Chapter 29: Letting Imposter Syndrome Do the Voiceover.
Welcome to the twenty ninth 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 e on camera & you must purchase a wallet (100-$110) value in order to partake in this deal.
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: Letting Imposter Syndrome Do the Voiceover.
There are days when I wake up already narrating my own life in the wrong voice.
It’s not mine.
It’s sharper. Louder. More confident than it deserves to be.
You’re behind.
They’re going to figure you out.
Who do you think you are doing this?
That’s imposter syndrome doing the voiceover.
It’s wild how easily we hand it the microphone. We don’t even audition it. One doubtful thought slips in, and suddenly it’s narrating the whole story—our work, our worth, our future—like it has IMDb credits.
The thing about imposter syndrome is that it sounds responsible. Practical. Protective, even. It disguises itself as realism. It says it’s just keeping you humble, keeping you sharp, keeping you from embarrassment. But what it’s really doing is rewriting the script in real time, cutting scenes where you succeed and zooming in on every flaw like it’s a plot twist.
And we let it.
We let it narrate the moments that actually matter:
When we hit “publish” and immediately cringe.
When we walk into rooms we worked hard to enter and feel like we snuck in through a side door.
When praise lands, and we mentally slide it back across the table like it was meant for someone else.
Imposter syndrome loves a voiceover because it never has to prove anything. It just talks over you. Over your evidence. Over your growth. Over the fact that you’re still here, still showing up, still learning out loud.
Here’s the quiet truth it never mentions:
If you were truly an imposter, you wouldn’t care this much.
Real frauds don’t lose sleep over getting it right. They don’t question their impact or worry about doing harm. The doubt itself is often proof of sincerity, not incompetence. But imposter syndrome edits that part out. It keeps the dramatic music and deletes the context.
So what happens if you don’t fire it—but you stop letting it narrate?
What if imposter syndrome becomes background noise instead of the main track? What if it sits in the back row with a clipboard while you speak in your own voice? The voice that says: I’m allowed to be new at this. I’m allowed to be seen before I feel ready. I can learn without disappearing.
Because the goal isn’t to silence imposter syndrome forever. That’s unrealistic. The goal is to stop mistaking its commentary for truth.
You don’t need a perfect voiceover to live a meaningful story. You just need to recognize when the narrator isn’t you—and gently take the mic back.
This week, if you catch that familiar voice creeping in, don’t argue with it. Don’t obey it either. Just notice it. Then keep going anyway.
That might be the most honest narration of all.
💖 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 switching things up and diving into what I love—and what I definitely don’t—about the holiday season as we step into the New Year with clarity, calm, and a little main-character energy. I’m also trying a new format: short, honest paragraphs on why certain things make the cut… or get cut entirely. Let me know if you’re into this switch-up (or not 👀).
Swatch This
I love the holiday season—not just because I’m a true winter, but because of the feeling it brings. The spirit of giving is everywhere, the lights feel brighter, everything sparkles and twinkles a little more, and fashion gets to be playful, bold, and extra again. Retail feels alive in a way that reminds me why I fell in love with it in the first place. From window displays, energy, creativity, people actually out shopping and experiencing things. It’s the same reason my birthday season hits so hard: it all just makes me feel something inside, and I’ll always chase that kind of magic. ✨
Scratch That
What I hate most about the holiday season is the pressure to spend—to go into debt or buy into a new “theme” every single year just to feel like you’re doing it right. Somewhere along the way, a cozy holiday turned into a Ralph Lauren Christmas checklist, and suddenly it feels like if your decor, outfits, or tablescape don’t match an aesthetic, you’re behind. The magic gets lost when it turns into comparison instead of connection, and that’s one trend I’m happily opting out of.
🎨 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 still in effect.
💌 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
