Having my colours done tomorrow....

[JohnCusacksWife]

.....and am v excited! Is that a bit sad? Am hoping it is going to transform me into a polished, well put together woman. Hope springs eternal.....

One day on and I had a wee splurge in Primark and got a few bits in my colours. And I have to say that I felt great in them all. Much fresher, brighter...generally just a bit better than I usually do. I still feel a bit challenged by some (a lot!) of my Spring colours but at least I've made a start.

Well done john. I think that's where most people start -a few cheap tops, coral lippie or nail polish ( for springs ) , cheap gold and turquoise necklace or earrings. Scarves or bright opaques if that's your thing .

Baby steps :-)

Spring can be a tricky one to look serious/corporate in, but one of our managers looks absolutely terrifying when she needs to and she is a Spring .

Sounds like baby steps are working for you, which is great. I think sometimes the thought of shifting over your entire wardrobe can be daunting/OTT, but a couple of tshirts and a lipstick isn't quite so alarming.

Hope you don't mind me hopping on your thread OP, but just to say I had my day yesterday and have come out as a deep Summer. I'm quite pleased and could see why but it's not what I would have chosen (although glad I was a Cool).

I did find it interesting but does anyone feel the whole thing is ever so slightly Emperor's New Clothes? I mean, I could see that I looked better in some colours than others but nothing made me either look so dreadful that people would be likely to run away screaming if I wore it or a million times better than I did before. And I really can't get my head around suddenly wearing so many bright colours, even if they are My Shades. I think I'd look like a children's TV presenter if I started wearing the suggested 3 colours after so many years in mainly neutrals. No-one in real life really dresses like that do they?

I went shopping afterwards and did try on some things I wouldn't normally have purely because of the colour but often the shape or style wasn't right for me which is surely as important as colour?

Just wondered if I am missing something because I was hoping to be a bit more wowed that I was.

Cambridge, I do know what you mean. My "diagnosis" was more borderline than the others I was with so for some colours the difference between "urgh" and "wow" was less obvious. There were definitely colours I looked awful in though! My spring palette is a huge change for me and I can't see me ever dressing head to toe in brights. But I will definitely combine them with the more neutral/darker shades. Cut and fit are obv still massively important so I'll not be buying things purely on the basis of colour but it will now be one of my main criteria.

Yesterday I wore a new pair of dove grey trousers with a reddy/pinky top and red pumps and my new bright lippy. 2 people came up to me during the course of the day to tell me I looked great - one asked me if I'd lost weight (no) and the other if I'd had a new haircut/colour (no). The proof of the pudding.....

Wow, that's more positive (and that colour combination sounds really nice and not too scary!)

I think I need to be a bit less cynical about it - the main thing that startled me was the Kettlewell brochure I was given which had lots of pics of women in very bright clothes, they couldn't have said 'I've had my colours done' more obviously whereas I was hoping for more of the 'you look great'/'have you lost weight?' outcome :)

I had my colours done in November and started introducing colours into my wardrobe and makeup a few days after. I began receiving compliments on my size, skin, hair and general 'put together' look immediately! I'm a Jewel Winter so my ** colours are mostly very bold. I'm pretty used to wearing red and blue now and hoping I don't look like a parrot

I'm a sprinter winter (so borderline with spring) and my best colours are the emeralds/bright blues. I tend to wear them with neutrals (grey or navy) but love adding in fuschia lipstick and nail polish or a coloured belt to add extra bits of colour which aren't so in your face.

I can wear black but rarely do anymore as I've realised that navy is far more flattering on me. The other thing I've found is important for me too is textures. So for example, black looks better on me if it's a shiny rather than matte material (eg silk/poly).

And agree about the Kettlewell catalogue....scary stuff!!

It's very intersting reading all your comments. I am slightly concerned about the "Emperor's new clothes" aspect but think am going to go ahead and book it for DM & me (as it was DM's birthday yesterday and I haven't bought her anything else )

Has anyone had it done in east/north London with someone they would recommend?

Honestly, I've always worn bright colours - maybe not so much as the Kettlewell catalogue just because plus-size clothes tends to have a more limited palette, but I'd be perfectly happy to wear those outfits. I am surprised that people find it scary - I'd never wear so many neutrals (black/grey/navy) if I didn't have to. Bright colours just make me feel happy.

The UK is in general just so used to drab colours that it's easy to be wary of the bright colours suggested for us. We should be taking our inspiration for clothes colours from India, China and Africa...they know how to rock colours and patterns! The older women who I see wearing fantastically bright colours..mainly I stare in admiration and if they aren't wearing flattering shades I still think they're to be admired for brightening up the landscape.