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Original poster

HoC Autumn, was it a waste of money?

29 replies

NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 10:41

I've posted before about having had my colours done and being an Autumn Leaf. I couldn't really see what the HoC consultant was saying but have embraced her advice and have bought some clothes in the autumn colours, quite a few from the Kettlewell website. I've also seen my hairdresser and had my hair coloured a bit darker using the shades recommended from the information sheets given to me at my HoC consultation.

I'm finding it much easier to find 3 colours to wear each day as recommended by HoC but I'm still not feeling any 'wow' factor. I did the colour session with another lady and the HoC consultant had told us to "be prepared to receive lots of compliments" once we were wearing our colours but I haven't had a single comment. Nothing. Have I just wasted a load of money on clothes?!

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JennySense · 02/05/2013 11:31

But do you feel better styled yourself?

tiredteddy · 02/05/2013 11:35

Have you tried shopping at other places? I was diagnosed as a light summer by a colour analysis company this feb. it surprised me as I've always been a lot bolder in my personal style and its taken a while to adapt to some gentler shades. However I did see what she meant and I do look better. I've had a lot of compliments from wearing some of my new colours. I was also given the kettle well book but felt the style was a lot older than me?! I've also found it harder to find prints and patterns within my colours. Maybe vary where you are shopping?

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 11:39

A little bit. I'm trying colour combinations I would never have thought of before so that's opened up some new outfit choices for me which is nice. My hair is very noticeably darker and nobody has said anything (except from my mum who just said oh you're hair's darker, nothing more than that). I'm just left wondering does it look really awful. If someone I know has changed their hair I always make a point of telling them if it looks nice, or acknowledging the change but saying something very diplomatic if I'm not too sure, like "ooh you've had your hair done, did you fancy a change?". It's got me wondering if other people are thinking my hair looks awful now.

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MrsCampbellBlack · 02/05/2013 11:42

Do you have a blunt friend or sister or even your mum whose opinion you trust?

I'd ask them what they think to be honest.

Also probably a silly question but do you like the colours you're now buying and wearing?

givemeaclue · 02/05/2013 11:46

The persona shopper at debenhams will give you similar thing for free

CockyFox · 02/05/2013 13:03

I really want this done, well ,Actually I need someone to tell me exactly what to buy colour and style. I am 30 and still wearing the same things I was at 15 some of it literally the same item now faded and worn. I always look washed out but I tried the do it yourself colour anaylsis and couldn't tell which colours look best. It seems a lot of money to pay out when I don't think It would help.

TravelinColour · 02/05/2013 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QueenCadbury · 02/05/2013 13:19

I had mine done recently and love my new colours and personally feel great in them. I've only had one compliment. But if you're unsure then definately go back to your consultant.

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 13:39

MrsCampbellBlack I do have a very honest friend who would tell me straight. I'll ask her next time we meet up and if the feedback isn't good I'll have to go back to the HoC consultant. When I saw the four seasons on the colour wheel I liked the autumn colours, but when they're on me I just can't seem to see how they are suiting me more than any other colour would or wouldn/t iyswim.

Travel I honestly couldn't see it in the mirror in the class, but the other lady said could see some of it. Interestingly she felt the same when she was being done, she couldn't see if but I could on her!

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Bunbaker · 02/05/2013 13:44

The thing to remember is that if you are wearing the wrong colour that other people will notice what you are wearing and not really "see" you.

Shortly after I had my colours done, several years ago (I'm a winter) I wore a navy blue skirt and a white and navy top, whchh are exactly my colours. I met up with someone I used to work with and all she could say was how well I looked. That is what should happen when you are wearing the right colours for you.

MadAboutHotChoc · 02/05/2013 14:42

How old are you?

I ask because I think kettlewell is rather dated and frumpy so this could be why you are struggling? Also a lot of the summer clothes in shops right now are not in Autumn colours so this may be part of the problem.

