calling all HoC bods...

[madmomma]

Any pastel summers out there?
Went for my colours day today and loved it; just wondering if there are any others out there with 'my' colours?
Any other summers of any other 'type' either?
Would love some tips from those who have trod the summery path before me.

Thanks

I'd be pretty surprised if I'm not a winter, but I struggle with the different sub types too MadAboutHotChoc.

I'm another one who queries the sub-typing.
My analysis was about 6 years ago, and I remember the consultant telling me to aim for the look of 'a jar of sweetpeas.' Can't say I've ever really followed it - I don't have enough clothes or variety in colour in my wardrobe, for one thing.

I do also wonder how I can be told always to wear 5 different colours, yet still have '2 star 100% colours' - so I can wear them from head to foot, presumably? I should have a session with the new lady in my area, see if ahe can shed some light on it for forty quid.

I'd love to train in this, actually, but HoC always claim to have no vacancies in my area in spite of new consultants popping up every time I contact them.
I assume existing consultants have friends waiting to step into their shoes when they move on.

Cardoon the darkest grey on the HoC swatches isnt as dark as charcoal but if you look at other colour analysis systems they have charcoal for bright springs (but not light or warm springs I believe). I think its because we NEED the contrast it brings.

"Issimma" the one, two "pop" thing was also the advice I was given but its just too generic. I find the advice given on here 12 blueprints extremely helpful, although the writing style is a bit flowery to say the least.

Although I do recommend the HoC experience to people I have found out far more about how to put it all together through my own research and through friends who have also be "done" than I received from my HoC consultant. I think they could do far more to advise and support, maybe offering a follow up for a small cost?

To be fair I have heard of some fantastic HoC consultants through my friends, I think its just luck whether or not the one in your area falls into that category. I know, for example, the York consultant holds regular follow up evenings with fashion updates and a chance for enthusiasts to meet and share experiences etc

Oh goody! I have quite a lot of charcoal - is there a foolproof way of telling whether a colour is yellow (warm) or blue (cool) based? I seem to be a bit uncertain especially when it comes to grey

Shotgun we moved halfway across the country not long ago for me to have my own HoC area. They are v careful about franchise areas. CMB are not, afaik.

gilly I think the follow up/open evenings are great, and work really well, as I don't know anyone who hasn't been full of questions afterwards.

My consultant doesn't seem to do them hopefully (Glasgow consultant) and several people I know who have emailed her follow up questions haven't had a reply. The only events she seems to host are sales events , this month an event in Hobbs for example.

hopefully without giving away trade secrets, how does it work? Are consultants people with a good eye for colour using their judgement to categorise or is it more mathematical?

I am a funny one I think, definitely need contrast but have been told by MUAs and hairdressers that my skin is a "true" neutral and have successfully worn many different hair colours from platinum to black/brown. This in turn has a weird effect on what colours I can wear.

In my mid 30s now and lost my confidence so tempted by this...

Alan there's quite a bit of training (more than you'd think), but anyone who is remotely visual (i.e. with some sort of an eye for colour) can be trained, as far as I know. Unless there's some secret thing they test for without telling you! The actual draping process if very defined and structured - it's not just a case of picking cool and warm drapes as you fancy and seeing what you get. However, the point of the exercise is that the client can see the difference too (consultants should make sure that clients can see the change on themselves, and certainly that they see it on other people in the class), so it can't be something so complex that the client can't see it.

IMO, it's one of the flaws with the systems that have 12-16 different palettes (instead of giving you your best colours within a palette) - the fine tuning is so great that it can be harder for the client to tell the difference, and I think not seeing it and being scared of straying from a very precise palette is unhelpful. But others disagree entirely and much prefer to have a much more limited palette of 'wow' colours.

Thanks, I think it's really interesting and I think I might get it done as trying to 'self diagnose' is driving me nuts! I would have guessed at bright/clear spring but think the truth is possibly soft summer/autumn or even warm spring.

I want to change my hair colour so I suppose it may be very much worth it!

Interesting (and dedicated!) Hopefully that you moved to take up the training.

I do know of at least three or four HoC-trained consultants in my area (although there's only ever one main consultant - the rest must be sub-contractors). I can only assume friends of existing consultants get to train, as new names crop up every now and then in spite of the official line being 'no vacancies.'

Best of luck with it, Seventh and Hopefully - you must be so excited !

I'm a low contrast summer too and I always wear navy mascara these days, or a dark grapey shade. Navy is also my work basic neutral too, though a cool taupey brown works well too - more like mushroom than brown.

