How to make winter colours look expensive?

[MrsMarcus]

Ok, so got my colours done by HOC and turns out I?m a winter. A bit of a surprise as I?m blonde with blue eyes so not exactly your classic raven haired winter a la Liv Tyler.

My difficulty is that after years of cultivating my very boring but safe look of ?classic elegance? (think cream tops with blue/khaki trousers, brown loafers, tan accessories, camel coats, understated gold jewellery etc) I?m at a loss at how to achieve the same expensive look with the bright winter colours. My best colours as per HOC are brilliant white, charcoal gray but also very bright magenta and emerald green. The consultant said my jewellery should be sparkly silver coloured and shoes, bags etc black rather than brown.

How do I make the bright winter colours look expensive and classic without it costing the earth? I have allocated a small budget for my make over but still can?t afford actual expensive so will have to be a little bit creative. My main problem is black leather for shoes and bags which to me always tends to look cheaper than brown leather (though maybe I?m just a bit stuck in my ways?). I?m very comfortable with my ?style? so it?s just the colours that I need to change somehow but don?t know how, I don?t want to end up looking trashy/cheap/blingy.

Any winters out there who can help me? Any celeb examples I could use as inspiration?

[MadAboutHotChoc]

I think ice pastels may look amazing on you - ice blue, pink and lilac. Are these your best colours?

[quirkychick]

I had my colours done a few weeks ago, I was surprised to find I was a dark haired summer, rather than a winter. I was right , in that I suit completely cool colours. It explained why I was trying to tone down darker, brighter colours with accessories etc.

I found it useful as it clarified what clothes suit me and gave me some new ideas too. I'm finding not wearing black tricky but looking forward to wearing charcoal, emerald and other colours. Not much advice on classic style, though, as I am dramatic and natural!

[Willowisp]

It's odd this colour analysis. For years I wore pale blue, pale pink & lilac & wondered why I looked horrible & washed out.

Turns out I'm an autumn, but I was literally in shivk' all the beige/rusts/orange/greens that I'd avoided became thr colors which 'light' up my face.

It's I'm get older your skin tones change & I'm wondering if I'm now a clear spring or light/warm autumn, rather than a deep.

Silver looks horrible on me, but I like myself in grey...

[rollmopses]

''And it might be just me, but to me yellow gold looks... passé, tired, too blingy. What's wrong with steel, silver, white gold, platinum and ruthenium? ''

Some pieces in platinum and good stones/pearls are lovely of course, so are timeless silver filigree's, however, all 'white' is simply nouveau riche.

Gold worn in ghetto/WAG?etc style is naturally vulgar, but nice family pieces that have some age to them, look always most elegant.

[Hopefully]

I think the silver/bright white paired with navy and charcoal looks amazing. Remember you don't have to go wild with the brighter colours initially if you don't want to. I suspect that none of the colours will look cheap on you, because they will look brilliant with your skin tone, but I know what you mean - the brighter winter colours can feel a bit alarming when you're not used to them. Depending on your style, I think LKB has some lovely stuff for winters, as does Phase Eight. Most of the 'classic' designers are very winter (lots of black and navy).

Silk scarves/pashminas are a great way to add in a bit of colour, as is a coloured watch. Or a brighter camisole/top under a neutral cardigan/jacket. A plain pencil skirt (say in red, or blue) with a crisp white shirt is v chic I think. There is no requirement to instantly dress like a parrot if you don't want to - it sounds like neutrals with pops of colour are going to be a good place to start for you.

I think the leather thing may have to be something you just bite the bullet on - it sounds like brown=better is something you have got used to, and so you are instinctively averse to black leather. Remember you have things like mole too, if you prefer.

[AmberNectarine]

How were the ice pastels on you MrsM?, those combined with navy or grey could be quite classic...

[MrsMarcus]

I didn?t say I didn?t agree with the consultant?s view only that it really surprised me as I had never thought I would be a winter based on my natural colouring. I only went to the analysis as someone from work had it done and started ?dressing her colours? (instead of just all black) and looked fab (she?s an autumn) so I thought it could be good fun. I'm glad I went and it was good fun.

My only problem is that having spent so many years dressing in certain colours and cultivating a certain look/style using those colours I now find it very difficult to put together the same ?look? in colours that are very different to the ones I have been wearing. Especially as all of the examples I have found on the internet seem to just show the classic winters of very dark hair and brown eyes who do look fab in black and bright colours.

