Chapter 28: Future You as Your Creative Director
Welcome to the twenty eighth edition of Behind The Drapes, your exclusive, all-access pass to everything going on behind the scenes at My Authentic Colors. This isn’t just about fashion; it’s about uncovering who you are and expressing that with confidence and joy. Whether you're a longtime color enthusiast or just beginning your style journey, I’m so glad you’re here.
🏡 Studio Updates
New Sponsor for Miss Fall River & Miss Bristol County.
I have always been a believer in the pageant industry. In fact, when creating my business plan a year ago, the Miss Massachusetts organization was in my top 5 organizations to partner with. I currently Sponsor Miss New Bedford/Teen, Miss Southeastern Massachusetts/Teen, & Miss Somerset/Teen. So I’m excited to announce that I am a NEW Sponsor for the Miss Fall River/Teen and Miss Bristol County/Teen. Maybe I’ll grow even more and get more involved in the Miss Massachusetts or Miss America Organization.
YWCA Partnership
We are also a partner with the YWCA! We offer 10% discounts to all YWCA Members!
Gift Cards Now Available
1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas with My Authentic Colors.
Starting 12/12, I’m celebrating my favorite time of year with the 1st Annual 12 Days of Christmas. Each day reveals a special one-day-only gift, designed to bring a little sparkle, delight, and wonder to your holiday countdown. Here’s the breakdown:
Introducing our Partnership Program: We are partnering with some of our Small Business Owner clients to offer up some amazing offers for all of our clients. (More details coming soon) + 12% off ANY Package.
$67 (yes… get your 6 7 jokes out now) MINI Color Analysis Sessions. We’ve NEVER offered a Mini Color Analysis Session this low and will never do it again and lasts one day. Swatch Wallets are NOT included
Write us a Google Review and receive 10% off the Align Your Style Package.
“Wear Your Authentic Colors” Challenge - Take a selfie in your palette, tag us so we can see it and recieve 50 dollars off any service. **Must be redeemed within 3 days**
25% off the Curated Masterpiece Style Package
30 dollars off a FULL Color Analysis
Virtual Color Analysis for $197.00
30% off My Authentic Closet.
Book a Color Analysis Party with My Authentic Colors and recieve a special limited edition gift as the host! You must pay everything in FULL in order to recieve the limited edition gift
Book a Mini Color Analysis and get the swatch wallet for 90 dollars (no matter if you’re a true or flow palette) Must Purchase a Mini Consultation that day in order to recieve a discounted wallet
$199 FULL Color Analysis Consultations
FREE Mini Color Analysis…YES, that day you book a MINI session, it’s 0.00. **You must be willing to be on camera & you must purchase a wallet (100-$110) value.
Signature Style Packages
Thoughtfully designed to help you align your style with your truest self. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or ready for a complete transformation, there’s a package created just for you:
🔹 POP UP Color Analysis – $130
A quick dive into the hues that highlight your natural beauty.
🔹 MINI Color Analysis – $187
A quick and powerful session to uncover your most flattering shades.
🔹 FULL Color Analysis - My Authentic Colors – $397
A full color analysis experience to help you wear your hues with confidence.
🔹 Align My Style – $750
A combination of color and body shape analysis to help you dress in alignment with your natural beauty.
🔹 Curated Masterpiece – $2500
Includes color and body shape analysis + a full wardrobe audit to elevate what’s already in your closet.
🔹 My Authentic Closet – $5700
The full transformation: color, body shape, wardrobe audit, personal shopping, and a full wardrobe remix.
Important Update on Swatch Wallets & Pricing
I wanted to keep you in the loop and be open & honest. Due to recent tariff changes affecting imported materials, the cost of ordering the swatch wallets has increased. I have tried my absolute hardest to keep pricing as afforadable as possible but with the tariffs, shipping costs, and rise in costs for myself to purchase the wallets, I have had to make a tough business decision to raise the prices of the wallets. As a result, there will be a price adjustment starting 10/27.
Swatch Wallets: $100-110
These packages are more than services, they’re a gateway to confidence, clarity, and authenticity in how you show up every day. If you’ve already receieved a Color Analysis with me, the price will be reduced.
✨ New Travel Policy – Effective September 1st ✨
Beginning September 1st, all private house parties booked with My Authentic Colors will include a travel fee.
