Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts

Friday, 21 March 2014

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.

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Christmas gifts for all colours, shapes and sizes!

If your loved ones are stuck for Christmas gift ideas try dropping a few subtle (or maybe not so subtle!) hints about the beautiful range of jewellery and scarves available from House of Colour.

I get cold in the winter and love my scarves but I also tend to wear relatively plain tops which I love accessorising to add interest and style.  So it’s very exciting that we’ve discovered some beautiful new products that make great presents.   Rings, bracelets, necklaces and scarves – covering a lot of bases - read on!

I don’t have a lot of red but when I’m wearing an outfit with red in it I often want red accessories and so on. How many times have you created an outfit from your wardrobe and wished that you could tweak your accessories just a little to match/complement/contrast it better? 

Enter MelanO, a Dutch brand of contemporary jewellery offering a wide range of interchangeable coloured stones on either white (cool) or yellow (warm) metal, beautifully designed and engineered to a high standard with a sophisticated finish.  At House of Colour we have chosen to supply the versatile ‘twisted’ range of rings and bangles.



I love them; I can wear a combination of rings and colours to suit my outfit.  Every stone is interchangeable, giving each finished piece a unique character created by the wearer and the opportunity to dress an outfit up or down depending on the event.  The same stones fit the rings and bangles, making this your perfect mix and match range.

The cool jewellery, suitable for Winters and Summers, is offered in high quality stainless steel while the warm pieces, suitable for Autumns and Springs are plated in rose gold.  If you’re lucky enough to be a Blue Spring who wears mixed metals, this is a perfect solution!
Rings are available in a wide range of sizes; bangles come in small, medium or large; stones are either small or large; all stones fit both rings and bangles.  Choose from Cubic Zirconia (sparkly, faceted, flat topped) or semi-precious (domed, smooth stones) mounted in the appropriate metal for your season, creating a wide variety of combinations; all stones can be ordered in either metal or size.  What more could you ask? …

…There’s also a range of side rings, which fit alongside the twisted rings offering even more interchangeable combinations.  Rings can be worn singly, choosing your stone to co-ordinate with a particular outfit, or 2, 3 or 4 deep combining stones and side rings to give texture and scale.   Tailor the combination to suit you because all the elements of your season and style can be reflected through colour, scale, density and texture.   

These are available through some consultants, please contact HQ to find your nearest consultant who carries this range.

On the Web shop we have a new partnership with House of Glass with some amazing and vibrant creations for pendants, earrings and cufflinks for the men!  Again, in a variety of sizes and colours to suit each season.  For specific advice regarding your season and style, contact your consultant. 


But these don’t keep you warm!  Scarves are one of THE essential accessories to any woman’s wardrobe adding colour and interest to your outfits all year round but particularly in the winter.  We have teamed up with an artist who hand paints an exclusive range of striking silk crépe de chine scarves, designed for us and in consultation with us, these are available in four colour ways, one for each season as an annual special edition; something you’ll always treasure:

  • Springs will love the splashy Aquamarine, Hyacinth, Corn, Mint or Cream
  • Summers enjoy a harmonising blend of Rose, Amethyst and Rose Madder that blends into soft Pink Beige.
  • Autumns will adore the rich depth of Kingfisher, Peacock, Lime or Rust. 
  • Winters will revel in strong Royal Blue,  Fuchsia, Damson with Silver contrasts.

Gifts can be tricky to get right so knowing your season and pointing your loved ones in the right direction means a colourful, accessorised and stress free Christmas for everyone!