HOC winter thread. The cool and clear chat continues. Part 4.

[QueenCardigan]

Following on from part 3.

If you're a winter then come and join us for chat and links about clothes/bags/make up/hair....

I guess it depends on how fair your advised style is from your current one. I can see I might make the transition over a number of years given my unwillingness/inability to spend a high % of my money on clothes. I'll contine to lurk here - I may yet buy something !

I found my style day incredibly helpful. It's sort of given me permission to reject styles that I knew weren't right but other people kept saying were ok. E.g. "I think cap sleeves look odd on me", " don't be silly, they're fine", "nope, they are too girly and don't fit with my shape, end of discussion".

It's speeded up my shopping trips (which had already shortened after my colour day) and I find that it's much easier to decide what to wear for different occasions. I'm much more confident now about choosing an outfit.

Casual is an issue isn't it?!

I've moved into my A/W uniform of ankle boots (with a heel), skinny/straight jeans or cords,fitted knee length or midi dress/skirt and tights, fitted top/jumper and a smart blazer/jacket. Making sure to add some texture if possible. Oh yes, some bling too!!

It's much easier than in the Summer that's for sure. I now need to find some Christmas parties to go to so that I have an excuse to dress up.

Linen?

I loved my style day and the consultant got me spot on. It helped as she took into consideration the type of clothes I already owned and liked (I was asked to take in a few bits and took most of my wardrobe ) before making her diagnosis. It gave me permission to embrace the girly things I like without feeling frumpy. Eg fat face gets such a bad reaction on S&B but some of their tops are perfect for me and I don't feel frumpy anymore. I had complete confidence in my consultant though (hopefully) which presumably helps. As others have said it also plains why things don't work. Much as I love plaid shirts things with collars are never going to suit me. And why I feel overdressed in really formal structured things.

, the thought of all that baggy slouchy stuff!

I saw Hopefully for my Style day and a good friend saw her for the Colour day. Another good friend saw Travel a week ago for her Colour day

I saw this green velvet blazer in Massimo Dutti and thought of you Sorrel. Still quite pricey I'm afraid.

And if anyone is after a giant scarf, this has lovely winter blues and is super soft (although still expensive I'm afraid).

Hello all - I have just got back from a lipstick shopping spree at Mac so thought I'd share the three I went for
MAC Show Orchid - a really bright bluey pink
Dark Side - A deep burgundy
Ruby Woo - a matte bright red

I also picked up some black skinny cords in GAP, and some plum coloured khakis
Lovely scarf Stokey

oh heck that sounds awful! Clip on earrings - what is this, the 80's?

did they do much add-on sales stuff?

oops - was relying to Did and hadn't seen the more positive style-day comments which followed.

finbar no, no sales stuff. I'm trying to be more positive as I think it was good to have some things confirmed (double breasted things big no-no, don't benefit from shoulder pads etc) and the info on neck lines was good. But some things were not so useful - I get that I might need to spend 20% of my monthly take home if I'm buying everything from Jagaer but it's not really me (I work in a lab). The earrings remark came from having to score more than 12 on a check list. I don't wear things in my hair, I don't use glasses, I don't wear nail varnish to work, I can't have peep through shoes for work, similarly bangles aren't going to work so the consultant was looking for jewellery to score as armour (or whatever they call it). She suggested I should wear clip ons ! I probably should have tried to reach her half way on asking if there was any way denim jeans would ever be allowed, but I was still in shock from the introduction to patterns - I've got the PDF but I'm still too frightened to look at it. If anyone has a stronger stomach than me, I'm happy to forward it !

Thankfully black boot cut jeans, black top, silver pendant, black boots and a bright blue scarf pass the test. Still leaves me looking for another half a dozen points (she was genuinely shocked that I only have two rings - wedding and engagement, and I don't wear the latter to work - am I the only person who thinks sticking a bit of metal on is a little weird??)

I am a member of a singing group and we are organising uniform outfits for performances. Obviously we are all different seasons and most people are not HoC "diagnosed". We have to agree a colour and my first suggestion was true red, as I seem to remember my consultant saying all seasons can wear it, but I was voted down as lots of people are scared of red. My next suggestion was vetoed by the leaders - varying tones so we can all go with something that suits each one of us - as they want us all in identical style and coloured tops and black skirts.
As I know we'll all have to compromise can anyone suggest colours that, as a jewel winter, I need to say a definite NO to? I have been unwell lately and need all the colour help I can get.

Isn't there a true blue as well? Maybe that could work?

I ignored a lot of the very specific advice from the style day. If I follow the advice I find I am hugely overdressed for day to day life.

I agree with the style day stuff. I agree I'm a gamine and do love that look, but matching that with the shape advice isn't always easy. Also it doesn't always fit with my required work wardrobe.
The performance tops we have patterns for are round necked, long sleeved and fairly straight (maybe even boxy on me) and it isn't my ideal shape, but I'm more concerned about trying to get them to pick a colour that next to my face won't make me look as ill, exhausted and old as I feel!

I noticed that Kettlewell Colours have a purple that is suitable for all four seasons:

www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/season/all-colours/purple

Do you think your singing group would find that less scary than red?

Thank you NowhereNow - I LOVE purple, but then I'm really happy embracing all the bright, jewel colours (bright pink, bright purple, bright blue and red are all ** for me). I hope the others are more comfortable with it as it would look really good on stage. My feeling is we do need either all black, black and white or black and a bright colour, all of which I like and come from my pallet. The leaders are more interested in colours I would associate with Autumns, but I have a sneaking suspicion they (sisters) may both be undiagnosed Autumns themselves so may be drawn to that pallet.

any use for universal colours? Basically navy and grey though so not great with black?

So, anyone trying out a leather or pleather skirt this autumn? Have a black pencil one but not sure how to wear it (charity bargain hoping to look like baukjen version!). With tights? Black shoes? What do folk think?

I dabbled with a couple of pleather skirts in Zara but they weren't quite right. I'd planned to wear it with tights and ankle boots (cowboy style) or heels.