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Original poster

Can a "Winter" wear this season's pastels?

62 replies

Danceswithdragons · 03/03/2012 18:23

I had my colours "done" last year. I am what used to be called a "Winter" so I look best in deep, cool, clear colours. Is there anyway that I can wear this season's pastels and not looked washed-out?

OP posts:
Gillybobs · 04/03/2012 12:55

I was a doubter til a thread on here made me take the plunge last August. I thought perhaps it was an "old lady" thing to do. The picture on the House of Colour website didnt help Hmm

How wrong I was. Best thing ever. Definitely a case of dont knock it til youve tried it.

I dont over accessorise. I dont look like one of the Loose Women.

But Ive stopped wasting money on clothes that dont flatter my skin tone (its like a lightbulb moment, realising why a perfectly nice blouse stays unworn in your wardrobe) and suddenly everything in my wardrobe works together, meaning Im never short of outfit options

I dont find it formulaic at all. I buy clothes that suit me, my age (38) and lifestyle and are on trend. I just stick to the palette of colours I look best in. I dont find anything weird or old-fashioned about it. It's been transformative for me.

MrsCampbellBlack · 04/03/2012 13:14

I'm with you Noddy Smile

I'm sure if i was done I'd be a summer and probably naturally gravitate towards those colours anyway. But I do wear black and see lots of blondes looking amazing in black too.

The one thing I don't get is when people start wearing a colour they really don't like but because its one of their colours.

And also agree with Remus - I often notice someone clothes and its because they're nice.

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 13:15

I like fashion way too much to stick to the same palette every year.

I love new colours, prints etc coming in each season.

They always look so refreshing as they are different to the season that has just passed.

I am a designer's dream when it comes to colours.

clam · 04/03/2012 13:35

"The one thing I don't get is when people start wearing a colour they really don't like but because its one of their colours."

The one thing I don't get is when people start wearing a colour that the fashion industry tells them is "in" even though it makes them look ill.

MrsCampbellBlack · 04/03/2012 13:36

Well I wouldn't do that personally Clam either.

Its different strokes though isn't it Smile

MrsCampbellBlack · 04/03/2012 13:37

I guess a lot of it it boils down to how confident you are in what suits you - at nearly 40 I think I know what shapes/styles/colours work on me and which don't.

noddyholder · 04/03/2012 13:37

I love the season changes too and a make up tweak is all it takes to wear 90% of colours (sorry should stay away from this)

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 13:38

I don't buy things because someone is telling me it is 'in'.

I buy the things that look the nicest, prettiest, best for me in that season.

I'm happy with that.

HandMadeTail · 04/03/2012 13:40

I have had it done twice. First time summer, second time spring. Go figure!

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 13:43

So can a winter really not wear pastel?..

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/03/2012 13:59

I don't choose colours because they are 'in' and I wouldn't wear a colour I don't like just because somebody told me it suited me - eg: I look fine in blue but don't like it so hardly ever wear it.

The problem is that once somebody has decreed that certain colours are 'in' the shops jump in like sheep and stop stocking certain other colours. Eg: I want a jacket. I would like it to be a particular shade of red. It seems not to exist because the shops want me to buy a jacket that looks like it has been made out of sherbert lemons or pureed Barbies instead.

clam · 04/03/2012 14:02

You hear loads of people saying "yellow (or whatever) doesn't suit me." However, it'll be certain shades of yellow, not all. Most of us 'can' wear any colour, but the tone of it will make a difference.

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 14:05

If you're looking for something specific shopstyle is your best bet Remus. red jackets.

I did like the burgundy wine colour last season, on others, but not me. I'm glad I didn't.

But other than that I am pleased new colours, prints come in each season.

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 14:06

I'm glad I didn't buy any that is.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/03/2012 14:10

Thanks Marsha.

MrsCampbellBlack · 04/03/2012 14:10

Remus - I want a jacket like this but for umm about £400 less.

And yes I did see it on Goop Blush But gwynnie does have good taste in clothes it must be said.

I do get that some colours suit people more than others or tones - and it is easier to see on others - I instinctively buy different colours for my dc's as one has very different colouring to the others.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/03/2012 14:18

Love it. I saw a fantastic one in Jack Wills (I hate Jack Wills but the jacket was fab) but it was about 400 pounds. Have no idea what Goop is, so no need to blush on my behalf!

AmberNectarine · 04/03/2012 14:21

I had my colours done yesterday and was told i'm a winter and I had about six icy pastels in my palette. Not my best colours mind but would be ok as a t shirt.

LesserOfTwoWeevils · 04/03/2012 14:36

Marsha, winters can wear icy?ie very very pale?pastels.

KristinaM · 04/03/2012 14:38

Im not an expert. But i thihk that winters need a lot of contrast. So you counldnt wear all pastels, but pastel contrasted with one of your brights or darks would be great

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 14:39

Thanks Lesseroftwo

Icey, very, very pale pastels sound lovely actually!

AmberNectarine · 04/03/2012 14:47

Must say I was not convinced about it all either but it actually just confirmed what I now already which is that murky colours look shite on me, and beiges are really unflattering. The difference when she held a coral pink and then a fuschia pink up to me really was staggering. That being said I had already more or less decided I was a winter anyway so about 80% of my wardrobe is in the right colours. I won't be slavish about it either - my beloved neon orange T is staying!

MadAboutHotChoc · 04/03/2012 15:02

I am a winter and look fine in certain ice pastels (but no more than 50%) - pale blue, pale pink, pale lavender are all fine but pale green and ice lemon look nasty on me.

Bunbaker · 04/03/2012 15:42

"I really do look utterly ghastly, like death warmed up, in the wrong colours. I have dark hair, dark eyes and pale "cool" toned skin BTW."

You sound similar to me. I wonder if winter people look worse than the other seasons in colours that don't suit them.

I think some of you are missing the point here. I don't wear colours I don't like. I also don't wear "in" colours - I want to look stylish not like a fashion victim. All the colours I don't like aren't winter anyway. Like Amber when two shades of a similar colour were held against me the contrast was startling. The wrong colour drained my face, the right one lit it up.

Most people can wear most colours, but it depends on which shade. I can wear red, for example, but it has to be pillar box red not brick red. I can wear cool colours ie pink toned colours. Warm colours are yellow toned and just make me look drained.

The colour consultant smiled when she was doing my colours because I was commenting on them and saying which ones I liked and which ones I didn't. At the end she said it was because I instinctively knew which were the right ones - she was testing autumn and winter and it was pretty obvious which were the right ones.

MarshaBrady · 04/03/2012 15:51

There's probably not that much in it. Those that haven't done the colours on S&B do it intuitively and those that have get their intuition confirmed.

I can see on my children the blonde really looks good in cool blue greys and the dark olive-skinned one can take warmer, brighter colours.

And I'm sure everyone wants to look stylish rather than victimy.

But I just couldn't buy exactly the same palette every year. Or do you feel you have enough choice and variation anyway?

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