In “The Blind Side”, Sandra Bullock’s character tells her son she will not wear certain school colors because “it’s gaudy and not in my color wheel!” Did you wonder what she meant? What’s a color wheel, and how does it relate to clothes? Raigan Smith, owner of Rai of Color, is a color analyst and stylist who can answer.
While working as a Senior Stylist at Stitch Fix, Raigan began to hear about color analysis and color theory. She “pulled the trigger,” taking months of training to earn a certification in color analysis. Raigan says, “I was hooked! I started draping all the colors in my closet and labeled myself as a Winter.” She noticed, “I wore the same colors on date night, but only certain colors always made me feel good. I realized those were in the Winter palette.”
She wanted to help others learn what colors look best on them. In 2024, she opened a home studio named Rai of Color in part because her mom always said Raigan was a ray of sunshine. Since then, Raigan Smith has advised women, as well as TV personalities, pageant contestants, and professional cheerleaders. With a background in marketing, her experience at Stitch Fix, and a degree in business, it’s no wonder her studio grew quickly.
What is color analysis? What did Raigan mean when she said she’s a Winter? Color Analysis first became popular in the 1980s. Essentially, Color Analysis is the process of determining which colors complement your skin tone. Those colors are divided into seasons (like Raigan’s "Winter") and organized via a color wheel.
Raigan states a person’s season could contain roughly 250,000 colors! “We obviously can’t get all of those during a session, but we can see the harmony of about 40-60.” For example, consider the color of a red Solo cup. If you add yellow to that red, you bring that red now onto the warm side of a color wheel, where you get Spring and Autumn. However, if you add blue to that red, it will take you to Winters and Summers. Color Analysis has evolved over the last few decades to include even subseasons now.
Does it sound complicated? It’s a simple process. When you meet with Raigan, she immediately conceals your hair, removes any makeup and jewelry, and removes all distractions. She looks for skin undertone, the layer between the muscle and the top layer of skin. Skin color can vary (due to sun), but your undertone won’t change.
Raigan uses natural light to determine any shadows or sallowness in your color. When draping with color, she examines whether that color diminishes fine lines or wrinkles, or if it makes them worse. Raigan hypes, “The right color will be a natural facelift for you! It truly works wonders!”
After deciding on the warm or cool category, Raigan drapes with more fabric, taking into account your season and sub-season (soft and muted colors or clear and bright colors). Local Compass Real Estate Agent, Lynette Sandidge (Lynette.Sandidge@Compass.com), recently participated in a color analysis session.
Raigan saw that warm colors worked better on Lynette “right off the bat,” as did warm metals like gold. Raigan draped Lynette in Autumn and Spring colors, recognizing that spring’s bright and clear colors were best, and continued to find Lynette’s sub-season. Finally, Raigan added lipstick, blush and mascara, producing the “wow” colors. Raigan reiterates, “There is so much that goes into the analysis. The drapes that I put on my clients do not lie.”
Afterwards, Raigan gives you a brochure explaining your seasonal details, such as makeup, hair color, metals, and color combinations. It includes a swatch booklet featuring your power colors, as well as a digital color palette that you can save to your phone.
What are the benefits of having a color analysis? First, the obvious: it makes you look better and feel better. How many times has someone remarked on how good a color looks on you?
Second, your season never changes, even with age, as your skin’s undertone color endures. People spend money investing in their appearance, including Botox, eyelash enhancements, teeth whitening, and manicured nails. Treat yourself to something that will last a lifetime, making you look and feel younger.
Lastly, everything in the closet now goes together. This saves money by eliminating impulse buys and purchasing clothes that don’t suit you well. “Color Analysis is an investment that will stick with you. A majority of a wardrobe isn’t worn likely due to the wrong color. When you find the right color, you are more likely to wear those clothes. Everything in your closet will now go together,” she informs. Plus, you never grow tired of your specific color group, as the choices are abundant.
The number one question people ask Raigan is about the color, black. Her response, “I’ll never tell a person not to wear a color.” Instead, she says, “It’s my job to give you the tools and point them to a better option. I give them tools, not rules.” Often, people will find navy, charcoal, or dark browns look better on them than black. Black might age you and be too harsh.
Raigan Smith’s passion is helping others look their very best. She and her husband, along with their three children (a sophomore and twins in eighth grade), have lived in Celina since 2012. Like many people, the Smiths believe that Celina still retains its small-town feel, and it remains a family-oriented community. She feels blessed to have helped so many find their season, their ray of sunshine.
Call Raigan to book a session 405.708.3456
IG @rai_of_color