Sugar Beet Studios

This is one category where I don’t recommend choosing based on your palette alone.

I spend a lot of time helping people find colors that make them shine.

But when it comes to swimwear, I have one recommendation that has nothing to do with seasonal color analysis:

Choose visibility over perfection.

Bright oranges, yellows, pinks, and neon greens are generally much easier to spot in the water than blues, grays, black, or white.

So if you’re shopping for yourself, your kids, or your grandkids this summer, consider choosing a swimsuit that’s easier to see.

Will it always be your “best” color?

Maybe not.

Will I still recommend it?

Absolutely.

Because color analysis is about helping you look and feel your best.

Water safety is about helping you get home safely.

And between the two, safety wins every time. 💛

Two years ago today, I retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service.

I thought I knew what came next.

At the time, I assumed I’d find another traditional career path. Something familiar. Something that made sense on paper.

But there was a quieter idea that kept showing up.

Color.

Style.

Confidence.

Helping people see themselves differently.

At first, it felt like a side interest. Then something I couldn’t stop learning about. Then something I could no longer ignore.

The more I learned, the harder it became to ignore.

What started as curiosity became training, certifications, a home studio, community events, speaking opportunities, incredible clients, and ultimately Sugar Beet Studios.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t starting over.

I was building a chapter I couldn’t see yet.

If the last two years have taught me anything, it’s that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin.

Sometimes you just need to be willing to take the next step.

Here’s to unexpected paths, new chapters, and having the courage to follow your gut. 💛

I think we’ve confused beauty with correction.

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that beauty means fixing ourselves.

Straighten the curls.
Curl the straight hair.
Hide the gray.
Shrink the body.
Change the face.

And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with changing your appearance because it brings you joy, I think there’s a difference between choice and correction.

I never want someone to believe their natural features are a problem to solve.

Your curls are not a problem.
Your freckles are not a problem.
Your height is not a problem.
Your body is not a problem.
Your coloring is not a problem.

The goal isn’t to become someone else. The goal is to understand yourself well enough to work with what you already have.

That’s one of the reasons I love color analysis. Not because it changes people, but because it often gives them permission to stop fighting themselves.

Honor doesn’t mean you love every part of yourself every day.

Honor means you’re not at war with yourself.

You can honor your curls and still straighten them.
You can honor your age and still color your gray.
You can honor your body and still pursue health goals.
You can honor your coloring and still wear black.

Beauty isn’t found in constantly fighting ourselves.

It’s found in understanding ourselves.

Change things because it brings you joy.
Experiment because it makes you happy.
Express yourself however you choose.

But don’t ever believe you owe the world a corrected version of yourself. 💛

Mother of the bride. Mother of the groom.

What started with a wedding brought these two women together, and I had the privilege of spending time helping each of them discover their best colors.

One found her home in True Summer’s gentle coolness. The other lit up in the warmth and brightness of True Spring.

Their palettes couldn’t be more different, but their friendship was the sweetest reminder that beauty was never meant to look the same on everyone.

The goal isn’t matching each other.

The goal is becoming more fully yourself. ✨

“Soft Autumn” has somehow become the internet’s default answer for anyone with medium contrast and brown hair… but true softness is actually pretty nuanced.

This beautiful client is the real thing: soft, neutral-warm, and beautifully blended. Nothing about her coloring fights for attention. Instead, everything works together in this calm, grounded harmony that absolutely came alive in these softened earthy tones.

Soft Autumn isn’t dull.
It isn’t “safe.”
And it definitely isn’t just “brown.”

It’s sage, smoky teal, softened berry, eucalyptus, weathered rose, moss, driftwood, and stormy warmth. It’s subtle in the most beautiful way. 🤎🍂

When someone is truly soft, forcing brightness or sharp contrast onto them can overwhelm their natural beauty fast. Harmony matters.

Black isn’t part of my color palette… but greens and golds are. ✨

So instead of forcing myself into a head-to-toe palette, I use warmth, light, texture, and strategic color placement to keep harmony near my face while still wearing pieces I enjoy.

This was never about rules.
It was always about alignment.

We only have a couple spots left, don’t miss out on your fun learning opportunity. Book your spot today!

Color was never the end of the story.

I recently completed the Universal Style course with Alyce Parsons, and it’s expanding everything I thought I knew about personal style.

I’m not opening style services just yet. I’m taking the time to build them with intention.

Because knowing your colors is powerful…
but knowing how to use them in your real life? That’s the next level.

And this experience? Made even better by the incredible people I got to learn alongside. So grateful for the conversations, the perspective, and the shared passion for helping others feel seen.

This is just the beginning. ✨