Colour Confidence

Red is a colour long associated with confidence, a colour representing passion, energy and drive.  Melissa from Kettlewell reinforces the good news that we have been sharing with our clients for nearly 30 years.  We all suit red, the key is knowing which are your shades!  Wearing colours which suit you makes you appear more confident; knowing they suit you enables you to feel it; very useful if you need to:

• Present
• Meet new people (in domestic or business life)
• Cover your nerves on a new date
• Demonstrate you have the edge at a job interview
• Perform, especially in competitions
• Pitch for new business
• Walk on the beach in your bikini, swimming costume...or trunks!

As a mother there have been many times when I’ve needed that confidence boost – being pregnant stands out in my mind as a time when I didn’t feel particularly glamorous; interviews, appraisals, sales meetings, public events and first dates … are all up there!   Ignoring for now the impact that wearing the right style, fabrics, patterns and accessories has on how you look and feel; the first thing with colour is to understand a little of the science (cool/warm, soft/clear) which is clearly explained in your colour class.  

Understanding how the science of colour relates to your skin tone enables you to identify your best colours in your wardrobe or the shops and know what suits you so you can confidently keep, buy, pass-on or pass-by. 



The second stage, which you are introduced to in your Colour Confidence Class, is being able to put them together in interesting and creative combinations. Overcoming the fear of creating something garish, cheap or clashing… or indeed helping you achieve that, depending on your intention!  

 

 

I find it fascinating to see the way colours work on different style types (clothing personalities discovered in your Style Class) with the Dramatics and Gamines benefiting from quirky mixes, the Classics, generally more conservative, traditional, understated or toning blends and the Romantics relishing in creating  glamorous combinations while Naturals frequently migrate to 'natural' shades.

The wonderful thing about the seasonal analysis system is that it is simple enough to explain and flexible enough to cover the multitude of unique skin tones; as a result of its simplicity, selecting colours from one season maximises the chance of them working together.  

A useful trick is to use an accessory which incorporates the colours of your outfit; scarves or necklaces are excellent for this.  

Using patterns is another secret weapon.

I love that these crop trousers, genuine 50s designs, are until now unseen prints.  But more than this, very useful if your proportions and personality suggest you need more ‘attention’ on your lower half of your body, than your upper half. 

Kettlewell work really well with the seasonal system, fully embracing its versatility and confidently selecting a broad range of colours which genuinely ensures there’s a choice for you, whatever your colouring.  A real accomplishment for a clothing supplier most of whom, seem to come from an artistic/design perspective more than using science to inform the art.

I can still remember the days when I wouldn’t wear make-up or colour, preferring to stay ‘safe’ (invisible) with neutrals and the ‘natural’ look (no make-up, no effort!).  Knowing what suits me enables me to stay visible AND ‘safe’ by using the colours I know suit me – some I had an idea of but most were a revelation. 

With Mother’s Day coming up, what better present could you give your mother than the gift of colour confidence.  With free P&P on Gift vouchers in March you can give anything from colour analysis through colour confidence to make-up and shopping trips; they will all help her feel special and, if you already know her colours and what suits her, you’ll almost certainly find something you know she’ll love from the extensive Kettlewell range.