I was after some outfit ideas and inspiration really, especially as I have to work to a budget so will have to be careful with what I buy and can?t afford many mistakes. I said I am probably very stuck in my ways and fully admit that my current look is very boring to many but I feel very comfortable with it, I think it suits me and want to achieve the same feel with winter colours. I?m glad I can wear white, grey, black and navy as those to me would work to the classic style I?m after but how do I incorporate some of the more colourful aspects of the winter colours without it looking cheap? And how do I make reasonably priced black/coloured leather look as expensive as reasonably priced brown leather?

So, anyone with any links to websites or blogs which would demonstrate a classic style in winter colours? Or any examples of how a blonde blue eyed winter might look in different outfits?

[stickygingerbread]

Fair enough OP, you were there and actually evaluated all the colours and must know yourself best. It sounds like you have a lot of enjoyable shopping experimentation before you.

[Gillybobs]

I know more than a dozen people who have had this done and every single one of them found it incredibly useful and interesting and most of them have gone on to have far more success with shopping, bags more confidence in how they dress and use make up and make far fewer mistakes when spending their hard earned cash. I have no idea why anyone would think that's not worth doing? And I haven't heard any of them describe it as overly prescriptive.

[Hopefully]

Lala I missed where she said that the Winter colours didn't look that good? Also, presumably she (and I apologise for putting words in the OP's mouth here) wasn't in fact completely happy with the way her, and I quote, "boring but safe" wardrobe was working, or she wouldn't have gone for the analysis?

And it isn't 'overly prescriptive' at best. I would never dream of ordering a client to do anything at all. If they want to leave the room and ignore every single thing I've said to them, I won't be hunting them down to finger wag. But I can hand on heart say that >90% of people I know who've had it done properly in the last 5-10 years (because it is better than it was in the heyday of 1980s colour consultants wielding fluoro lipsticks) really really rate it. Those who don't are the people who probably weren't remotely interested in the first place and either went with a mate or were bought a gift voucher. Nothing wrong with them not being interested - it isn't a tool that every single person wants to use, and that's absolutely fine in my book.

[AmberNectarine]

By the way OP WRT handbags, I don't like black either - mine are navy, grey, pink, bright green, purple etc.

[lalalonglegs]

But the OP had a wardrobe that seemed to work for her and she just wanted to zhush it up a bit. Now she's under the impression that she has to wear certain colours, that the colours that she always has gravitated towards aren't right and that the colours that have been declared right for her don't look that great anyway. It comes across as overly prescriptive at best and absolute hooey if you're not feeling that generous.

I think there are certain make up colours that don't look good on certain skin tones but whole spectrums of fabrics on the body? Really?

[AmberNectarine]

Hopefully I love you.

[Hopefully]

Which is absolutely fabulous, if you know exactly what looks good on you and have absolutely no problems putting together a well edited, multi-tasking and interesting wardrobe in your best palette, in your style and 100% of which makes you feel amazing. Some women (me included) like a little outside input to get us on the right path. I think that's ok.

[lalalonglegs]

God, I do think this colours thing is a load of guff. Wear what you like and you think looks good on you. Sod the opinion of some know-all madam with swatches.

[fuckadoodlepoopoo]

One thing I've noticed from looking online is that quite a lot of people have posted saying that they had their colours done and were told they were an x, then had it done again and were told y.

Its hard to have faith in the consultants when that seems to happen a lot.

[sazpops]

hopefully and travel - many thanks, that's helpful.I really like the autumn colours so I think I'll just experiment a bit more with different shades.

[Hopefully]

saz you won't have changed season, but quite often people's best colours within their season change over time, so if you're feeling a bit lost a re-rate or even just a chat with your consultant can help.

[MadAboutHotChoc]

Not only will they tell you which colours out of your season palette you can wear, they will also advise you which ones are your best ones and how much of each colour you can wear and where (e.g below waist, as a top etc).

[sazpops]

Sorry to hijack the post, but a quick question - I had my colours done years ago and was an autumn (which was all the colours I always wore anyway - so far so good), but now I'm in my fifties my hair and skin colour have changed, so should I have them done again, or 'once an autumn always an autumn'? thanks.

[Hopefully]

Lol, x posts!

[Hopefully]

Queen I am SW, but about an hour from Bristol. travel is bloody miles away in the SE (I know this because I used to live practically next door to her). Feel free to PM either of us.