The winter colours thread part 2...

[QueenCadbury]

Are you a winter colouring? If so come and join us for chat about clothes/make up following on from here.

Thanks QueenC :)

I've been eyeing up this red Hush cardi since I first saw it in the catalogue. I'm not a cardi person normally but for some reason I've wanted a fluffy bright red one for ages. It's got £10 off atm... If it's the really bright red that it seems on the model in the first two pictures it would be ideal, but I bet it's darker irl.

[gingerly joins after analysis as winter jewel yesterday]

Hello [shy smile]

I've got a question. So my analysis totally surprised me, making me a winter jewel, and I have to always question "is it bright enough", apparently. Now, I'm pleased with the colour palette I've got, and 2 of my wow colours are shades of grey, which is fantastic. But some of the brighter colours (sorry don't have my swatch to hand, and can't remember names, but fuschia was one, a bright red, a bright blue, maybe a green), although lovely, is quite a massive leap from my comfort zone.

Have any of you kept your wow colours as more accents while maintaining a neutral base? Do you think that kind of wastes the analysis?

Hi Carrie,
I'm a jewel winter too and have been easing my way into it.

I think it is fine to accent with your brighter colours and wear more of your less scary colours. It's not wrong as such, just not necessarily your maximum best!

I have recently bought a royal blue sweater and a bright fushia one. I was looking at them in the shop and knew that normally I would just go for the grey or black. I didn't particularly want to buy the bright ones but decided I may a swell try them on. As soon as I did it was like my face changed and I could really see how much more flattering they were.

It took a while for me to have that eureka moment and it is true that you get more comments when wearing the right colours near your face.

So by all means ease yourself into it, and just think more about what not to buy and try the odd brighter thing. I have not yet plucked up the courage to wear red! But have tried most of my other bright colours.

Hi Carrie - its fine to use bright colours as accents. I find scarves really handy for brightening up a neutral outfit (I wear a lot of grey, navy and black).

Nice cardigan - have you seen this? they have other stuff that I have my eye on so will be taking DH with me to buy my christmas presents

Hi carrie. I think it's totally fine to maintain a neutral base and experiment with introducing the brighter colours slowly - especially as you have two greys as your 'wow' shades. I think like Sunny says, try on a few colours here and there that you wouldn't normally try, rather than gravitating to your usual safe colours. This will help you learn to identify winter colours too. I had my colours done 18 months ago and am still getting it wrong sometimes - e.g. with blues, I often need to put one blue against another to see whether it's bright enough, otherwise I just can't see whether it's too muted or not. And I read somewhere that it takes about 3 years to totally transform your wardrobe and get completely comfortable with your colours.

I think a lot of people are put off the whole colours business when they are told they are a certain season and decide right, everything they wore before was wrong and they need to only wear pastels, or brights, or whatever. You need to give your self-image time to adjust and time to really 'see' yourself in your colours. I still haven't relinquished my favourite tan bag or brown winter boots, so I'm not quite there yet, but when they die I'm going full winter ;)

Hi, I've been AWOL I was formerly peasypeeler but got a bit lost!

I'm a Sultry Winter and struggling to not go back to being an autumn which I thought I was originally.

I can't get my make-up right, I see warm colouring when it's actually meant to be cool :(

I would never have discovered how good I look in charcoal though so I know I must be a winter!

MissScatterbrain am I being thick? I can't see the zip detail on that jumper! Lovely colours and shape - it's 58% nylon though, which is a bit for £69 imo.

I think some sultry winters tend to be neutral when it comes to foundation.

I don't wear foundation so don't have a problem with make up - eyes and lips are much easier.

Hi 50hoo - maybe we can help?

The zips are on the side. I know what you mean about the price - the wine colour is perfect though.

Hello all! Thanks so much, Queen.

I am slowly easing myself into the shock image change that comes from being diagnosed as a winter. Take it easy - it is a lifelong habit that will take some development.

I'm wondering about lipsticks - I seem to remember needing to wear fuschia with some colours, burgundy with others and something else again with soemthing else. Can you tell I didn't write it down? Am I supposed to wear anything in particular with purples?

Thanks Elizabeth not sure what I'm doing really.

I have dark eyes, brown hair and a pale complexion but it's also olive. My neck is several shades lighter and I have a bit of pigmentation on my cheeks.

I've always veered towards yellow-based foundation as I can't see any pink in my skin at all - well, other than redness when it's sensitive.

My HoC lipsticks are carmine red, damson and burgundy wine shimmer and they're SO bright and heavily pigmented. I'm used to wearing a Bobbi Brown nude so it's quite a departure!

