How to Wear Your Colors This Fall (Without Abandoning Your Palette)

Sustainable Fall Fashion: Wearing Your Best Colors No Matter the Season

When Fall Trends Don’t Match Your Colors

Every September, the fashion world starts buzzing. The Vogue September issue lands with a satisfying thud, Pinterest boards brim with camel coats and Clinique Black Honey lipstick is popular once more...and suddenly your Instagram algorithm is whispering to you that burnt sienna is the new black.

But here’s the truth: not everyone shines in mustard or oxblood (and thank goodness, right?). If your palette leans towards icy blues or delicate pinks, hot pinks or neon greens, trying to wedge yourself into autumn’s “it” shades can feel like self-sabotage.

So what do you do when the trends say “pumpkin spice,” but your face says “please no.”?

Use one of my favorite tricks: swap textures, not palettes.

Why Texture Is Your Autumn Superpower

If you’ve visited me in the Twin Cities at my color analysis studio, you know that color palette is built to flatter you all year ‘round. Those soft teals, vivid corals, or cool lilacs don’t expire in September. Often, what shifts with the seasons isn’t the hue, but the fabric.

• Summer brights in winter wools: That vibrant blue you wore in linen back in June? Gorgeous in cashmere come November.

• Delicate pinks meet fall structure: Pair your pastel blouse with corduroy trousers or a tweed blazer in one of your singular neutrals, and suddenly it reads fall-forward instead of spring fling.

• Year-round shades: A clear green dress works in chiffon for weddings in the summer, or in velvet for holiday parties.

The key is to let texture do the heavy lifting with each season’s change.

Classic Investments Beat Trends Every Time

If you’ve ever chased a micro-trend (RIP Sardine Girl, you were fun...), you know how quickly the “must-haves” become closet clutter, contributing to our global fast fashion crisis. Instead, invest in classic pieces in your best colors. Shop brands you know place high value on sustainability, and seek out fabrics that are excellent quality. (Remember: investments don’t have to cost a fortune. You can find beautiful, timeless pieces secondhand or vintage!) When you buy a coat in your navy instead of whatever the trending color of the season is…you’ll wear it for years. It will last you through trend cycles, life stages, and countless Minnesota winters.

Minneapolis Local Shops

• Parc Boutique, & Hazel & Rose – High quality fabrics and one-of-a-kind finds

• Vintage lovers: Olio Vintage, Moth Oddities, and The Golden Pearl – curated pieces perfect for the chillier months.

These are all within walking distance of the This Is Your Color studio! Make a day of it and support these amazing local businesses while updating your wardrobe.

St. Paul Favorites

• Spoils of Wear & IDUN – Gorgeous racks full of fall arrivals.

• BlackBlue – Get your selvedge denim fix.

• Pop-ups & Secondhand treasures: Hackwith Design House events,Nine Lives, Up Six Vintage, and Country Club Vintage.

There are too many wonderful local businesses to name them all here! Dig into the St. Paul sustainable, secondhand, and vintage scenes to find your own favorites--your fall wardrobe (and local community) will thank you.

Outside the Twin Cities?

• Support Minnesota businesses online: many local shops offer shipping.

• Check out your local thrift stores!

• Noihsaf Bazaar – Duluth-based with pop-ups nationwide; championing resale with intention.

Even if you’re not a local, you can bring these thoughtfully curated finds into your wardrobe while supporting sustainable, intentional shopping.

But What About Trends?

Look, I’m not saying “Ignore them!” If the September issue has you itching to try houndstooth or oversized knits, do it in your colors. More often than not, trends are about silhouettes and texture more than hue.

• Love the “red is everywhere” moment? Try your palette’s best red, be it tomato red, a deep wine, or clear cherry.

• Want to test out metallic fabrics? Choose gold, silver, or bronze shades that echo the harmonies in your fan.

• Obsessed with leather this year? That soft sage or deep teal leather jacket is infinitely cooler (and more flattering) than settling for someone else’s black. Don’t be afraid to make the trend your own.

A Closet Shift In the Twin Cities

Fall in Minneapolis-St. Paul is real. IYKYK. It’s not merely a date on the calendar. One week you’re sweating it out looking at crop art at the State Fair, the next? You’re digging your sweaters out of a cedar chest, feeling the effects of SAD start to kick in. Transitioning your wardrobe from cooler temps to warmer ones here means layering up without sacrificing your palette.

Practical swaps I recommend to all my clients:

• Lightweight blouses – in the fall...layer crisp poplins or light silk tops under cozy cashmere, a worn-in collegiate sweatshirt or to keep a layer between you and that scratchy-scratchy (but very warm!) wool sweater you inherited from your Irish grandmother.

• Cotton sundresses – layer dresses over long sleeve blouses or tees, pop on a tall boot or maybe tights and mary janes, and grab a tweed or leather jacket to finish the look.

• Linen skirts – swap these out for wool or silk trousers in the same favorite hues.

The Takeaway

Trends come and they go (then circle back around when you’re perfectly shocked that we’re doing THAT again???), but your colors are timeless. You don’t need to wear mustard, burnt sienna, or even black to look or feel seasonal. You just need corduroy, tweed, velvet, lace, wool, and all those other cozy fall textures…in shades that love you back.

Invest in your palette. Shop with intention. And remember: I don’t use a seasonal color analysis system for a reason. Your colors aren’t spring, summer, winter, or fall. They’re unique. Just like you.

