I Asked AI to Analyze My Color Season—Here's the Prompt That Actually Worked

Most AI color analysis prompts fail because they ask the AI to guess a season immediately.

A better approach is to have the AI think like a professional analyst: examine the biological evidence first, ask only the missing questions, then eliminate seasons through a process of deduction.

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We’re super interested in color analysis here at Mae Threads, so we created a prompt inspired by the advanced 16-season directional method (like the awesome Carol Brailey). It’s an analytical approach, where the AI explains its reasoning instead of simply naming a palette.

We want you to get accurate answers so you can build a wardrobe you love. Find a quiet window, and let’s walk through how to get AI to analyze you properly using a professional, strict process of elimination. It’s not the same as getting an in-person analysis, but it will give you objective data to get you way closer to the right season for you.

Step 1: Upload 3-4 Specific photos

Before you copy and paste your blueprint, you need the right photos. Camera lighting and random shadows are the biggest culprits for bad results, so we have to calibrate the data first.

When taking photos for color analysis, your phone's camera automatically shifts its exposure, white balance, and contrast based on whatever background or clothing color it catches. If it auto-adjusts, it can alter the appearance of your natural skin undertone or artificially emphasize surface flushing. To freeze the camera settings so they don't change when you put up a white paper or a colored drape, you must lock the focus and exposure. (Google “how to lock focus and exposure on [your phone]” real quick, and then come back here. It’s easy!)

Upload: 

• a makeup-free photo indoors with natural daylight coming in through the windows and artificial lighting turned off. Hold a plain white sheet of paper for reference, with hair covered with a neutral towel if it is dyed. (Turn on AF/AE Lock on your camera app for best results!)
• one close-up of one eye
• one pre-puberty photo showing natural hair color
• one photo around age 20 (optional)

These images reveal your permanent biological coloring much better than heavily edited selfies.

Tip: Screenshot a collage of these photos so that you don’t use up all your photo uploads on the free version of your favorite AI chatbot. 

Step 2: Copy This Prompt

Initial Prompt

Act as a professional personal color analyst trained in the advanced 16-season directional method.

I have uploaded the required photographs.

First, analyze only what you can directly observe.

Prioritize structural skin qualities (translucency, opacity, reflectivity) over hair color and macro eye contrast. Notice when temporary surface tanning or camera adjustments may be obscuring underlying skin qualities. 

Distinguish between surface overtone (like flushing or redness) and my true underlying undertone.

Extract information about:

• skin undertone versus surface overtone
• value (light vs deep)
• chroma (bright vs muted)
• structural eye patterns
• iris color
• limbal ring
• radial fibers
• childhood hair color
• any permanent biological indicators visible in the photos

Do not guess my season yet.

If additional information is needed, ask me exactly ONE question at a time. Wait for my response before asking another.

Once you have sufficient information, use a strict process of elimination.

Rule out every season individually, explaining why each one does or does not fit.

After eliminating all other possibilities, identify my most likely home season and explain why it fits better than the remaining alternatives.

Finally, compare my home season to its neighboring season and explain why you chose one over the other.

Please distinguish between:

• Direct observation (what you can actually see in the photos)
• Inference (what that observation suggests about my season)
• Remaining uncertainty (what cannot be determined from images alone)

Step 3: Ask for a Tie Breaker If You’re Not Sold

Sometimes, the answer the AI comes up with may not sit right. Maybe you’re absolutely sure you’re warm toned rather than cool toned. In that case, ask the AI to compare your hunch against its conclusion. Feel free to give additional information like which colors you know for sure you look best in. 

Tie Breaker Prompt

Now perform a tie-breaker analysis. Compare the season you chose with [the season you think you might be].

Evaluate:

• undertone
• chroma
• value
• eye structure
• natural hair
• overall visual impression

Explain which characteristics are dominant and why one neighboring season fits better than the other.

State your confidence level and explain what evidence would most likely change your conclusion.

Step 4: Ask for Confidence

Now that you’ve come near a conclusion, ask the AI to give you final thoughts. It’s nice to have confidence in what you’re thinking, but also be open to evidence to the contrary. 

Keeping-Options-Open Prompt

What observations make you most confident in your conclusion?

What observations make you least confident?

If I were professionally draped, what result would most likely surprise you?

One Disclaimer

Please remember: AI cannot truly replace professional draping. Lighting, camera sensors, white balance, image compression, and display calibration all influence how colors appear. Think of this process as a way to generate a well-reasoned hypothesis based on visible evidence—not as a definitive diagnosis.

What Next?

