12 Season Swatch Plumes at Indigo Tones
March 17, 2012 by Christine Scaman
I have got the best thing to show you.
Globe-traveling Sci\ART colour analyst Nikki Bogardus told me how ingenious these swatch books, called plumes, are. Exact quote “You have got to see these. They’re really quite beautiful.” Although Nikki has been using (and will continue using) the colour palettes from True Colour Australia, she has recommended these to her clients who would like additional fans. I wholeheartedly agree.
Intriguing, to say the least. Kerry Stich of Indigo Tones, New York based and certified in the Sci\ART system, sent me the collection for the 12 Seasons. Meet Kerry.
Whatever I expected was surpassed that the instant I opened them. First thought was “How completely clever is this?”
The closest description would be that they resemble high quality, tightly woven badges that are stitched into the canvas. The colour square is raised above the backing slightly. The backing is just stiff enough to hold the weight of the entire strip without flopping over.
When Nikki described them as a type of embroidery thread or floss, I didn’t expect there to be 12 x 60 different colours. The colours really are different from one another, amazingly. There are similarities among certain swatches in certain Seasons but not more so (or harder to tell apart) than with the printed Books. The Bright Spring blues are indeed yellower than the Bright Winter and to the correct degree.
Other differences compared to Colour Books where paint is printed on canvas:
- These are bigger by about 25% in every direction. The swatch itself, the strips, and the finished Book. Not of much relevance to use, I don’t think, just a first impression I didn’t expect.
- There are nuances to the colours beyond what paint on canvas might express. For some, nuance may be the last thing you want, but not me. I own Books for my own Season from Sci\ART, Spectrafiles, and now Indigo Tones. Each one represents a different perception of the same thing, taught me something new about my colouring, and allows me to be less rigid about my shopping.
- What do I mean by ‘nuance’? For one thing, the shine took a little getting used to. The swatches have to be moved about under certain lights to fully grasp the colours. As you move them, you see several colours that remain faithful to the Season. This simulates many types of fabric very well, but especially, the shine does give you a better sense of how makeup would look on skin since most of it has shimmer or gloss.
- Not only are the metallics shown for each Season, you get 5 choices! You can see True Winter’s silvers below and some of Dark Winter’s peeking out from the top photo.
- Differences between similar colours seem easier to see – I’ve taken the photos at different lighting times and levels to try to simulate shopping in stores. Here are the Soft Autumn pinks and reds that I often find are hard to tell apart. The last photo shows another view.
- Colours between neighbour Seasons can be distinguished. Below are the True and Dark Winter greens. Are the colours identical to the printed Books? No. Do they have to be? No, not as long as the value, saturation, and heat levels are right.
- For colours that are challenging to grasp, like the neutral greys, beiges, and so on, these are fantastic to expand the perception of what the colour is and isn’t. Even with my own Season, I learned a lot about the mid-level grays. This is even more true about the lighter neutral colours, as the Light Spring photo at the top shows.
- Like with the canvas, the more you work with them, the more interesting they become. I think of upholstery, denim, velvets, sheers, fabrics where colours can have several levels and/or the paint dots can seem uncertain to some people. I wouldn’t say these are better but they sure do flesh out a decision that can feel a little shaky. I used them exclusively to make the Polyvores for the last two articles. It took a little practice, what doesn’t?, but some comparisons are actually easier to know you got right.
- I asked Kerry about fading or snagging, though there’s nothing they’d really snag on and regardless of which Colour Book we have, we know better than to leave it open, especially in sunlight. Her reply,
The books should not fade……….they are colorfast.They occasionally will snag as anything that is embroidered will but we have designed them with a high thread count to reduce that as much as possible.
- If you’re of a Season where the printed books seem, ahem, lacking in radiance, you know who I’m talking to, you might just fall in love with seeing yourself through these eyes.
Original. Unique. Creative. And so pretty!! What a gift for a graduating daughter, your bridesmaids, a Mom you adore, or a young girl to unwrap and fan out. Or for you. Buying yourself presents is one of womens’ most neglected latent skills.
Kerry would be happy to answer any questions in the Comments or by emailing her at kerry@indigotones.com. Shop for the Personal Color Plume Swatchbooks at www.shop.indigotones.com
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19 Responses to “12 Season Swatch Plumes at Indigo Tones”
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“If you’re of a Season where the printed books seem, ahem, lacking in radiance, you know who I’m talking to” this Soft Autumn raises her hand! and goes straight to Indigo Tones to order the swatch book. Can’t wait to receive it!
