Some questions about "getting your colours done"

[tectonicplates]

I'd like to go to one of those colour consultation things with House of Colour. Can anyone recommend a consultant in London or the South East who can genuinely accept that I don't wear makeup and I'm not going to start? The FAQ page seems a bit pushy about it, but I'm not interested and it feels like it's going to be pushed on me if I go to an appointment. It's the one thing that's putting me off going at the moment.

Also, some of the promotional photos I've seen, seem quite over the top with the amount of layering going on, as in someone wearing a bright top with a contrasting bright cardigan, and a scarf etc. Do people really dress like that, or are those photos just for promotional reasons?

Ha! Those photos are for promotional purposes. Although I am sure some people do dress like that. I guess I do too when I wear my red coat with my green bag that I wouldn't have done before House of Colour. I do get compliments from strangers when I bother though.

It just means that you buy what you were going to anyway but in the shades that suit you best.

The colours part is done without any make up on. The makeup part is a different product. I got the 90 second makeup, and it perfect for me, I only wear makeup half a dozen times a year.

@ehb102 When you say "when I bother", can I take this to mean that you don't wear your best colours all the time, and that you still wear the "wrong" colours from time to time? It's just that I'm a bit worried about going along on the day, having some kind of revelation and ending up instantly hating my entire wardrobe. I was hoping to make it a more gradual process. Are there enough people around who only follow the rules when they feel like it?

@tectonicplates You need not worry. You can wear whatever you want, you just learn which colours and shade look better on you. People say "you look well", they don't change you that much. Once you get home you'll look at your wardrobe and realise that a lot of your favourite pieces are in fact in your season anyway. When it comes to trying on clothes before I buy my attention is directed to pieces I wouldn't have tried before. So as a Spring I wear navy blue or grey rather than black for my neutrals, I will now wear coral or pink rather than dark red or plum, but I haven't thrown anyway anything really.

Very interesting, thank you!

Any other comments on this, please?

I did one of these years back (20?) with a friend. Neither of us wear makeup, and they don't push you to, it was 'bring it if you have it so we can see if it's right for your colouring kind of thing.)
Considering neither of us is that into clothes etc it was still quite fun and interesting and it did give us some extra colours to try and a couple to avoid.
Mainly it re-enforced my view of which colours suit me best.

Ah, so it's not like it completely changes your life or anything? Maybe I've just been reading too much into the marketing? I'd still like to get it done, but maybe it's less of a shock than I was expecting.

If you go into the Kettlewell clothes website and click Explore, the last item in that drop down menu is Find a colour stylist. Then there's a regional list of House of colour analysts, and you can look at their individual profiles. I had my colours done years ago, probably time to do it again now I'm grey and pallid!

I found it quite life changing if I'm honest. I now always wear colours that look good on me so I always look better than I used to. I feel much more put together. As you gradually buy new clothes they will all go with each other too as all the colours will tone.

The make up isn't too important, it will vary a hit as to which season you are. Some people will find that they look better with bright lipsticks, others with muted lipstick.

I also find shopping a lot easier because now I quickly scan the rails for my best colours.

I found out I was an Autumn a few years ago, and it has changed how I shop. Together with buying clothes that suit my shape (pear), I’m a much more savvy shopper, and get alot more compliments (where before I got none). No colour is off limits - it’s just a case of finding the shade that suits you.

Just realised I’m wearing an ochre yellow colour top which I brought as a direct result of my analysis. It’s a colour I didn’t consider before.

I did it many years ago and it is one of the best things I ever did. Shopping for clothes got so much simpler. Not just because of the colours but because of the advice on what styles and shapes suit me best. It has saved me a ton of money over the years.

Absolutely one of the most useful things I have done! I kind of knew that some colours worked well on me and some didn't, but it really helped me be confident about it, and to try some which I eoukdbt have chosen.

The HOC consultant I used isn't practising any more, which is a shame as she was excellent.

I didn't buy any of the makeup, but again it was helpful to know what would best suit me colour-wise.

My daughters had theirs done too and have also found it really helpful.

Yep - literally life changing, at least as far as clothes are concerned. Had mine done many years ago, now absolutely everything in my wardrobe goes with everything else - I can pull out any top and skirt and voila - they go together.
It makes shopping so much easier and has given me so much more confidence in my appearance.

I found it really helpful especially as I mistakenly thought I was a summer, but turned out to be a winter. (I knew I wasn’t anything warm but was wearing cool but muted clothes)

In my session we compared true summer with true winter and the difference was amazing. Even though cool, Summer completely washed me out. Winter just lit me up.

My person advised not to purge everything and take it slowly. I did immediately donate some tshirts that my husband had previously said didn’t do much for me (and after analysis could see why - far too muted).