Now that you have a better idea of your season, here is our quick, real-life cheat sheet for the 16 seasonal color profiles, broken down by their easiest everyday neutrals and the accent colors that will instantly elevate your daily uniform.

The 4 Winter Seasons (Cool & Bright)

If you have a cool undertone with high, striking contrast, you thrive in vivid, crisp shades.

• True Winter: Your best neutrals are stark white and pure black. For an accent color, reach for a vibrant royal blue or a rich, classic emerald green.
• Cool Winter: Stick to slate gray, charcoal, and deep navy for your foundation. Soften things up with berry tones, plum, or a icy cool pink for your pops of color.
• Deep Winter: You look incredible in deep espresso brown, charcoal, and black. Bring in accents of rich burgundy, dark olive, or a deep crimson red.
• Bright Winter: Your neutrals should be bright white or a deep, crisp navy. Bring life into your look with clear, striking accents like hot pink, bright teal, or true ruby red.

Our Winter pieces include The Marlo Retro Trim Ribbed Tee in Ivory + Red, The Bristal Pants in Black Gingham, and The Calista Tiered Stripe Dress in Green + Blue ($75.00): Bold, confident stripes in rich jewel tones that do all the talking for you.

The 4 Summer Seasons (Cool & Muted)

For those with a cool undertone but a softer, more blended presence, your colors are beautifully understated.

• True Summer: Soft white, dove gray, and rose-brown are one of those pieces you can build an entire outfit around. Accent with soft raspberry or a classic slate blue.
• Cool Summer: Lean heavily into heather gray, slate, and soft navy. Your best accents are beautiful lavender, powder blue, and cool jade green.
• Light Summer: Your neutrals are beautifully light, like soft sand, light ash gray, and cocoa. Add a gentle splash of mint green, soft coral-pink, or chiffon yellow.
• Muted Summer: Think dusty charcoal, taupe, and soft rose-brown. For accents, dusty rose, sage green, and muted denim blue are the shades you'll reach for again and again.

Summer pieces from Mae include The Gemma Merci Embroidered Tee in Light Sand, The Taryn Knit Bodice Midi Dress in Taupe + Ivory, and The Griffin Denim Shorts in Medium Wash.

The 4 Spring Seasons (Warm & Bright)

If you have a clear, warm undertone with a bright, luminous quality, you shine in fresh, sun-kissed tones.

• True Spring: Ditch stark white for warm ivory, camel, and golden brown. Accent beautifully with bright poppy red, warm turquoise, and sunny yellow.
• Warm Spring: Your best bases are rich cream, warm tan, and light bronze. Brighten up your look with coral, peachy-pink, and leafy grass green.
• Light Spring: Keep things airy with ivory, light camel, and soft warm gray. Your best accent pops are apricot, light aqua, and a soft daffodil yellow.
• Bright Spring: Dark golden brown and bright navy are fantastic neutrals for you. For a striking accent, use vibrant tangerine, bright lime green, or a clear hot coral.

Spring pieces at Mae include The Fienna Ruffle Blouse in Yellow, The Delia Swiss Dot Maxi Dress in Lemon Water, and The Solana Patchwork Floral Wide-Leg Pants in Ecru.

The 4 Autumn Seasons (Warm & Muted)

If your undertones are warm and your natural coloring is rich, earthy, and softly blended, these cozy tones are made for you.

• True Autumn: Deep rich cream, olive green, and dark chocolate are your best friends. For accents, nothing beats burnt orange, mustard yellow, and warm rust.
• Warm Autumn: Your foundation pieces should be warm camel, coffee brown, and deep bronze. Bring in pops of terracotta, warm teal, and rich pumpkin.
• Deep Autumn: Black-brown, deep olive, and dark navy give you that grounded look. Elevate it with accents of rich maroon, forest green, and deep gold.
• Muted Autumn: Soft khaki, warm taupe, and camel look completely effortless on you. Accent with soft olive, dusty terracotta, and a beautiful warm sage.

Autumn pieces at Mae include The Lumi Ribbed Button-Front Knit Tank in Eucalyptus, The Landry Leopard Print Shorts, and The Clara Polka Dot Midi Dress in Brown + White.

The Mae Difference

Because we are a community-led brand, we use a pre-order model. This means we aren't guessing what you'll love—we’re building it with you alongside our community. It takes a little longer to get to your doorstep, but it ensures we’re creating a wardrobe that’s intentional, not wasteful. Shopping within your color season means you buy fewer pieces that "almost" work, and more pieces that make you feel truly at home in your clothes.