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Want to see your best colors in action this fall? I offer fully custom color analysis in my Northeast Minneapolis studio, easily accessible from anywhere in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. We’ll build a palette from scratch (don’t worry if you’ve never fit into a seasonal category, or if seasonal color analysis has left you rolling your eyes). My method is fully customized to your features: no cookie-cutter “winter, spring, summer, fall” boxes. You’ll leave with a palette that works year-round and makes shopping (and getting dressed) more conscious, and actually joyful. Book a session today, or gift the perfect experience to a loved one this holiday!

What to Do When Your Color Analysis Doesn’t Match Your Style (…Yet)

How to use your color palette without changing your personal style

The Disconnect You Didn’t Expect

You booked a color analysis because you care about how you show up in the world. You want to feel put-together, expressive, confident. You sat through the process, admired your swatches, and left knowing a beautiful fan of your very best colors was on its way.

And then. You got it home, stared at the colors in your fan, and thought: “Wait…this doesn’t feel like me.”

Maybe your palette is bold, but your wardrobe is minimalist. Maybe you love earthy, boho pieces, but pastels wash you out. Maybe sporty basics dominate your closet, but the colors on the racks at your favorite stores don’t flatter you.

Did you make a mistake? Is your analysis wrong?

Spoiler alert: Nope. And you’re not alone.

Colors That Work for You, Not the Other Way Around

At This Is Your Color, your palette isn’t a box to put you in or to restrict you. It’s a toolkit. Whether your aesthetic is minimalist, boho, sporty, or eclectic, your colors can support your style instead of dictating it.

If you’ve heard of seasonal color analysis and it rubbed you the wrong way, or had your colors done by a seasonal color analysis professional but didn’t feel great about your results…I get it.

The thing is… You are so much more than a season.

Instead of prescribing you a palette, I build you one from scratch. These colors are all excellent for you without any of the filler, and perfectly harmonize with your one-of-a-kind features. Then, we define Mood Words to capture the energy and personality of your colors.

Mood Words: Your Personal Style Compass

During every Signature or Deluxe session, we name your palette’s energy. These words are the key to helping you translate your colors into outfits that feel authentically you.

Here are a few from past clients:

• Warm. Vibrant. Electric.

• Cool. Blended. Romantic.

• Slightly Cool. Heathered. Crisp.

• Warm/Cool Balance. Bold. Jeweled.

Mood words are more than just adjectives. They’re your personal playbook for styling your colors.

Instead of asking “Can I wear this color?” you’ll ask, “How do I wear this color my way?”

Challenge Your Style Bias

It’s easy to assume certain colors “belong” to certain styles:

• Minimalism = neutrals, minimal color

• Preppy = primary colors

• Edgy = black, gray, moody rich tones

Why do we think this way? Those styles are really about silhouettes, fabric, and how pieces are styled, not the color palette used.

Here’s a fun exercise:

• Imagine a long maxi dress in flowy cotton with a floral print. What color do you picture? Maybe a soft cream with pastel pink flowers? What if I told you that it’s hot pink with turquoise blooms. Same dress. Same style. You’d probably still call it boho.

• Picture a leather jacket over denim pants and a tee with loafers. Got a clear picture going in your mind?Now swap in pastel lichen-green loafers, lavender jeans, a white tee, and a brown suede jacket. Surprised? That’s the point. Classic style doesn’t have to mean predictable colors.

The truth: if you’re wearing that last outfit because those pieces are your colors; while a white tee, black leather jacket, and dark denim might look fine, your palette can make you look absolutely radiant. And that’s so much better than…fine. Style isn’t about rules. It’s about amplifying the energy that’s uniquely yours.

Style + Color = Harmony

Let’s take a look at how one client’s custom color palette flexes with different aesthetics:

• Classic & Minimalist:
  Minimalist doesn’t have to mean beige and boring. Clean lines + intentional simplicity + vibrant, warm shades = quietly powerful style.

• Sporty:
  Performance fabrics, active shapes, and this palette’s bold tones make a capsule that’s familiar yet extra. A vivid royal blue blazer or neon accessories can feel playful while still working with everyday sporty basics.

• Bohemian:
  Soft, layered, textured boho pieces don’t have to be muted. Using this palette, earthy and vibrant shades can coexist: bright blue, marigold, deep teal, and yes… even Barbie pink. Boho, but better.

You can see that however this client expresses their colors, they don’t need to sacrifice their style. They’ll always look 100% like themselves, and 100% radiant and glowing.

The Plan: Make Your Colors Work for Your Style

Step 1: Personalized Color Analysis
No seasonal boxes. Just all your very best colors, chosen to flatter your features from over 2,200 swatches.

Step 2: Define Your Mood Words
Your emotional and visual north star and the structure you need to wear your colors confidently.

Step 3: Learn to Style It
I’ll show you how to integrate your palette into your wardrobe so it feels like you, not a trend or someone else’s idea of style.

Bespoke Color Analysis in Minneapolis That Matches Your Style

If you’re looking for color analysis in the Twin Cities, you’re in the right place. This Is Your Color offers deeply personalized sessions that give you clarity, confidence, and permission to play with color fearlessly.

You don’t have to sacrifice your style on the altar of a “Season”. You don’t have to follow trends. You just need the right tools, and someone to show you how to use them.

Your colors should reflect you, not change you.

You’re the hero of this story.
I’m just here to hand you the map.

8 Easy Color Swaps That Make the Biggest Impact on Your Wardrobe

Focusing on placing excellent colors near your face—using tops,
scarves, or lip colors—brightens your complexion, enhances
features, and upgrades your look instantly.