Podcast Summary: The Everyday Style School

Episode Title: Beyond Undertones: Color Theory Made Simple
Host: Jennifer Mackey Mary
Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jennifer Mackey Mary breaks down the basics of color theory as it applies to personal style. Rather than focusing only on finding “your colors,” Jennifer unpacks the three essential elements of color—temperature, value, and saturation—and explains how they affect both your appearance and your ability to build cohesive, stylish outfits. The episode aims to empower listeners to move beyond generic advice and use color purposefully in their wardrobes, making color choices both easier and more personalized.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Color Choices Matter

• Different shades of the same color can have drastically different effects on your appearance.
• Most people focus on undertones but neglect value and saturation, which can lead to style ruts (e.g. always pairing black pants with a colorful top).

Quote:
“Have you ever noticed that one shade of yellow can make you look absolutely amazing while another makes you look exhausted? … It all comes down to three elements of color.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [00:00]

2. The Three Elements of Color (07:50 – 24:15)

2.1 Temperature (Undertone)

• Every color is either warm, cool, or neutral (in undertone, not in wardrobe-typical “neutrals”).
• Warm: Red undertones.
  Cool: Blue undertones.
  Neutral: Balanced mix (e.g. purple made with equal blue and red).
• Mistakes:
  • Writing off entire color families because one shade doesn’t work.
  • Focusing only on skin undertones, not including hair and eye color.
  • Believing undertone is the only thing that matters.

Quote:
“There are warmer yellows and cooler yellows. Warm pinks, cool pinks, warm browns, and cool browns.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [13:15]

2.2 Value (15:35)

• Refers to how light or dark a color is.
• High value: Light, pastels.
  Medium value: Mid-tones (the “8 crayon” classic colors).
  Low value: Darks like navy, burgundy, plum.
• Easy to experiment—try holding different colored tops up to your face.

Quote:
"Navy is one of my best colors, but not every navy... I need to stay on the lighter side of it." —Jennifer Mackey Mary [18:35]

2.3 Saturation (Intensity/Chroma) (19:25)

• Bright/clear vs. muted/dusty.
• Changed by adding gray (not black or white, which changes value).
• Jennifer argues this is the most game-changing—and most neglected—element.

Quote:
“One of our Style Circle members described muted colors this way… ‘I look best in colors that look like they have a little dirt rubbed in them,’ which I think is just hilarious, but it’s also totally accurate.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [21:55]

3. Common Mistakes & Mindset Issues (12:45 – 24:45)

• Focusing on skin undertone to the exclusion of hair or eyes.
• Thinking color analysis is always black and white (“I can’t wear yellow!”).
• Believing only undertone matters.
• Not experimenting with variations in value and saturation.

4. How to Find Your Best Colors (24:30 – 26:30)

• All three elements must align: temperature, value, and saturation.
• If a color doesn’t work, ask which element feels “off.”
• There is a spectrum. Most people, and most colors, fall in the “in-between” rather than being clearly defined.

5. Using Color in Your Outfits / Color Pairing Formulas (26:30 – 39:10)

Common Mistake:
Not combining colors—defaulting to neutral + color and never color + color.

Four Color Formulas (ordered by simplicity):

1. Neutral + Color ([27:00])

   • Easiest entry point.
   • Experiment with wearing colored bottoms for more options.

2. Monochromatic ([28:40])

   • Same color or shades of the same color.
   • Can use sets or shop online for multiple pieces in the same tone.

3. Analogous ([30:15])

   • Colors next to each other on the color wheel (e.g. blue and green).
   • Use a picture of a color wheel as a guide.

4. Complementary ([31:45])

   • Colors opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g. purple/yellow).
   • High impact—best if one color dominates and the other is an accent.

Quote:
“Complementary colors are meant to be bold. Think of all the sports teams or logos that use this formula… they’re meant to stand out.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [32:10]

6. How the Three Elements Create Cohesion in Outfits (33:35 – 39:10)

Temperature

• You can mix warm and cool if you keep cohesion with another element or use one dominantly.
• 50/50 splits can look stark; dominant + accent is often more balanced.

Value (Contrast)

• Outfits can have high, medium, or low contrast.
• Choose contrast levels based on your natural coloring (e.g. lighter features = lower contrast looks better).
• Matching your outfit’s contrast to your own can create a “style magic” where outfits look super polished.

Quote:
“There is a style magic that happens when you do [match contrast]. Pay attention to women who look just like chic and polished… see if their outfit contrast matches their natural contrast.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [37:25]

Saturation

• Pairing clear with clear, and muted with muted, creates harmony.
• But mixing saturations can add balance—just keep another element cohesive.

7. Key Takeaways & Final Encouragement (39:10 – 42:26)

• Look at all three elements when picking what to wear and how to pair colors.
• If something doesn’t look right, ask: is it the temperature, value, or saturation?
• Outfits work best when there is at least one element unifying the colors.
• Matching your elements is not a “rule” but creates more visually pleasing, intentional style.
• Practice and observation are the key to getting good with color.

Quote:
“I really hope that this episode encourages you to think about color beyond just what should you wear near your face, and instead use it to create cohesive, interesting outfits that make you look and feel fantastic.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [42:05]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “When you have the answers to the test and you know how you got there, it all comes together in a way that makes it simple for life.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [02:20]
• “Don't write a color family off completely… If seeing the undertones is difficult, start with saturation, then look at value, and finally at temperature.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [23:55]
• “There are obviously a whole lot more we could say about color… just understanding these three elements… is the groundwork for feeling more confident.” —Jennifer Mackey Mary [41:10]

Action Steps / Homework (41:38 – end)

1. Observation:
   Start looking for warm vs. cool, high vs. low contrast, and bright vs. muted in outfits—online or on TV.
2. Experiment:
   Try pairing two non-neutral colors in an outfit this week, even if in small ways (scarf, shoes, etc.).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00: Introduction & why color matters in style
• 07:50: The three elements of color explained
• 12:45: Common mistakes with undertone/temperature
• 18:35: Real-life example of value in navy shades
• 19:25: Importance of saturation and personal anecdotes
• 26:30: Why people avoid color pairing; color formulas introduced
• 27:00: Four color pairing formulas
• 33:35: How to combine colors with three elements
• 37:25: “Style magic” of matching outfit contrast to personal contrast
• 41:10: Episode summary, takeaways, and encouragement
• 41:38: Homework/challenge for listeners

Summary

This episode demystifies color theory for everyday style, focusing on practical, empowering strategies rather than rigid rules. Jennifer makes color approachable by urging listeners to experiment, observe, and use the three elements—temperature, value, and saturation—as simple, effective tools for creating more interesting, flattering outfits. Her relaxed, encouraging tone is peppered with memorable analogies, personal anecdotes, and direct challenges to move listeners out of color “ruts” and into more expressive, confidence-boosting style.