Foundations for Colour

Last week I wrote about wearing black and came to the resounding conclusion that YES, everyone can wear it   …but why would you want to if it doesn’t flatter you!

A world without colour is unthinkable for most of us, and yet, walking down the high street, there is always an abundance of black, a heavy spattering of beige and usually a reasonable quantity of white available.  This is because they’re neutral colours which ideally form the backdrop to a wardrobe – the trick is to choose from the selection of neutrals that sit harmoniously in your colour palette to provide a supportive backdrop.

Back in the 1940s when colour film emerged on the scene the significance and impact of colour came to the fore.  The previously elegant and sophisticated actors/actresses somehow didn’t have the same effect – colour was recognised as the difference and the world of image consulting was born. 

In a previous blog  I’ve shown the screen test images of Julia Roberts as they made their colour choices for the 1990 Film, Pretty Woman.  I regularly cite this film as an excellent example of how we can change the way people perceive us simply by looking at the way we present ourselves. 

Choosing colours and styles that flatter you and honour your personality is an incredibly powerful way to help people to ‘get’ you –  giving them an idea of who you are, what you stand for, your values and ideals – not directly from what you wear but because what you’re wearing and how you construct your outfit will support and reinforce your verbal messages or undermine and conflict with them.  I’ve also talked about how, when you honour who you are with what you wear, you make it easy for your listener to hear you.

Liz Jones’ summary in The Daily Mail last week gives a few amusing takes on using colour: ‘You can wear any colour next summer as long as it’s white’ reminding me of the announcement I heard many years ago about ‘the Thursday club meeting on Tuesday to discuss what colour they were going to whitewash the walls of the village hall!’

While travelling in Asia a few years ago it was clear that white was a status symbol because it demonstrated that you could afford to keep up with the cleaning and maintenance.   As Liz astutely points out: ‘White hair to match is not compulsory… but expect your cleaning bills to soar’.  I love the white jacket I bought last year but don’t wear it as often as I might had I the time, money and staff to cover my cleaning requirements, including a Nanny to keep the children and their sticky fingers away!

I don’t however, agree with Liz’s statement that ‘You will not be able to avoid sheer next Spring…’  a confirmed classic that will be no hardship for me!  As for purchasing big pants, well, that’s entirely up to you but visible underwear is a faddy look and never for anyone serious about their image.  In this world of Personal Branding to gain competitive advantage, every little helps – or hinders!  

One of the most famous sheer looks on the planet (right) will clearly never be repeated  for that very reason – a far classier way to employ sheer is with the use of lace in a wedding dress (left).

 

See-through clothing reminds me of the Emperor’s New Clothes. It's interesting how some images protect his modesty with underwear whilst other interpretations have assumed the outfit to include the underwear.  Coming back to 2014/15, for me it’s another good excuse for the fashion industry to produce poor quality and justify it.  One golden rule to follow, the lighter the colour of your clothes, the higher the quality needs to be. 

All wardrobes, regardless of your season, need a foundation of neutrals which form the backdrop to a variety of outfits.  Adding colours to neutrals enables the full impact of the colours to be seen, excluding neutrals can provide an onslaught of colours which at best distracts your audience, at worst, causes them to look in the other direction.

With the release of our latest colour report, highlighting the colour trends for the Autumn/Winter Season, I thought it would make an interesting journey to explore how colour affects our lives over the next few weeks – including neutrals. 

Spring/Summer 2014 Fashion Update

Elie Tahari

The House of Colour Fashion Update for Spring/Summer 2014 has just been launched and it is one of my highlights of the year. After completing my Colour and Personal Style classes, I feel confident on how to use this information, however I want to keep my look current, so the fashion update is a great way of adding contemporary trends to my wardrobe to update my style.

I don’t bother with fashion magazines anymore as they all tell you that everyone can wear all the trends, but if I try an asymmetric biker jacket with lots of zips and buckles, it wouldn’t suit my Romantic Classic style (not enough sparkles!)

That’s why I love the Fashion Update. It shows the on trend looks that will work for my Clothing Personality so eliminates the risk of buying into a trend that won’t work for me. I love looking through the fashion images and looks, and drawing inspiration from the different sections in the fashion update. I love the mood board page that includes visual images and key words for each look and the key details and accessories which provide great ideas to refresh my wardrobe. 