I do wear some pastelly colours such as cornflower blue, rose pink - I am so NOT a pink person that is a bit of a revelation that it actually makes me look quite grown up and sophisticated, not like a little girl!

I also did a later style analysis with HoC and though i doubted it, it got me out of my clothing rut and gave me confidence to wear dresses and jewellery. I am SO much happier knowing that I can do basic looks without getting it all over the place. i've been wearing just below the knee wiggle dresses (and i'm an 18!) and so many people have been saying how great I look. I do look a bit 'dressed up' most of the time now, but I like that actually. next trick once I've lost a bit more weight will be to perfect the more casual version of me, but no idea.

I know lots of people laugh at it, but when you're of an age where high fashion doesn't work any more, it really helps co-ordinate a grown up look.

PS the mixing vs single colours thing is bang on. When you blend three colours (which was my recommendation) you just look kind of 'dressed'. But in your 100 % colours - eg a long dress, you just look totally KNOCKOUT. These are the ones to pick for a suit, or an evening dress. I struggle to find one of my best colours 'rose madder' though so if you see any thing in it, let me know.

Should add I also wear a LOT of grey, but now I often wear silver jewellery and scarves to warm it up.

V important to find right blusher and lippy shade. After years of thinking I was a spring, i can now see that anything with the remotest orange/yellow tone totally washes me out.

What I do struggle with is finding good cool pink and nude lipsticks that don't either disappear or look too sugary or bright, or too glittery and pale. I want something like a deep, cool pink nude with a lot of pigment. Any ideas?

Wilf some great tips thank you. Rose madder is my best colour too but I've failed to find anything so far (though I'm still a fledgling)...

Gillybobs that website is v helpful so thanks for that too.
I guess it just takes some time to absorb it all and build a new wardrobe. I am just so resistant to using lots of colour, but I can see the appeal of a muted blend of three or more, including a neutral or two, rather than the godawful bright top/black trouser horror show about which I am PHOBIC
Also I was so convinced I would be a warm something or other that it's definitely taking a while to sink in. And am very impatient and want everything in all the right colours now.
Will start by pinning some looks I think. And booking a style day maybe.

Oh yes all my lipsticks are wrong wrong wrong! Summer recommendations very welcome... Preferably on the soft/muted side.

Interesting thread. Can anyone recommend a consultant in Surrey/London?

A really good summer lipstick for me right now is one of the Clinique chubby sticks. The pencil covering is dark purple, but the shade is so sheer it comes out a transparent plummy shade, looks great on me! Will go and look in my bag to find what shade it is...

'Voluptuous violet'! I also have a bright pink one-think it is peony something but like that one a bit less.

Since having the style day I am more confident with mixed colours because I have more of an idea of how to wear prints and jewellery. As long as I wear rounded shape prints (I am 'romantic classic' ROFL) and drapey styles, with print patterns relatively small (like around 10p size) then I can pull it off.

And wearing patterned prints makes it easier to blend colours together.

I officially love my consultant. I want her to take me on a shopping trip when I've lost some weight too. I have started shopping in completely different shops too. They ARE more grown up and some would say 'old' but I don't care. Planet, Phase 8 and all that work for me in a way that Zara never did even when I was young and thin.

I'm definitely sold on this...my MIL (& FIL!!!) had their "colours" done 20 + years ago and are always harping on about it, but now that I've read this thread I've got my christmas present from them sorted out - they are delighted.

Dolly - I'm also in Surrey so if you do get any recommendations please let me know. I've had a look on the website but there doesn't appear to be any consultants in my area.

Hopefully / Seventh - can I ask where you are both based? Don't worry if its classified information

I'm definitely sold on this...my MIL (& FIL!!!) had their "colours" done 20 + years ago and are always harping on about it, but now that I've read this thread I've got my christmas present from them sorted out - they are delighted.

Dolly - I'm also in Surrey so if you do get any recommendations please let me know. I've had a look on the website but there doesn't appear to be any consultants in my area.

Hopefully / Seventh - can I ask where you are both based? Don't worry if its classified information

Planes I am in the SW (on the coast) and Seventh is in the SE (also on the coast!)

Am assuming she does not mind me narrowing it down to SE. Seventh feel free to report my post if you want that not known!

Has anyone any experience of ordering from kettlewell? I don't love the styles but wondering about an infinity scarf and or top just to start me off colour wise. Would infinitely prefer a leisurely shopping day but that is sadly not going to happen in the next couple of weeks.