To ask why Mumsnet is obsessed with “having your colours done”?

[Wiltingasparagusfern]

One of those Mumsnet things that makes me feel like I’ve wondered into Hyacinth Bucket’s house:
what’s with the getting your colours done stuff? This is not 1982.

Helen Fielding was taking the piss out of it 20 years ago. Surely no one under 40 does this anymore? I feel, like savoury jelly, china ladies, and serving hatches, it belongs in a different era (“Another mini gherkin, Bridget?”).

Or am I wrong? Should every woman have her colours done? Are those of you that have seen the light (gone to John Lewis…is that where this happens?!) looking at women in the street and going tsk, she is clearly a jewel autumn or whateverthefuck?

I am baffled, please enlighten me.

I agree that some of the guff around it is tedious, but the principle is a good one. I think it's really helpful to have an idea of what colours bring out the best in you. Makes shopping so much easier. As with all of these things, there are bits you can take and bits you can leave.

I always imagine posters who write this have matching frilly curtains and sofa. It always sounds very dated.

I wear mostly black, navy, red and grey. I'm happy in those colours and think they suit me.
I'm not going to pay some woman to say I should wear completely different colours.

A friend who always wore browns and oranges was told she was autumn. What a waste of money.

I’m quite fascinated by having getting colours done and colour ‘seasons’ but I do wonder whether it works for everybody? I’ve seen some examples where there’s a clear difference but on others I just don’t see it at all.

Some of the worst bitchiness on MN is on S&B and I have no doubt that there are people there who find ways to be cunty about colours.

However. It is perhaps worth reminding OP and others that there are a lot of women asking for help on MN who feel very lost with fashion and style, perhaps because their body has changed after pregnancy or menopause or gaining or losing weight, or because they are re-entering the workplace after a period SAH, or because they are greying or have lost their hair, or any other number of reasons. If a bit of guidance on the colours that suit them gives those people a way in to feel a bit less overwhelmed then I can’t see how that’s anything but good. I also can’t see how wide-eyed faux naivety about how UTTERLY BAFFLING it all is can be anything other than pretty sneery and a bit shit.

@Keepingongoing I’ve seen some people suggesting you can use ChatGPT to work out what your colours are. Might be worth a try?

But yes @Wiltingasparagusfern, you’re not wrong! I remember the Great Style by Susie wars, they did your colours and charged you a ridiculous amount for the privilege, until there was a huge schism in the fandom.

I had it done 25 years ago and it was pretty life changing tbh. I'm pale with blue eyes, ruddy skin and I used to wear black, navy and grey all the time, which made me look ill and washed out. I was pretty resistant to the process as I didn't like the colours my consultant was suggesting. I had a lightbulb moment after I had complained that I didn't like the dark green scarf she had put against my face, when she whipped the scarf away and I could literally see the colour drain from my face in the mirror because of the black/ navy I was wearing!

Eventually I adjusted and now I have a fabulous wardrobe of beautiful, warm, bright colours that really suit me. As others have said, it does save a lot of time as I only shop for my colours, and everything in my wardrobe matches.

Also it's based on the science of the colour wheel, and complementary colours and how they enhance each other. So for example, orange is the complementary colour to blue, so if you have blue eyes, a gold eyeshadow will bring out the colour of your eyes, whilst a pink or purple will just make you look ill!

I’ve seen a few posts on here about getting colours done, but obsessed? No.

I got mine done along with a friend for free back in the 80s when we were teenagers, a friend’s mum was a consultant and wanted models.

Apparently we were very clear examples of our seasons (mine is Winter). Though the ideal colours were all pretty much ones I would have chosen for myself anyway, not that I follow it slavishly.

My colours are already limited without having them done! I don’t wear white, cream, yellow, pink, orange or red or pastels

Here's the Colour Wheel

I find this website really helpful. It also has examples of celebrities wearing colours that suit them and colours that dont. It's easier to see it on others than yourself I think.

www.truth-is-beauty.com/blog/golden-globes-the-errors-of-autumns

Don't really know what it entails. But if it's like one of those 'which spice girl are you?' Or 'what rank would you be in the army?' quizes, I'm here for it. Last time I was Emma Bunton and a lieutenant colonel. Which was nice.

