A Wardrobe Full of Clothes and Nothing to Wear?

Years ago, training in Colour Analysis was just something for me to do in passing whilst working out what I was going to do with my life after walking out on my job in the City.  It was nevertheless incredibly valuable and I've helped lots of friends and family save a shed load of money and to be able to always look their best when they really want to.

I'm not selling anything - just thought it would be fun.

Not only has it saved me a fortune too, it has taken away a great deal of anxiety and frustration that a lot of us suffer when trying to make the most of our appearance without the know-how and confidence that is gleaned by using its easy formula.  By far the biggest benefit has been the stacks of time I have not wasted on decision making when shopping.

We won't necessarily stop impulse purchases (especially at that vulnerable time of the month!), but we will stop making rash mistakes.

Based on a scientific theory used by artists and designers for hundreds of years, it's all about the skin undertone.  This isn't the colour you see when you look in a mirror, as you can't see it until you put another colour against it - which will either clash or enhance your whole appearance.

Nature gave us hair, eyes and skin that harmonise totally.  There are only four colours of skin undertones in the whole world, so they're simple to identify and then it's a case of analysing which tones compliment or clash.  We can all wear all colours - it's the tone that matters.  

We spend a lot of time poring over brochures to get the shades exactly right to pull a whole room together - so let's work out how to do it for ourselves.

The wrong colours will make your hair and eyes go dull.  Shadows (and who doesn't have any of those once they're a mum?) will look darker and you can look tired or even ill, plus blemishes and wrinkles become much more apparent, which none of us needs!

The right colours bring everything together - your hair honestly does look richer (although if you've not dyed it in the most flattering shade - it can really throw things out - you'll soon see), our eyes seem to shine, so we look much less tired and the skin takes on a much healthier glow - less sallow or brassy.  Even facial hair can be flagged up or fade away - it's astonishing!

As a result, less make up is required and we feel better because we look better.

In fact, a whole new world opens up.  Trial and error are abolished.  When you stay within your Colour Analysis, everything goes with everything and choosing a new lipstick / top / something to wear to a certain conference coming up will no longer be an ordeal.            

I'm going to go into it in more detail, but it can't be done in one post, so, for now, this is all you need to know:

Each of the four undertones have been named after the seasons:

Winter - blue based- cold - will give you vivid colouring, with dark hair, very white skin or white with pink tones, beige or brown skin or very dark skin.  With dark brown or blue eyes , they're normally easiest to identify.  Think Myleene Klass (who started all this off when I wrote about her recently).

Summer - blue- grey based - cool - gives a classic delicate English Rose look.  Skin will be pale, light beige and hair will be white / pale blonde, brown or mousey.  Think Princess Diana.

Nicole Kidman - a beautiful 'Spring' (Image courtesy Wikipedia)

Spring - gold based - warm - ivory skin - peaches & cream complexion. Could be florid and need toning down. Hair will be golden brown, sometimes with red in, or golden blonde.  Usually green / hazel eyes.  Think Nicole Kidman.

Autumn - the most rare - gold based - warm - ivory, peach skin again but the hair is golden brown, reddy brown.  Usually brown or green eyes.  These are the hardest to identify.  Think Audrey Hepburn.

The first step is to get your hair out of the way (especially if it's not your natural colour) and hold up the nearest thing you can get to a piece of gold based fabric and a piece of silver / grey based one and watch the shadows / blemishes / come and go.

We'll be going into each 'Season' individually, using Bloggers as examples, so feel free to send me a photo (oldersinglemumgmail.com) and I'll post pictures of ranges of colours best suited to each. It won't be possible to classify the least easily identified but it might be to teach you to do it for yourself!

P.S Photos that are very wrong would be good too.  Evening dress ones are classic. Please send 'em over and watch this space!

If you're kind enough to have me on your blog roll, please update the link on it to http://www.oldersinglemum.com/ - I'd be really grateful, thank you.