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...

'Tulip red' also comes out a great winter red, as long as you're dying something that's not already a strong, dark colour. I dyed a light orange cotton top tulip red and it came out beautifully, but a burnt orange cotton jumper barely took the dye at all.

intense violet is good. I dyed pale blue cardigan. Had to buy a purple fabric pen to colour in the stitching around the button holes.

flamingo pink also good.

The dark green wasn't great. I was hoping it would be pine green but it wasn't but maybe it was because of the green colour I was dying on top of.

Hmmm.... I'm not sure if trust our washing machine!

I'm wearing this today with black tights, a thin black belt at the waist and a black v neck cardie. I got it when there was 25% off everything and thought it will be find for a day dress. I'd normally wear boots but can't fit them on thanks to a dodgy foot!,

Is your washing machine competent at washing clothes? Should be fine if so - I dyed a few things in our ancient, frequently-breaking washing machine and it worked perfectly. I've never had a problem with the dye hanging around in the machine afterwards and getting on other clothes either.

Glad to hear intense violet and flamingo pink come out well, i'd hesistated trying them in case they were on the pastel side :)

Kosher I LOVE that dress, it's exactly the kind of day dress I like :)

I've just thought of someone who looks really good in acid yellow - my half-Indian DH! He has several acid yellow tshirts and lots of cobalt/yellow cricket gear... I wonder if he's a winter

Right! I'm off to town now DH is here to keep an eye on children and homework. I have the £150 that I've budgeted for new clothes burning a hole in my pocket. Any bets whether I come home with anything?!
Love the dress Kosherbacon, but think it will suit my shape (fat, lumpy and old, may try it anyway). My main target shops are Debenhams, Hobbs, Phase 8, Monsoon and M&S. Wish me luck!

KB - lovely dress.

Thanks for dying tips and have just remembered an old packet of black dye so will go and do my black clothes for now til I go shopping. Some lovely colours on the chart - I quite fancy burlesque red....

Kezz probably yes.

Good luck Newname tell us what you bought...

NNNT - I can't work out your previous name. Ignore me if that's intentional.

A great charity shop find two days ago: a nice charcoal jumper, 40% wool, 10% mohair, vgc and only £8. Perfect for ice skating this morning (watching).

I'm back and those of you that guessed I'd come back with nothing were right . I did try on:
this
this but in red
this
this
this
these and
this

What was wrong with these? All look really good (although the LA skirt would have been a no no being dry clean only)

Colours and styles fine, but not good on my body!
Skirt too short, came to the most unflattering length for my tree trunks
Cardigan OK but just didn't feel right (trying to follow my HoC consultants advice to only buy "love it" clothes)
Phase 8 top and dress just accentuated my bulges between my under bust and waistline
The check trousers had me worrying they looked like pyjamas on someone my age
Precis cardi was nice, but small was too tight and they didn't have a large.

Mean medium was too tight for the Precis cardi not small!
Browsing their website they seem to have some nice tops so I may well order online this evening.

Forgot to answer LCHammer's question. I changed my name as I has said quite a bit under my old name and didn't want to out myself at work (teacher).

Ooh I love that Phase 8 top.

Shame about not finding anything Newname but I think it is good advice to only buy stuff you love. I am trying that approach too not very successfully

I also dyed some stuff, but then didn't report back. I used intense violet and flamingo pink too. V bright colours. I'm really pleased with a pair of chinos that I dyed purple, the colour is lovely.

I did actually dye a khaki top dark green. I am a bit unclear on the forest green / pine green distinction. Same as with burgundy.

I will look into tulip red as I still have a few things I want to dye but have stopped this month as it is a pricey endeavour.

I bought this skirt recently, though ideally I need a few tops in my ** colours.

I like that burgundy skirt, MrsR. I have a v similar colour one from Jigsaw but it's a bit too reddish. I think burgundy is difficult, a bit counterintuitive as it should suit better if it has a red tone to it, but it doesn't!

NNNT - sounds sensible. I've NC as I'd meant to months ago but never quite made it to both MN and laptop (rather than mobile) at the same time.

The skirt is quite pinky IRL LC

Here are a few examples of my dyeing exploits
purple trousers I'm pleased with
dress much pinker irl
fuschia polka dot
questionable green

My photos are a bit rubbish!

How adventurous. So you dye even patterned things? Must be nerve racking waiting to see what comes out.

Good dyeing mrsR.

I know what you mean about green and burgundy. I have a burgundy cardigan which I just can't decide on. It's almost too brown iyswim rather than reddy. Burgundy's just not a great colour on me anyway though so I will probably get rid of it.

I've got some antique grey dye to use on a jumper so will report back on that.

Mrs - you've done well. Feeling quite inspired now. The black dye job worked well, can;'t remember when I bought it although it was several years ago. The powder had turned into a hard block and I forgot to dampen the clothes first so was a bit unsure as to how it would work out.

Just got a Banana Republc email and they have some great winter colour handbags. Just a shame I missed the 35% off everything deal they had last week (oh and I have no money!).

this comes in cobalt
as does this
and I think this is a winter pine rather than a forest green as it looks quite a bright clear green if that makes sense

Just received Boden's winter catalogue and I am impressed with the new items:

The Ingrid coat is in four winter colours - including shocking pink and acid yellow. Diana coat also in winter colours including emerald.

Looks like they've included a new colourway for the chevron yoke jumper Kezz liked - cobalt, acid yellow and grey. They also have a gorgeous jacquard roll neck in red and shocking pink. New colours from the winter palette for the button back jumper.

A wool blend cowl neck top - all in five winter colours.

Hardly any orange or mustard yellow

I've received it as well. I agree, there are some strong colours there and in some respects I think they've gone back to what they do best. There are a few complete eyesores too.

After a fruitless trawl through the shops today I might have to go back to Boden.

lc I had a fruitless trawl through the shops too. So I came home and ordered some navy ash boots