🔹 Mileage will be billed at $0.70 per mile (round trip).
🔹 A set travel fee will also apply based on the distance from the My Authentic Colors office to the event location
• 30 minutes or less → $50 travel fee + mileage
• 30–60 minutes → $100 travel fee + mileage
• 1–3 hours → $200 travel fee + mileage
• 3+ hours → $350 travel fee + mileage
⚠️ Please note: All travel fees must be paid in full before our arrival to confirm your event.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to bringing the full My Authentic Colors experience directly to you!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us in our DM’s or email info@myauthenticcolors.com
We’ve launched our Instagram Broadcast Channel! 🎉
Get exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first looks—straight from us to your inbox. Don’t miss a thing—join the channel now and stay in the loop! 🔗📲 www.instagram.com/my_authentic_colors
Did you know that I was a guest on the Wake Up New Bedford Podcast? I talk about my journey from being a fitness professional to talking about how I started the journey as a Color Analyst. My episode is broken into two parts and you can watch and listen to them down below.
📅 Upcoming Events
We are taking a pause on our event calendar! Stay tuned for updates.
Today’s Topic: Future You becomes your Creative Director.
When you think about the most self-assured, fully expressed version of yourself, how do they show up? What colors energize them? What silhouettes feel like an extension of their personality? What presence do they bring into a room? The most powerful style choices are made with tomorrow in mind. That’s why this week’s theme is an invitation to let Future You become your Creative Director.
Why Future You Is the Best Decision-Maker
Present You is human—busy, distracted, influenced by trends, sales, and social pressure. Present You often chooses clothing from convenience or habit. Future You, on the other hand, already knows what works.
They’re confident.
They’re aligned.
They make intentional choices instead of reactive ones.
Future You invests in pieces that feel authentic, expressive, and supportive for your lifestyle.
Color Analysis: The First Directive from Future You
One of the most empowering, future-aligned decisions you can make is discovering your authentic colors that truly bring you to life. Color Analysis isn’t about rules or restricting your expression, it’s about giving your Creative Director a clear palette to work with that naturally harmonize with your energy and presence.
When you start dressing through the lens of Future You, new questions emerge:
Does this color elevate my energy?
Do I feel more like myself when I wear this shade?
Is this a choice my Future Self would confidently stand behind?
Suddenly the overwhelm of shopping fades and you begin curating a wardrobe that supports your evolution instead of fighting against it.
Personal Styling: Translating Vision Into Everyday Expression
Once your colors are defined, styling becomes the strategy that brings Future You into your present life.
Think of it as a creative workflow:
Color Analysis sets the vision
Styling creates the direction
Your wardrobe becomes the final expression
In my work with clients of all genders and identities, I always begin with the same question: “How does your Future Self dress?”
When you build a wardrobe from that perspective, everything becomes clearer: the shapes you feel strongest in, the textures that feel like home, the details that communicate who you are before you even speak.
A Simple Exercise for This Week
Here’s a grounding way to connect with your Future Self:
Close your eyes and imagine Future You stepping into a familiar space.
Notice the colors. Are they deep, light, bright, warm, cool, or muted?
Notice the overall aesthetic. Is it structured, fluid, minimalistic, bold, artistic, relaxed?
Capture three words that describe their style.
Make one practical choice this week that aligns with those three words.
This small shift builds long-term clarity.
Your style is not about trends, gender norms, or expectations.
It’s about alignment.
It’s about expression.
It’s about showing up in a way that feels true.
Until next time,
Mac
💖 Swatch This/Scratch That
Your weekly scroll through the glossy, the gaudy, and everything in between. I’m serving a mood board of what’s in… and what’s getting cut out. Let’s go! This week, I’m serving a mood board of what’s in… and what’s getting cut as we step into the New Year with clarity, calm, and a little main-character energy.
Swatch This:
Moodboarding Your Mornings
Not waking up to chaos — but curating an opening scene that sets the tone. Future You loves a soft start: a stretch, a sip, a moment to breathe before the world comes in.
Editing Your Energy Leaks
Instead of powering through everything, identify what drains you. Future You trims the excess — obligations with no payoff, tasks that don’t serve the plot, people who aren’t supporting the arc.
Casting Intentional Characters
Surround yourself with people who match the energy of the life you’re building. Collaborative, encouraging, expansive. Future You doesn’t do misaligned cameos.