Eye-wise I don't wear eyeshadow, it's really about getting the blush and lippie right.

I've bought Clarins Soft Berry and I love it but it's not very bright.

I'd be scared if my blush had to be blue-based. I'm taking it all a bit too seriously and over-thinking it no doubt!

[sidles into thread]

have also been recently 'diagnosed' as a winter. Had a sort out of my wardrobe today and now left with a sea of black and navy so trying to inject some colour. I'm struggling a bit to be honest, feel a bit overwhelmed, as though it's cut down my shopping opportunities - i find it hard enough to find clothes that suit me and my big ass and boobs without adding another layer of complexity. Does it get easier?

I've had a look on ASOS today and this i've found some things, not sure if they are quite right though. If anyone has any time, it would be great to get some guidance.

this jumper looks a bit like number 11 on my swatches

Forest green jumper, not sure about this colour, could it be too warm?

Purple jacket

i love this but i guess the trim makes it a no.

love this dress but a bit spendy.

love this blue dress

I wonder if its easier to focus on one or two things at a time for make up. I remember using tan blusher and warm toned foundation because wearing the wrong colours meant I needed help to look better. I don't wear either now because I wear such a strong lipstick (red/burgundy) and quite a bit of eye make up (mainly greys/blacks) and I look so much better that I don't need more make up.

Hi, I'll rejoin you, I love the inspiration from these threads. I was diagnosed a Sultry Winter last month. I now love my bright lipsticks, have had my highlighted bobbed hair chopped short and dyed darker and am trying to choose clothes with colour.

One problem I have is that most coloured things are jumpers! I don't want to only wear jeans and jumpers. So any recommendations for dresses, skirts, shirts etc would be fab.

50hoo I think like MissS said, lots of sultry winters need neutral foundation. Look at this - the skin colours described aren't pink-based at all, they are what most make up artists would call yellow-based or warm. What foundations have you been trying? I know Estee Lauder, YSL and Mac all do 'neutral' tones as well as yellow-based and pink-based. IMO what you need is a foundation that matches your skin exactly - doesn't matter whether it's pink/yellow/neutral/warm/cool - just go by how it looks on your skin.

Your blush doesn't need to be obviously blue-based, just make sure it's not peach or gold or browny. Go for pinks or reds.

And don't bother with bright, heavily pigmented lipsticks if you don't like them - the Clarins soft berry sounds lovely.

If anyone disagrees with what I've said I won't be offended, this is just my guesses!

hello Betty.

Looking at the links - the denim dress is probably the best of the lot in terms of winter colours. The first blue top is a possibility but its hard to tell online as some blues and greens come out differently. The green top looks spring and has brown patches. The jacket has a coral trim - it will clash with your make up and wardrobe. Purple jacket looks muted - it needs to be a proper royal purple.

I would go to a dept store and have a look around to see what catches your eye and compare with your wallet.

Ooh cross post with Betty. Would you say the last Asos dress in purple is a sultry winter?

Totally agree about the eyes and lips too. I've gone to a powder foundation purely to even skin tone rather than colour, it seems to work and make my eyes really stand out.

Thanks All, yes I suppose an ease in gently is no bad thing. The thing is I've spent years avoiding black and fuschia as I thought they clashed with my (chestnutty) hair or were too severe, so it's quite a sea change. Grey is awesome though, and have quite a lot of the right colours already, so will go forth and bling myself up with the jewels .

Eliz - I agree with your point about lipsticks, you need to feel right about wearing these and if you have never worn these, balms/sheers are ideal.

Good advice miss I think I should maybe look at eyeshadow as that might calm down the lipstick. My lipstick is wearing me I think!

Elizabeth thanks! I'll look at pinks instead of peaches for blush. I usually wear bronzer so you can see what a pickle I'm in!

I'm currently using Clinique's Cream Chamois compact foundation described as very fair but on the gold side. It really blends in well. I also use Clarins Skin Illusion in Sand.

I love this charcoal Laura Ashley cardigan. It's smart enough as a jacket

www.lauraashley.com/boiled-lambswool-cable-sleeve-cardigan/invt/cd106?colour=charcoal

Would look great with a bright accent colour underneath?

If you mean this in purple it looks magenta rather than purple. Great if its your best colour.

Puffle - re getting away from jeans and jumpers, I tend to wear cord/moleskin skirts with tights, boots and use brightly coloured layering tops. I also have a every day shift dress in black and wear brightly coloured long sleeved tops underneath. All were bought during the past few years from Gap, Boden and M&S.