Digital Social Hour, Episode #1639

Guest: Megan Bentley
Host: Sean Kelly
Title: How the Fashion Industry Uses Color to Manipulate You
Release Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging and eye-opening episode, Sean Kelly hosts color analyst Megan Bentley to dissect how the fashion industry leverages color psychology and color analysis to influence consumer behavior and personal identity. Megan reveals the myths perpetuated by designers and brands, how color truly works with individual features, and the transformative power of personalized palette analysis. The episode demystifies fashion industry practices, provides actionable advice for listeners, and highlights the environmental and psychological impact of clothing choices. The conversation remains insightful, candid, and occasionally humorous throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Big Lie: Color is Not Truly Inclusive (00:45, 06:14)

• Megan opens with a bold assertion: "The fashion industry is lying to you. They say that color is inclusive. Anybody can wear it, right? ... But it's visual manipulation, because unfortunately, color is not inclusive." (00:45, 06:14)
• She explains that while not everyone can wear the trendiest fit, everyone is sold the illusion that they can wear the 'it' color—a tactic used by the industry to drive sales via feelings rather than actual fit or individuality.
• Memorable moment: Megan illustrates this with the example of the "matcha green handbag," saying that buying into the color trends is a way people feel like they belong, yet it's just manipulation.

What is Color Analysis? (01:29, 01:42, 04:20)

• Sean discusses his own color analysis, discovering he's a "true winter," which, as Megan notes, means he "won the palette lottery" and can wear true black and true white (01:30).
• Megan explains that not everyone falls into the same seasonal categories and that color analysis is deeply personal, based on features and rooted in color science: "Color analysis is all rooted in the Munsell color wheel... undertone, value, intensity." (01:42)
• She emphasizes the role of hair and makeup: "Hair is the number one accessory. And then followed by your makeup. ... The most impactful thing you can do is get your hair tone in the right color for your palette." (04:20)

The Psychology and Impact of Color (05:08, 05:28, 05:43)

• Megan discusses how wearing the right color can change perception and confidence, especially at a professional level: "Level one dressing commands a woman to wear a red lipstick. ... Red is a powerful color, but it has to be the right red." (05:08, 05:29)
• She acknowledges the psychology of color in attractiveness but stresses personal resonance over universal rules: "Red is powerful. But for you, you might feel really powerful in your blues." (05:43)

The Myth of Black & Industry Manipulation (07:27, 08:20)

• Megan breaks down another major fashion myth: "87% of the population looks like garbage in black. ... We think it is chic, and we think it is slimming, and that is not at all the case." (07:27)
• The industry solution to surplus or unsold colors is simple but manipulative: "Anything that's left in the factory, they will dye black, push it back onto the shelves, and you've been programmed to buy it." (08:20)
• Solutions for formal events: For those who must wear black (like black-tie events), she suggests strategies such as showing more skin near the face, correct hair and makeup, and using jewelry or accessories to balance out an unflattering color (11:24).

The Lifecycle and Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion (13:11)

• Megan exposes the cyclical nature of color trends, forecasters, and how clothing waste is driven by disposability, not genuine personal style needs.
• "The annual disposal of clothing is 81 pounds." (13:11)
• She highlights the environmental, financial, and psychological toll of this system: "Fashion is not selling you confidence. They're selling you disposable waste." (13:17)

The History and Evolution of Color Analysis (13:39 – 14:38)

• Quick background on the evolution of color analysis, from the Munsell color system (1900s), to Johannes Itten’s student painting experiment (1920s), to Suzanne Cagill’s seasonal color approach (1950s), and the influential “Color Me Beautiful” book by Carol Jackson (1980s/90s).
• Modern color analysis is now highly individualized, breaking down seasonal categories even further for precise recommendations (14:38).

Actionable Image Tips and Debunking Color Myths (15:32, 16:07)

• Megan recommends matching shoe color to hair for visual 'bookending' and cohesion (15:32).
• She strongly encourages men to wear pink if it’s in their palette, dispelling any stigma: "A man in pink is right. Pink. Absolutely. You in a hot raspberry or an ice pink is going to be phenomenal. It's a real power color for men because it's really unexpected." (16:07)
• Everyone has a pink that works for them; it’s about finding the right one for your palette (16:38).

Strategic Value of Color for Professionals (16:39, 17:20)

• Executives, influencers, and athletes use color analysis as a strategic tool to project power, respect, and trust, not just as a matter of fashion.
• On first impressions: "That first impression is made in the first seven seconds. ... When we are doing Zoom calls ... that first impression happens in 1.7 seconds." (17:20)

The Future: Integration of Color Analysis in Retail (17:57, 19:13)

• Megan’s mission is to train hairstylists and makeup artists in undertone harmony for better client results and retention (17:57).
• She predicts and is actively working towards a future where consumers can shop by color season online. She cites Victoria Beckham’s new eyeliner, sorted by 16 seasons, as an example of market demand: "She's selling one every 30 seconds. The consumer is commanding it." (19:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The fashion industry is lying to you. ... They became very smart very quickly, recognizing that they couldn't always sell you fit, but they could sell you feel."
  — Megan Bentley, (00:45, 06:14)
• "87% of the population looks like garbage in black."
  — Megan Bentley (07:27)
• "Fashion is not selling you confidence. They're selling you disposable waste."
  — Megan Bentley (13:17)
• "The annual disposal of clothing is 81 pounds."
  — Megan Bentley (13:11)
• "A man in pink is right. ... It's a real power color for men because it's really unexpected."
  — Megan Bentley (16:07)
• "That first impression is made in the first seven seconds. ... On Zoom, that first impression happens in 1.7 seconds."
  — Megan Bentley (17:20)
• "The consumer is commanding it."
  — Megan Bentley, on seasonal shopping filters (19:13)

Key Timestamps for Reference

• 00:45: Megan introduces industry lies about color
• 01:29: Sean’s color analysis—“You're a winter”
• 04:20: Impact of makeup and hair color
• 07:27: The black clothing myth and its profitability
• 13:11–13:17: Environmental consequence—81 lbs of clothing trashed annually
• 13:39–14:38: Brief history of color analysis science
• 16:07–16:38: Power of pink for men and breaking gender color taboos
• 17:20: Importance of color for first impressions, especially on Zoom
• 19:13: Victoria Beckham and the rise of consumer-driven color shopping

Conclusion

Megan Bentley masterfully exposes the ways the fashion industry manipulates consumer perception through color and presents color analysis as a tool for reclaiming authenticity and confidence—not to mention sparing the environment. With practical strategies, rich personal anecdotes, and sharp industry critiques, this episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand how to use color as an asset, not a marketing trick.

For more on Megan's work or to book a color reading, see the episode links.