Skirt by Oasis

Tanya Taylor

Of course this doesn’t always mean going out shopping for a new look each time. When I get my copy, the first thing I do is a mini wardrobe review to see what I already have. One of the looks I can do this season is Carnival which is all about colourful prints and patterns and gorgeous fitted silhouettes to create a Rio vibe. Currently in my wardrobe I have this pencil skirt from Oasis that I purchased last year. The tropical print of this skirt will work perfectly for this trend and this season I will update it by teaming it with a bright Raspberry or Magenta top to add a bright colour, and an on trend statement necklace (sparkly of course) for my interpretation of the Carnival look.

When you get your copy of the fashion update, now available from your consultant, try looking through your wardrobe first before you hit the shops. If you have been following your colour and style advice, you may be surprised to find pieces you already own that will work with the new trends for this season to give you an instant style update.

A Colour Revelation

I’ve been working directly with colour for many years and love being surrounded by beautiful things.  Beauty for me is in the delicate and subtle, the harmonious and blending, the segue through the seasons and the balance between natural and manmade. 

 

Spring is on the way, the birds are singing, the daffodils are peaking through, the snowdrops are making an appearance, hellebores are showing up for their long lasting display and I’m planning a trip to the Winter Garden at Anglesey Abbey.

 

Seeing and experiencing something deliberately designed to lift and provide pleasure in what is considered a fallow season is inspiring.

I adopted many of their ideas for my front garden and in those brief moments of arriving or leaving the house, I’m greeted with sights and smells that lift my spirits and gently remind me that I’m alive, all is well and there is life in the winter!

 

Colour has a profound impact on us and yet we’re not always conscious of it nor any better informed on how to use it powerfully.  Colours affect your mood as much as your mood can affect the colour choices you make.  Wearing your right colours will make you appear healthy; clients observing and participating in a colour analysis frequently acknowledge that someone looks more confident!  Younger!  Slimmer! In their right colours.  I know I feel happier when surrounded by my colours, wearing them or viewing them and find it far more appealing to view people also wearing their best colours, regardless of whether I personally like them or not.  And it’s all a trick of the light!  So set about employing these tricks gainfully to support you in pursuit of your goals.   If you apply for our free Colour Guide, researched and compiled from the world of fashion, you'll find this season’s colour trends laid out in the context of your season. Next week Harpreet will be introducing the new trend looks for Spring/Summer 2014.

My first foray into this world of influencing those around me with the colours I wore was totally innocent and over 15 years ago; I wasn’t feeling great but had some important work to do.  I deliberately choose a great colour (on me) with the intention of keeping my head down and avoiding conscientious concerned comments; ‘are you ok [you don’t look it!]?’ what I experienced and hadn’t expected, were positive comments, such as ‘you look well’ resulting in my feeling empowered – a revelation! 

Wearing Colour Trends

When I had my colours analysed 3 years ago, I left the session both excited and with renewed confidence having discovered the palette of colours that suited my natural complexion. Click here for more information about the colour analysis process

I certainly enjoyed shopping for my ‘star’ colours and wearing my new wardrobe for a while but what do to, six months or a year after I’d first had my colours analysed, when I wanted to update my wardrobe?  There are only so many damson or royal blue pieces I can wear!

I love fashion and looking current and on trend is important to me.  Each new fashion season sees a dominant colour palette take the title of the ‘must have’ trend colour and although I do feel slightly resentful when the ‘it’ colour is orange (I’m a Winter), we can all adapt certain colour trends to suit our season. 

This season it’s all about Pastels, featured everywhere in fashion publications.  It’s all about introducing pretty pastels such as peachy rose tones, soft forget-me-not blues and baby pinks, even leafy greens and pale lemon yellow, which are all key for this season’s more feminine looks.

At first I  was sure this would be another colour trend I couldn’t invest in as I need cool, bright colours to create contrast, however when I looked through my colour wallet I realised I could do it as long as I remembered my ‘rules’ for wearing colour. I would recommend that you consult your wallet each season to see how to make the ‘on trend’ colour work for you, ensuring your wardrobe stays current and on trend.

It’s easy for all seasons to update their look with a few pastel shades. Here are a few suggestions for each season:

 

Winters – Look out for Ice Aqua and Ice Blue. Team with a strong neutral such as black or navy to give you the contrast you need.

Springs – Mint Green looks amazing this season, team with a brighter colour such as Geranium Red to ensure your vibrancy.

Autumns – Look out for lemon yellows for extra zing. Textured finishes such as lace or brushed wools will ensure you are bang on trend.

Summers –Look out for this season’s key colour trend, Dusty Pink, especially in outerwear and a lot of other soft, muted tones such as Powder Blue will work well for you, especially when worn together.

Generally, look out for Winter Pastels in soft tailoring, knitwear, especially with brushed or textured finishes, and outerwear. 

Find out what colours work for your season with our free Autumn/Winter 2013-14 colour guide