The Color of Style by David Zyla

After attending a presentation by David Zyla at Saks last week on his new book, The Color of Style, I just had to leave with the book in hand. It seems everyone felt that way, as the books were nearly sold out by the end of the night. Zyla’s philosophy on style sounds simple: wear the colors that look the best on you, and avoid colors that are not flattering. Hearing him speak was inspirational. His work is both an art and a science, and watching him read people’s personalities and color palettes in the blink of an eye was more than impressive.

After his presentation, I had him sign my copy of the book. Too shy to ask in front of the crowd, when I got him to myself I had to have him give me a quick reading. The results?

1. Charcoal is my version of black. You can find your version of black, your first base, by looking at the color of the ring around your iris in your eyes.

2. I should play up the cool colors in my eyes, which are hazel and can range anywhere from brownish green to greenish blue.

3. I should take color cues from Anne Hathaway (who is also a classic winter). I often get compared to her, a nice compliment.

4. I should avoid wearing too much lipstick, or if I do, to put gloss over it to make it more translucent. Otherwise, I may risk seeming painted because of my dark hair and light skin.

So, in a few moments, Zyla was able to give me a pretty big head start on finding what he calls one’s “true colors.” Excited to learn more, I dove into the book immediately. However, what I found was both interesting and confusing. In the first part of the book, Zyla helps you find each one of your true colors. These consist of your essence color (your version of white), your dramatic color (your version of blue), your romantic color (your red), your energy color and your tranquil color (both based on the colors in your eyes), and your three base colors. Although he explains how to find each one of the colors, I found it difficult to settle on just one. Is my blue a peacock or is it more of an electric blue? Is my red cranberry or raspberry? My eyes, since they constantly change, were especially difficult to read. I often felt that I wanted to call Zyla and have his expertise on hand to make the tough decisions for me.

Once you find your true colors, you then are able to find your season and your archetype, which relates to your personality and style. The one I related most to was the classic winter, with the archetype “the queen.” That would usually be the last thing I would describe myself as, but in terms of clothing I tend to favor classic, clean lines that are both bold yet sophisticated. Solid colors are best, and I already avoid things that are too girly or frilly. Throughout the book, he also recounts many of his experiences with clients, demonstrating how finding their true colors changed their feelings about themselves as well as how they were received by others.

The second part of the book focuses on what to do with this new information. He includes a chart that suggests which colors are best for wearing in certain situations, such as a job interview or a first date. He also addresses shopping for some new items and cleaning out your closet to get rid of clothes that simply don’t work for you. By the end of the book, I felt that I knew what colors were good for my skin tone, but at the same time, I can't say that I will only limit myself to those colors. Will I give up black? Never. He does say that if a color feels right but it’s not on your palette, trust your instincts. His book is a guide, not a manual. Overall, the book is an interesting read that may open your eyes to discovering new colors or styles that you thought you couldn’t wear.