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...

kezz those jigsaw boots look mole to me. My consultant advised that you'll never find precise matches to your swatches but if an item tones in with everything else in wallet then it's fine.

kezz those jigsaw boots look mole to me. My consultant advised that you'll never find precise matches to your swatches but if an item tones in with everything else in wallet then it's fine.

About the colour wallet. When I was reading about HOC on here years back, I imagined walking around the shops with endless colourful scarves and taking them out like a magician out of a tube. The size of the wallet was a big surprise and how easy it is to use. I did hi inside the changing rooms the first few times just to check but now I don't feel so self-conscious anymore and do it in plain view. A bit embarrassing taking out the expensive HOC wallet when rummaging through charity shops.

YY to how we will not always find an exact match - as long as the tone (i,.e clear, cool & bold) is right and that it goes well with the one in the wallet, its fine.

after - after a while you may find that you don't need the wallet when shopping for clothes.

Sorry I shouldn't be lazy and read through the thread but can I ask what lipsticks you are all wearing?

I bought 3 on the HoC day but I am now not sure about quality (a bit drying / fade quickly) and so need to get some alternatives. I love the colours though. One is a red, a bright fuschia and then a more burgundy shade.

I have berry smoothie from Revlon which is a good everyday colour but not v bright.

My favourite lipsticks for winters - I hope you like Mac :

Mac Russian Red (deep but bright matte red)
Mac Ruby Woo (very bright, very matte, don't wear it that often as a bit on the bright side for me as a sultry winter, but still a great blue red)
Mac Diva (matte dark burgundy red, also works well as a stain for day time applied with finger)
Mac Media (black cherry type colour, very dark and vampy but great on sultry winters)
Mac Plumful (pinky plum colour, great natural-looking colour for daytime)

Also have Revlon lip butter in Berry Smoothie, Raspberry Pie and Red Velvet and love the colours but they just don't last long on me.

Also have Mac Dark Side on order, a dark cherry red. Looks great but can't comment on how good it is on a winter yet (I have a friend who works at Mac and gets me a big discount )

Thanks Kezz I've never tried Mac apart from the blot powder (which is v good as an aside!). Lipsticks were the aspect of the HoC day that were out of my comfort zone but I want to embrace it (excuse the pun). Can you buy their stuff on line?

You can buy from the Mac website, I've never used it though as have always lived near a Mac counter. It's free delivery over £30. Debenhams also sell it on their website. I love the blot powder too! The lipsticks are really good quality and long-lasting IME - I've tried buying cheaper ones in similar colours when I've found a dupe by Rimmel etc but always end up hating the smell or the finish or the crappy packaging.

A tip for staining your lips with lipstick - use a brush and its much more effective and accurate. I find that in general dark matt lipsticks can be drying so always have lip balm handy.

I really struggle with mac lipsticks. I find them really drying. I love my Lip Butters though.

As an aside, I have been asked twice if I've split up from my husband or having an affair since I'm wearing proper lipsticks, neater clothes and have cut my hair short recently too.

I've got:
Hoc red 499- don't wear this as it turns a pink colour
Hoc fuschia 62
Lip butter berry smoothie
Lip butter red velvet
Lip butter raspberry pie
Rimmel diva red
Bobbi brown pink raspberry gloss

Kosher, lol at the suggestion you've split up with hubby or having an affair!

I wore a blue jumper yesterday, no make up, up half the night with three week old baby and three people said how well I looked. Either they were being kind, or that shade of blue is one of my better colours!

Queen, I've got HOC 499 and 62. Have to feel very brave before I wear them though, they take me right out of my comfort zone.

I love red lipstick. My favourite is Lancôme Rich Red. It's a couple of years old now but I'll be looking to buy similar if they don't make it anymore. My favourite fuschia, which I've only recently started wearing again, is a double sided one (Max Factor?) with lighter pink at one end and fuschia at the other. ATM I don't have other shades but keen on trying others too as I have been wearing mostly red these past few years. I used to love deep berry/purple in a Goth kind of look.

KB - how lovely! What does your DH think? :)
LCC - what shade of blue?

Kezz - I'll try some of those Macs, especially the ones I haven't experimented with. I like matte lipstick.

aftermay I read somewhere that even the darkest berry/purple 'Goth' shades of lipstick can't make deep/sultry winters look like goths and I think it might be true. I don't look at all scary in those colours!

Oh and re the Mac matte lipsticks, I don't find them drying at all, but from makeupalley reviews I know some people do.

Just browsing John Lewis and came across this skirt. Looks like it may be pine green?

and a possible pine green jumper

and a dress. Not that I'm buying any of these but I'm just excited to be seeing pine green as you don't come across it often!

QC- loving that lace skirt is ace. Hmmmm... Must not buy. Must not buy.

Problem solved about the skirt. Out if stock in every size but 12 and 18.

in stock here kosher...

this top is nice too...