Calling all HOC winters.....

[QueenCadbury]

So, I had my colours done yesterday and I am now a sprinter winter. My best colours being royal blue, electric blue, damson, lagoon blue and light emerald.

Of course a shopping trip is now required so I'm just after any inspiration by what you fellow winters have recently bought...

Can I ask where is good to buy some basic layering clothes in winter tones? I have the Kettlewell booklet by they are a bit fuddy duddy. I tend to like to wear scoop neck vest tops, but they tend to be ribbed and I think that can look a bit casual. I wanted a smoother fabric. I want them slightly longer in the body.

aftermay - you may find this link useful

Kezztrel - great board, love the dark lipsticks.

I get mine from Topshop Kosher - they have a few good winter coloured ones in atm - greys, cobalt, emerald etc. I like them as they tend to be thin, drapey material and good for layering, rather than heavy cotton.

Forgot to say, the Topshop ones are often long, or you can buy the Tall versions which will definitely be long (unless you're tall of course!)

Thank's MadAbout - my current favourites are Mac Media and Mac Diva. They are less scary than bright red, strangely.

Mad I hadn't seen that colour theory link before. It makes perfect sense and might explain why I find it hard to work out which type of winter I am - my darkness and coolness are both equally obvious, I think. I'm not very bright make of that what you will.

Can I recommend Lipstick Queen Medieval for a really sheer red that is bluer leaning? I love it.

Kezztrel - those are some lovely lipstick colours (and models). BTW I like your username one interest. About the only thing I would understand in Danish.

Mad - thanks for the link. That's the kind of thing I'm after! Interesting colour combos, how to put them together. With so many strong bright colours looking good I don't want to end up like a clown. Or too matchy matchy.

KB - I felt the same way about the Letttlewell catalogue. Nicd colours and clothes, infividually, 'but has if really come to this?' I think part of the issue is that I'm already quite adventurous with colours and clothes just perhaps not very good at making the most of it. So I need a step up from that rather than timid beginnings.

Thanks for suggestions to more sensible shops. The person I saw was name dropping LK Bennett and the like whilst I was trying to hide away the TU label on my cardi.

I found this style blog the other day which has lots of posts on how to work out your style. I'm not a huge blog fan normally but this woman seems really sensible, her posts are very clear and useful, and I would guess she's a Winter too (though I could be wrong). She also makes me want to get a pixie cut! Anyway here it is - steps for working out your style whether you're clueless, almost there or a total fashionista already :) Just in case anyone else finds it useful. I haven't got round to doing the steps yet but I love her post on Gamine style.

Kezz, will have a look at the blog later, thanks for posting it.

I agree re kettlewell.

after - try primark, they always have loads of layering tops in all colours.

Ok I'm back and more confused than ever! So my double star colours at 100% are raspberry and carmine. Double stars at 75% are charcoal, indigo, navy, lobelia, magenta, dark emerald and pine green. I think I was supposed to do something with the ratings sheet and my colour swatch but never got round to it. Colours that are crossed out completely are acid yellow, stone, ice lemon. Rest of the ice colours only have one tick at 25%

Can anyone explain further please? What should I be wearing? Bought a pewter dress for wedding and think that may be wrong now. Wondering if a style day would be of any use? Has anyone done this too?

Pewter is charcoal and I would team with carmine/raspberry accessories and make up/nails.

You could be a borderline sultry winter with those deep colours and a jewel winter with raspberry, carmine, lobelia and magenta. Maybe you could ask your HOC consultant to see what kind of winter you are? Or one of the HOC consultants on here?

What are you confused about? If its about the percentages - 100% refers to full outfit, 75% = coat/suit, 50% = top or bottom.

Double stars are your wow colours, one star indicates that these are very good on you and one tick is ok.

Go through your swatch book with some small stickers with the ratings written on these and take it shopping with you so that you can buy clothes, make up etc in the right colours.

Thanks it was the stars/percentage that had me a little confused. Because it was so long ago I couldn't remember what they mean . that makes more sense now. I do wear a lot of navy and grey so maybe it's time I was more adventurous with some of the other colours.

Bloody annoying Mumsnet ate my long post!

I've just come back from The Trafford Centre looking for good basics and came back empty handed. Ive been to M&S, Next, Gap, Banana Republic, Dorothy Perkins, Zara and others.

I wanted some basic vest tops for layering- only a couple of shops had them, they were only a few straggly odds and ends on rails and they were all either cropped or had shoe string straps.

Next on my list was some crew neck cardis. I couldn't find any in my winter colours and if they were there they were either 100% polyester or hand wash/ dry clean only. I want something that will go in the washing machine.

In the end I left with no new clothes at all. I did get another Berry Smoothie Revlon lip butter as mine is running out (and a raspberry pie as they were £7.99 each or two for £10 in Boots).

Any tips on where does good basics and staples.

I did see some nice cobalt sweaters in a few shops but I was on the look out for layering stuff, not jumpers.

How annoying for you - they don't seem to have much A/W stock in right now. That's why I am on self imposed a shopping ban til Oct. Did you try Primark? They are usually ruthless about moving onto the next season.

Re crew neck cardis - I am looking for one or two as well and I usually find these online. Try Woolovers for reasonably priced wool cardigans.

crew neck cardis in winter colours

I tend to be boring and go for black, grey or white vest tops, which are pretty easy to find. Uniqlo might have some more interesting ones though! Topshop has some lovely silky ones in ATM, some in ice and jewel colours.

Crew neck Cardigans-my specialty...
Mango-wash well
Oasis-wash well
M&s-the buttons are often frumpy but can be easily changed
Warehouse sometimes have them
Gap
Primark-never bought one from there so can't vouch for quality
Next
Dorothy Perkins
H&m - if you wash and wear often these aren't the greatest quality
Woolovers- haven't tried
Uniqlo-haven't tried but may order some
Landsend-haven't tried

I love cardis and wear most days so have a fairly extensive collection from over the years. They're the thing I will always buy if I see a colour I like.

mango

That mango one looks great but its hand wash only. I have an eleven month old so need something that will stand up well to repeated washing!

The Woolover ones are a bit too loose.

I do quite like the Uniqlo ones but I do wonder if they could be a tad more fitted. They don't show them off well with that polo neck underneath.

I bought the Mango one in blue. It's a strong but beautiful shade. I put it in the washing machine at 30 degrees woollens (together with other stuff). It came out ok, a bug crumpled as I forgot it in overnight but fine once left in the back of a chair. I ought to start treating my clothes with more respect!

I bought a camisole/vest in Oasis in dark muted navy (£6). They had them in off white and pinkish as well.