I’m starting quite the collection too – this will be my 5th (the House of Colour Autumn book I got from my first analysis, which is a wallet containing small squares of a silky synthetic material; the 12tone one I was given by Nikki after my Sci/Art analysis plus the official Spectrafiles I got from Lynda Tarantino, to compare, both printed on cotton canvas; and one from Lora Alexander at Pretty Your World which is on hard plastic leaves).
I am considering which set of swatches to purchase for my very first 12-season swatch set. Being a student, money is fairly tight right now and I can only afford once set. Which brand of swatches might be best for a person who is probably a Soft Summer? So far, I’m aware of the Elea Blake brand and this new one you introduced. The prices seem very comparable. Thanks!
I just ordered a True Summer plume……I cannot wait to see it!
If you can only order one, Amanda, I’d pick those that most resemble the very original Sci\ART fans, at http://www.truecolour.com.au
I bought the Soft Summer swatch from Indigo Tones. It is absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the recommendation Christine!!!!
My Indigo Tones swatches arrived really quickly, wrapped in the most beautiful peacock-feather printed tissue paper.
The Truecolour swatches are particularly useful because the colour goes right to the edge of the canvas. This makes it easy to do as Nikki suggested – put the swatch onto the material you’re considering. If the edges seem to merge and disappear – it’s right.
These plumes are SO pretty! I have both an LSu and TSu plume. They are made very well and you can’t stop staring at them. OH……the TSu fan has some seasonally correct reds that will work great for lippies.
All the systems are SO different. I’m a T3 in DIY (not). Jennifer Butler has me as a Romantic Summer- absolutely. Which book would be best?
I don’t know the palettes of those systems, Caren. If you look at http://www.truecolour.com.au, you may see some of the 12 Tone palettes enough to compare to the colours you have and choose the best fit. I agree that it is hard for consumers to navigate all the systems, terminology, and palette differences. Every industry has this in its own way but it is a frustration in the beginning. Once you get a solid feeling for your colours, all those other interpretations add levels of richness and texture that you may appreciate more.
At what age do children usually “settle” sufficiently into their coloring to make a draping worthwhile? I have a 9yo daughter who is interested, but her coloring is drastically different now than it was when she was younger, and I’m not sure if she’s finished changing yet? (She was significantly lighter, brighter, and cooler as a young child.)
When they’re about 16, Rachel. Some are much sooner, but I have a niece who is 13 and has been a different Season each of the past 3 years.
Hi Christine, I’ve been wanting to get a PCA but haven’t been able to find someone near me. I believe I’m a Soft Summer. Is there anyway you can help me?
Not sure where you live, Mandy, but the only Sci\ART analysts I know are in the Analyst Directory linked in the upper crossbars of this site. Many (most) women travel out of state/province and book the appt into a holiday or business trip. The world needs many more Sci\ART analysts.
Thank you, Christine! We will just keep doing what we’ve been doing, then – buying based on our best, educated guess of her season so she’s hopefully not dressing *way* outside her season – and try for a draping in a few years. When puberty is past, I guess?
I did notice, looking through old family photos the other day, that my hubby’s hair (which is now almost black – except for the part that’s turning grey
) was actually still quite light in late middle school/early high school.
Thanks Christine! I’ll look into them.
Also, I purchased the Soft Summer book from Indigo Tones. Do you have it? I can’t quite figure out the differences between (what looks like) the 4 different whites. Can you help me?
Christine (and others),
How do you shop using several different books?
Thanks
[...] the article about the very lovely swatch plumes at Indigo Tones, Denise asks how I shop with more than one Colour [...]
Good Q, Denise. I answered as part of the article “Are Seasons The Same Between Colour Analysis Systems?”
From Diane:
I recently started shopping with both Indigo Tones and 12 Tone books – and I have to tell you, thank god I have both. I’ve bought things with the Indigo Tones book that I never would have bought with just the 12 Tone alone. It’s given me a better understanding all-round because the books are so different.
I agree entirely, Diane. I had the same experience with both clothing and makeup. I got a broader sense of the application of the palette and how the harmony is achieved.