson, House of Colour, @houseofcolour_canton​
• New York City: Mariana Marques, The Outfit Curator, @theoutfitcurator​
• Jacksonville area (Ponte Vedra, FL): Jamie Lambert, House of Colour, @houseofcolourpontevedra​

The only one from this list I know personally is Christine from Tristin Styling (Chicago). Please do your research and read online reviews before booking a styling/coloring service!

And if a stylist isn't in your budget right now, I'm thinking about creating a program next year that helps you do most of this (and get your packing lists ready before every trip, year after year) for a fraction of what a stylist costs. The thing is, it'll be DIY with my guidance. It's just an idea for now. I have no clue when!

💻 The DIY version (with ChatGPT)

I've never had my colors done professionally. I figured mine out on my own years ago. Don't ask me how, I just kind of knew 😅

Today, ChatGPT can give you a really good head start.

I don't think AI is better than working with a professional. Doing it yourself gets you closer to a better result, but it doesn't replace a colorist.

One reason: photos and screens change how colors look. So use what ChatGPT says as a starting point, then check it in the mirror (more on that below).

📸 Take 2 photos like this:

1. Face a window during the day, in soft light. No direct sun, no sunset light, no lamps.
2. No makeup (not even tinted moisturizer), no filter, and no "portrait" or beauty mode.
3. Wear a plain white top. Take off colorful jewelry and glasses.
4. Take one photo close to your face, and one from the shoulders up.

Then open ChatGPT, upload both photos and paste this prompt:

Question 9 is important. It asks ChatGPT to tell you when your photo isn't good enough to judge, instead of guessing.

Question 10 gives you a picture of your YES and NO colors. Save it on your phone and check it before you buy anything new.

What it costs: I think the free version of ChatGPT lets you upload a few photos a day, which is enough to try this. If you hit the limit, the cheapest paid plan (ChatGPT Go) is about $8 a month. (Prices change and can vary by country, so double check)

🪞 Then, check it in the mirror

Before you believe ChatGPT, test it.

Stand by the same window. Hold 2 tops under your chin, one at a time.

Look at 3 things: the shadows under your eyes, any redness, and how bright your eyes look.

The color that makes your face look more "even" wins. If ChatGPT and your mirror disagree, trust the mirror.

(One more thing: if your hair has gone gray, or you've changed your hair color, check your colors again. The ones that work on you can shift.)

🚫 Now, find your NO colors

This is how I want you to use all of this.

Your NO colors aren't the "meh" ones. They're the truly terrible ones. The colors that make you look tired every single time.

Once you know yours, take the tops/dresses/sweaters in those colors out of your closet.

Then don't buy them again. Ever 😅

(This is about colors near your face. A NO color can still work as pants or shoes, because it's far from your face.)

Can't let go of a sweater in a NO color? Wear a scarf in one of your YES colors near your face. (And a scarf barely takes any space in your suitcase!)

A few options: my featherweight cashmere silk pashmina, this cashmere wrap, or this 100% cotton travel scarf.

Every NO top you take out is one less piece to dig through when you pack. That's how your closet gets closer to one where packing is just picking.

🎨 My colors (a guide, not a rule)

My go-to neutrals are black, ivory, dark green and chocolate brown. (I only started wearing brown about three years ago!) Rich, deeper colors seem to suit me best, so these give me an easy starting point when putting outfits together.

Cream tends to look better on me than bright white. And I can see the difference! But I still wear plenty of white because I love it.

I use my colors as a guide, not a rule. Color analysis isn’t an exact science, and two experts can look at the same person and disagree.

Knowing my colors help me explore what works, but it doesn’t decide what I’m allowed to wear.

👀 Feel free to ask GPT the following after seeing your 'NO colors': can you give me a visual of additional NO color options so I can check what's in my closet?

Hit reply and tell me: What are your NO colors? And most importantly, how many pieces in your closet did you have in those colors?

(remember we're only focusing on pieces near your face: tops, sweaters, dresses, jumpsuits, etc)

Tell me everything: which colors, which pieces in your closet are in them, and whether ChatGPT (or your mirror) surprised you.

Next Thursday: the closet edit (what stays, what goes, and how to finally let go).

Thanks so much for being here! Hope you're loving these emails as much as I'm loving to write them ♥️

XO,

Aimara

>>> PS: If that program idea sounds like something you'd want, tell me that too! It's just a very 'raw' idea at this point but you know, I'm just curious. I truly want to put something together that can help you transform your closet and pack light and fast every single time, no matter the trip!

>>> PPS: Here are some examples of my colors (all pieces I own). Notice these are all pieces that go near my face. I don't pay attention to colors when it comes to bottom pieces.

• ​Burgundy Wrap: this is why I chose this piece in this right color to bring to Italy with me. It always goes near my face, even if I'm wearing a sweater in the "wrong" color.
• ​Alpaca Turtleneck: in Stone Ivory.
• ​Fitted Cotton-Cashmere Cardigan: sold out in my colors (there are 8 others though), but I packed this sweater in both brown and red.
• ​Cotton Sweater Tank: I have it in Forest Green, Ivory and Camel.
• ​Cashmere Tank: in Black.