It is very useful to have a vague idea of your colours, or at least your tone (warm - neutral - cool) if you are someone who likes to get their nails done. The ‘wrong’ colours somehow look particularly jarring on hands. There was a S&B thread a few months ago where the OP posted her manicure and was asking why it looked so awful. She had a cool undertone and had had a warm beige colour applied to her nails and (by her own description, not mine) they genuinely looked cadaverous.

I disagree with PP and this is the best CA channel on Youtube

when they do it I 💯 percent believe!

I had my colours done a few years ago, and it’s made a real difference. For example, I’m an autumn and black just doesn’t work for me. I’ve had so many more compliments since having it done.

Maybe some people are naturally good at choosing clothes in colours that suit them, but I’m not. Since having it done, I’ve got alot more adventurous in what I wear and the colours I choose.

I did mine on an app. For free. No big deal!

I find it quite interesting as a concept tbh, as I've noticed that I look much better in some colours than others. But thus far I've been too mean to pay for it and too confused to work it out myself!

I've noticed it mentioned more in the context of sneering at it than endorsing it, though. Maybe because it used to be seen as a middle-aged/middle-class woman thing? ( the horror!) But fwiw, I've noticed a lot of discussion about it on Tiktok/ Instagram- mostly from younger women and Korean influencers, so I think it's come back in a big way.

It’s definitely having a bit of a “moment” amongst young people so not just for people with lace curtains! I’ve found it helpful, mostly because sticking to a particular palette means lots of my wardrobe just “goes” together (I don’t have a natural eye for this sort of thing so wouldn’t have put it together on my own)

I got mine done as a present to myself when I was in my early 40s. I have literally no ability to visualise outfits/style myself/know what suits me.

Like does it fit, is it comfortable, is it clean is as much as I can manage unaided and I often get does it fit wrong (do up and fit are not the same thing). So I need all the help I can get and I enjoyed the process.

i don’t stick to it though because it turns out I am the most CBeebies of all the seasons and suit very few neutral colours. I am also a weird shape so finding something which fits in the right colour that isn’t a panto outfit or a bridesmaid dress can be a challenge.

I do try though as I can see I look sparkly of eye and glossy of coat when it does work.

There is no-one on this earth more sure of their opinion than a MNer claiming to be UTTERLY BAFFLED by something on AIBU

Just wanted to add that I am really not advertising anything and I really was baffled! I still don’t feel a need to get my colours done but I am happy for the people who feel it’s helped them look and feel better

I agree that some of the stylists take it too literally and it can look dated to dress head to toe in your colours. This is very true, the lady who 'did' me was lovely but head to toe aqua just makes you look like an air hostess however much it suits you.

I found it quite useful and as a creative type, interesting but not surprising - it's obvious that some colours will be a better complement for others. I got a little set of fabric swatches and I use them as a guide but dont stick religiously to them - I'm very unlikely to wear eg lemon yellow however alive it makes me look and you'll never get me out of black even though it's not one of 'my' colours.

Btw I havent got anything frilly in my house although the poster who mentioned that might like to know that actually frilly stuff is so far out it's back in again and it's everywhere!

There’s nothing new under the sun OP…

and this is just like flares or platforms coming back into fashion.

Seems ridiculous to us of a certain vintage, but we’re the middle aged mums now and the Bridget’s of the next generation are lapping this crap up!

Good tip - thanks.

Once you see it though it does start becoming obvious when someone is wearing a bad colour- not just women, men too!

Anyone can wear whatever they want of course and I wouldn’t judge anyone for not caring. But it does make a difference.
I did my colours myself (I’m quite an easy one), and since I started paying attention to it I really notice how much better I look in the right colour