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?

I went to house of colour many years ago. Was quite sceptical, but found it life changing, as far as clothes are concerned. Deffo recommend.

It’s been a few years since I had mine done. Also had my style done. I love it - shopping is easier, j can see from a glance what in a shop will suit me. Packing for holidays and choosing an outfit is easier because most things co-ordinate. For me it’s been worth every penny.

It was transformational for me (many years ago now).

I absolutely dreaded clothes shopping and had a small collection of mismatched drab, cheap clothes that did nothing for me, with no idea how to improve things or what styles or colours suited me.

It gave me a template, and confidence to start to develop a capsule wardrobe in colours and styles that worked well for me. I started changing very slowly with things like scarves and accessories. Later, I bought more quality basic items like dresses, trousers and shoes in one neutral colour within my palette. It probably sounds fairly obvious, but I needed that guidance to show me how it's done.

These days I have a capsule wardrobe for winter, and a separate summer one. I top up it with just a few items each season. My colour palette is 'Winter' which was such a surprise - bright and bold colours with contrast. Clothes shopping is a breeze as I know what will fit in with my existing collection.

I wear minimal makeup and there was no pressure to wear/buy it during the consultation at that time - in fact all make up was removed to get a clear view of skin tone and colouring.

I did it years ago with Colour Me Beautiful. A group of us did it together so we all enjoyed watching it how it works on the others.

She sat us in front of a mirror facing a north-facing window. No make up. She draped a white sheet over us, then draped the coloured cloths over that, next to the face. It was fascinating watching how one colour would lift a face and another depress it, and the different effects between us.

Each of us got a little book of swatches that were 'our' colours. Those are the ones that really lift us, but there is no reason not to wear a colour from another palette if you really like it. I found that once I 'got' the general tones that suit me, I could walk into a shop, look round and either home in on something that might look good, or walk out, knowing that nothing would suit. It saved me ages in shopping and a fortune in things that I didn't really like.

As PP said, I tended to drift towards the colours that suited me anyway, but it did add some that look good that I hadn't thought of.

A make up session would have been extra, but none of us was interested.

I had mine done about 5-6 years ago. Like many others it had a big impact, not least in my confidence. It confirmed that some of my favourite colours are my star colours, and it gave me permission to wear colour. I don’t own anything black now - I think it looks awful on most people.

Tips:

lipstick really makes a difference. If you don’t wear any makeup, maybe make an exception for lipstick. I find that when I dress in my colours I automatically look ‘dressier’ and with no make up at all my face looks a bit plain.

tops and scarves in your best colours, everything else in your neutrals. This can make the wardrobe transition easier.

HOC do a style workshop as well, which I didn’t do. But basically you don’t have to dress like a stylist, you can stick with your own style just in the right colours.

i didn’t find it made shopping easier at all, because I became so picky about colours! Combine that with my own overall style plus preferring pretty specific shapes / cuts / lengths etc. Shopping is a nightmare now tbh - it was much easier when I mostly wore black (and looked quite crap).

i didn’t find it made shopping easier at all, because I became so picky about colours! Combine that with my own overall style plus preferring pretty specific shapes / cuts / lengths etc. Shopping is a nightmare now tbh - it was much easier when I mostly wore black (and looked quite crap).

This is what I'm worried about too! I actually find it really difficult to find clothes that fit me in the first place, because of my shape and not many companies make clothes that actually fit me. So I'm worried that finding my best colours will make things even more difficult.

How much impact it has depends on how much you're already aware of colours and styles suit you, I think.
If you are confident on this, you'll probably find what you have is easily tweaked to improve and develop your style.

For someone like me, who had no clue, it was a revelation. However, in either case - there was no need to make huge changes in a hurry. Clothes shopping became much more intentional and focused. Some years I find very little in colours and styles that suit, so I hold off purchases. The following season, I might buy much more. I viewed it at a long term project over several years.

I went to both colour and style classes, with a gap in between of a couple of years. I was rather apprehensive of the style one as I am short (4'11), and was convinced no style would really suit me! I had always had difficulty finding clothes that fit. The consultant was excellent and really focused on my positive features and how to accentuate them, and some very useful guidance on how to adapt a style for my petite height, and what shapes and fabrics would suit me best.