Ive kept a dress that is autumn purple. I still love it, and still wear it. I know it’s not my best colour but I like it. I do wear a winter plummy lipstick with it which lifts it.

I know you said you don’t wear makeup. I didn’t used to because I thought it always looked odd and false. (I was choosing the wrong colours).
Now I have about 13 lipsticks and 2 lip balms that are exactly my season and every single one looks amazing on their own without other makeup. I’d really recommend trying a couple of tinted lip balms or very sheer lipsticks in your season. It’s amazing how much it can lift your look and it’s not the same as having a full face on.

I didn’t go to house of colour btw. I went to Chromology which was fabulous.

chromology.co.uk

Thank you everyone. So it looks like it's possible to take things slowly and not suddenly chuck out your entire wardrobe!

I won't be wearing makeup. They also do colour consultations for men and nobody tells men to wear lipstick to lift their look. I haven't found any scientific reason why women's skin needs more lifting than men's skin ;)

Ooh, would anyone mind sharing how much it costs please?

My friend had it done years ago and is a Summer. I have never had it done (would like to) but process of elimination and and her advice makes me an Autumn. Grey, pastels, black and most blues make me look ill but reds, salmon pink, apricot, most greens, gold and brown are definitely my colours. My friend and I are a similar height and build but at opposite ends of the colour spectrum.

I had this done a few years back - in Scotland and can't remember exactly which company it was. She did a bit of make-up with me, but that was an optional extra, and to be honest a waste of time as I don't wear make-up at all these days.

I enjoyed the experience, and it made me a wiser shopper for clothes. That said, most of my clothes were already in "my colours" so in a sense it was a confidence boost for me. It also confirmed that I suit darker rather than paler shades, and I no longer waste money on sale bargains that really don't suit me, no matter how big a bargain they seem!

Wearing the right colours does make a huge difference though - you both look and feel much better. Well worth doing!

I second @Shortpoet about lipstick. I had mine done as well as style (amazing HoC consultant but nowhere near your area) and I very rarely wear makeup but when I do just the lipstick alone makes me look like I have on more makeup and look rested, and I get compliments. Saves me loads of money on the wrong things too.
My favourite clothes were already in my best colours, or in cool summer colours (I’m a winter).

I had mine done a couple of years ago. I used a personal stylist who was trained in colour rather than a HOC stylist for exactly the reasons you mention - the women on the website really put me off. The colours undoubtedly suited them but the styling was a bit… much and often not terribly stylish to my eyes.

The woman I used gave me a Spring wallet but picked out a selection of swatches from Spring and a couple from the Winter palette that looked really good on me. These are my go-to shades now for an occasion outfit or if I’m feeling tired or run down. No makeup advice at all, I don’t wear much, but armed with the information that I’m a spring and need warm, bright reds and pinks, I have a couple of really lovely lipsticks that I wear when I need to look smart or if I’m wearing black. She also gave me a few really interesting bits of information about my body shape (long torso - that’s why I struggle with swimming costumes!) and my style that have helped me choose clothes I love.

All that’s changed is that I now buy neutrals in warm beiges, greys and camel over charcoal grey and dark navy, and I know that I like relaxed, comfortable clothes in soft fabrics. If it’s a faff to wear or too prim or formal looking I won’t wear it even if it suits me, so I don’t buy it any more. No more capsule wardrobe blazers and crisp white shirts for me.

She does London, I can send you her details.

I was shocked when I had my colours done twenty plus years ago, having been told as a child that I was an autumn it turned out I'm actually a summer. They encourage you to start buying tops in your colours as they're closest to your face, but once you get your head round it and get an eye for your colours, it's so easy to shop. I always think once you know which colours suit you best, why would you not want to wear them?

I totally agree with you about some of the stylists being a bit OTT, and when I went it was still very much a 'woman of a certain age' vibe. That said, if you do the style class it might be that this explains you're reaction....especially if you have either natural or gamine in your style/clothing personality. I'm both of those things so I'd look at the romantic or dramatic styles and find them far too fussy/overpowering or simply too much, which they are for me. And that's fine, they'd look at me and think I was underdressed.

I loved it, although a long time ago now. But it gave me the confidence to wear colours I had previously liked but stayed away from, I can handle reds and oranges plus it also helped to understand which colours really weren't worth my time. I was advised to stay away from hot pink, but I do have it in my wardrobe, because I love it as a colour although I tend to save it for winter as my natural "hot summer" complexion doesn't go well with it!

I had mine done and haven't regretted it. I realised why some clothes i just didn't wear were just the wrong colour. I had style done a few months after.

The best thing about it is that the colours in my palette all mix and match really well and I seem to look a lot more put together.
The consultant never told me to bring make up. She just put some of their foundation blusher and lipstick on me but that was only a minor part and im sure they would let you skip that.
My lady was near m25 Essex. Pm if you would like her details.