Understanding the Colour Wheel – The Key to Colour Analysis

Before we explore your unique colours, it helps to take one step back and learn how colour itself works.One of the simplest but most powerful tools we use in colour analysis is the colour wheel. It shows how colours relate to one another—and once you understand it, your wardrobe (and shopping choices!) will never be the same again.

Don’t worry—this isn’t an art class. We’re going to break it down in easy steps with no confusing jargon.

🟥 The Primary Colours – The Basics

There are three primary colours:

• Red

• Blue

• Yellow

They’re called primary because you can’t make them by mixing other colours. Think of them as the main ingredients in the recipe of colour. Every other colour comes from these three.

👚 In styling: These bold colours often appear in statement pieces like a red coat, cobalt blouse, or mustard scarf.

🟧 The Secondary Colours – First Mix

Now things get a bit more fun. When you mix two primary colours in equal amounts, you get secondary colours:

• Red + Yellow = Orange

• Blue + Yellow = Green

• Blue + Red = Violet (or purple)

These are still strong and bright, but they’ve taken on a new character. They're now combinations, not single-note colours.

👗 In styling: These are great for colour-blocking or adding playfulness—think forest green jackets or plum accessories.

🟨 The Tertiary Colours – A Colourful World

Next, we get tertiary colours, created by mixing a primary colour with a neighbouring secondary colour.

Examples include:

• Yellow + Orange = Yellow-Orange

• Blue + Green = Blue-Green

• Red + Violet = Red-Violet

There are six tertiary colours in total, giving us a 12-part colour wheel. At this point, you start to see just how rich and varied colour can be.

🧥 In styling: These colours are more nuanced—like teal, coral, or olive—and often appear in seasonal palettes.

🌡️ Why This Wheel Matters in Colour Analysis

The colour wheel isn’t just for artists—it’s one of the key tools in personal colour analysis.

It helps us answer questions like:

• Is this colour warm or cool?

• Is it light or dark?

• Is it soft or bright?

Understanding the colour wheel is like learning the alphabet of colour—it’s the foundation that makes everything else make sense.

Now that you know where colours come from and how they relate to each other, you’re already ahead when it comes to spotting what works (and what doesn’t) in your wardrobe. From here, colour analysis becomes a lot less mysterious—and a lot more fun!

👀 What’s next? In our upcoming post, we’ll take this one step further and explore the four key characteristics we use in colour analysis—like undertone and intensity. This is where things get personal... and powerful.

Stay tuned—your most flattering colours are just around the corner. 💫