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 14:48

I'm 44 Mad (and feel like I'm starting to look it recently too!). I've bought three of the tie wrap cardigan's which I wear loose over a normal t-shirt or some of the longer length spaghetti strap camis they sell. Usually teamed with jeans for school runs, and navy or brown trousers for work. I agree, there's tons on there that is veeeery old looking but it is helpful to see some of their colour combinations.

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Hopefully · 02/05/2013 14:49

Agree with Mad - I adore kettlewell, but there aren't that many things that work for my personal style, so I do have to shop carefully.

Another thing I did initially was literally buy anything I found in my colours, and some weren't right for my style, and I felt a bit frumpy.

Autumn colour are quite hard to find in spring/summer - embrace lime, oyster, coral, grass and the odd bit of purple and teal Smile

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 14:55

There's a boden top I'm thinking of buying, if anyone can tell me how to do a link I'll show you and maybe you could tell me what you think for an autumn? It's got lots of colour going on but I think they're "my" colours.... I think!

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AmberNectarine · 02/05/2013 15:06

Agree with that, when I wear the right colours, and especially the right lipstick as I am today, I get the comments. This morning I had a 'you look very nice' and a 'you look glam, as always'. Not honing in on one particularly thing. Are you wearing the make up? It does make a difference...

MadAboutHotChoc · 02/05/2013 15:42

Click copy on the link for the boden top (or tell us the name and one of us will go and look for it).

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 15:59

Amber I always wear makeup as I look a bit tired rough as shit without it. I even bought some HoC foundation as it was a brilliant match for my skin tone. It was too matt though so today I've been out and bought some bare minerals in the same tone and that looks nice, with some great blusher. When I had my HoC colours done she also applied some VERY colourful lipsticks. I never wear lipstick which I told her but said I was willing to give it a try. She warned me I would feel as if I had "Mick Jagger lips that would look like they were dancing all over the garden by themselves" until I got used to it, saying to try it for 2 weeks. I still think I look like a right pratt so I've stopped wearing it. It was a coral colour, very orangey looking (shudders).

Hopefully this is the link to the Boden top, if not it's called Martinique vest in antique gold mosaic, item code WL719. What do you think?

www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-High-Summer/WL719-GLD/Womens-Antique-Gold-Mosaic-Martinique-Vest.html

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Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 16:00

Bum, it didn't work. I'm new to this!

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Hopefully · 02/05/2013 16:21

There are plenty of very muted autumn HoC lipsticks (the advantage of summer and autumn is not having to go for bold lippy every day!), your consultant should be able to recommend some less alarming ones, or I can PM you some ones that are generally good for autumn leafs, but obviously I don't know your actual skin and colouring beyond knowing your season type Smile

The gold mosaic looks good. Quite soft for an autumn leaf, but as long as the rest of your outfit isn't too beige it will be good. It's v easy as an autumn to get lost in the sludgy colours and feel v flat, but there are loads of amazing vibrant autumn colours available.

Hopefully · 02/05/2013 16:22

Oh, and if you can find a lipstick that works, it really will make all the difference, honestly.

MadAboutHotChoc · 02/05/2013 16:30

That top would look great with coral if this is one of your best coloursSmile

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 16:46

Thanks for looking, I'll order the top and see how it looks. I've got a coral cardigan Mad Smile

Hopefully that would be great if you'd PM me, I really do want to persevere with the lipstick. Even though I hate the colour I've got I can see the potential of finishing off my look and feeling generally more polished. Whenever I chicken out and wipe the present one off I'm left feeling a bit bland, but going from zero to tango-lips is too much.

I walked past my hallway mirror a few minutes ago and caught a glimpse of myself and I really do think my hair suits Smile

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Jemster · 02/05/2013 16:52

Notenough what blusher have you found to be good? I'm an Autumn and am still searching for thr right blusher and lippy. Any ideas?

Original poster
NotEnoughJamOnTheBread · 02/05/2013 17:03

Jemster its by bare minerals and its called warmth. Its actually an all over face colour but the lady at the makeup counter used it as a blusher on me. It looks extremely dark in the pot and you literally just need a tiny bit. I also bought the foundation powder in 'fairly light' and that looks great too.

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