Prototype Days
Not trying to perfect your routine — but testing small versions of the life you want. Try one habit, one new boundary, one upgraded choice. Think “rough cut,” not “final edit.”
Your Inbox as a Vision Board
Say yes to messages, opportunities, and conversations that align with your future, and quietly archive the rest. Future You is curating a narrative, not clutter.
Scratch That:
The Chaos Director Era
Letting past-you run the show with outdated expectations, old habits, and autopilot decisions. The new creative direction? Intentionality.
Over-Plotting Your Week
Packing your calendar like you’re filming an action blockbuster. Future You prefers a balanced script with breathing room and character development.
Letting Imposter Syndrome Do the Voiceover
That internal critic claiming you’re not ready yet? Cut the mic. Future You knows growth happens in motion, not perfection.
Hustle-Mode Cameos
Forcing productivity for the sake of looking “on it.” If it doesn’t fit the vision, it doesn’t make the cut. Presence > performance.
Waiting for the Perfect Script
You don’t need the perfect plan, mood, or timing. Future You approves messy drafts. Start where you are — you can revise as you go.
🎨 The Color Connection
Formerly a general guide on color theory and branding, this section now dives deeper into specific brands and how their products align with seasonal color analysis. Whether you're a True Autumn or a Cool Summer, I’ll help you discover the clothing, makeup, and accessories that work with your season, not against it.
From curated brand breakdowns to seasonal must-haves, think of this as your personalized style compass—no guesswork, just great finds.
You’ll also be able to shop everything directly through my ShopMy Storefront. Let’s make color work for you.
A quick note before we get started: This guide is based solely on what’s available through the brand’s website and my personal understanding of seasonal color theory. Keep in mind that product photos can be edited and may not always reflect the true color in person. For the most accurate match, always refer back to your swatch wallet when making final decisions.
You may also notice that some seasons receive more attention than others, or that only neutrals were available for certain palettes in the ShopMy Storefront. This simply reflects the brand’s current offerings—not an intentional omission on my part.
With all that said, let’s jump into our featured brand of the week:
Dorothy Zudora
Celebrated for its luxe fabrics, impeccable tailoring, and bold, art-forward prints, Dorothy Zudora has become a go-to for those who want their wardrobe to feel both expressive and effortlessly elevated. But with so many striking colors and patterns, it’s easy to fall for pieces that almost suit your natural tones—or miss the mark entirely. That’s where this guide steps in.
I’m breaking down which Dorothy Zudora styles and color stories work best for each of the 16 seasonal palettes. Whether you’re a Soft Summer seeking cool, misty hues and understated elegance, or a Bright Winter craving high-contrast designs in crisp, saturated shades, this is your shortcut to choosing garments that enhance your unique undertone.
I’m spotlighting a few standout picks for every season here, but you’ll find even more carefully curated Dorothy Zudora recommendations on my ShopMy Storefront.
Let’s bring color harmony to your wardrobe—whether you’re dressing for a photoshoot, leveling up your work-from-home look, or simply playing with fashion for the joy of it. ✨
SPRING – Fresh, Radiant, Uplifting
🍁 AUTUMN – Rich, Earthy, Grounded
🌊 SUMMER – Cool, Calm, Romantic
❄️ WINTER – Bold, Crisp, Dynamic
☀️ WARM – Radiant, Rich, Inviting.
🌊 COOL – Elegant, Fresh, Refined.
🌑 DEEP – Intense, Powerful, Grounded
☁️ LIGHT – Airy, Delicate, Soft
⚡ BRIGHT – Vivid, Energetic, Playful
🌫️ MUTED – Subtle, Calm, Understated
Not Much on the website at this time for you all!
💸 Discount of the Week
No discount this week, 12 days of christmas is coming!
💌 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Thanks for spending time Behind The Drapes. I’ve got so much more in store, and I want your input! Do you have a burning-style question? A favorite color combo? A topic you’d love me to cover next? Email me your ideas at info@myauthenticcolors.com—I’m all ears (and full spectrum lighting).
If you haven’t followed me on Instagram yet, this is where I hang out the most! I’m pretty cool on there if I say so myself.
Until next time, keep shining in your authentic colors. 🌈
With color and care,
Mac Carvalho
CEO, My Authentic Colors
