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....

Yes, I checked my spreadsheet - it is closest to chinese blue. It's not a very matchy match, but that's the closest IMO. I'm attaching a pic. It might be more a warm spring blue colour, but it's lovely and saturated.

nowhere I always find those blues hard to match which is annoying as it's a ** at 100%. I have a cotton jumper in it and a silk scarf but that's it so far!

Looks like a good match to me I have a top which is in between chinese blue and cobalt - its a beautiful blue.

Yes, it is tricky, isn't it? Almost as bad as the greens, which I find impossible to spot. I only get 2 ticks at 75 and one star at 50 for Chinese blue, but I think I'll wear it with navy/black over the top so only a bit of the blue is showing at the neck/sleeves. Ooh, glad to hear you think it looks ok MissScatterbrain

I try and remember that if its cool, clear and bold, then its a winter colour.

Agree, MRS S. Any hint of softness or dustiness, and it will make me look old and jowly.

Mornin'
So, today I am being brave and wearing a navy (or maybe indigo) dress, long sleeved, midi length, bare legs (brrrr), nude pointy flats and my new charcoal grey calf length cardi and a bit of Mac Russian Red to try and make me look less like I forgot half my make up as I was tidying the house manically before we left this morning for a viewing .

I do still find the blues and greens v.hard to spot. I kind of thought that blue was cool by default not that I have 13 years of art education but clearly it is not!
Liked that article by Jo Greene on the Kettlewell wordpress blog talking about colours someone posted a while back...

What about teal? It's not in our swatches, but is listed as a winter colour on the kettlewell site. As it is a blue-green, it seems like it should be ok (presumably cooler than yellow-greens?). I had a lovely teal and navy striped top that I think suited me well.

I often think how useful it would be to have all the other seasons swatches too, so you could be sure something was winter shade rather than spring etc.

I often look at an online image of the HOC colour wheel for that reason.

I think teal is a bit green-y for us - our blues are more "real" blues, cobalt, navy & the two Nowhere posted. Are winter colours purer or more primary than other seasons?

I've got the Hush Rosie dress in damson and navy on it's way. The colour is pretty perfect although the skirt is on the thin side.

I tried the other colour too but the blue wasn't right.

Fooogle the thought of your bare legs is making me shiver!

Yes stokey I immediately put on cosy trousers and three tops when I got home!
Not sure about teal either, thought it was good on me before (when was a spring) but think it makes me look a bit yellow...
So, got my office ash jalouse type boots. Think I like them...suede though...gonna need a lot of spraying?

Yes, I have some suede Office ones from last winter and I try and avoid wearing them in the rain.

They've done OK but just had to get the reheeled.

Today I am mostly wearing, black wide leg high waisted trousers, colbalt blue long sleeve top, plum (?) button up cardigan and non winter tan ankle boots. I'm much warmer than yesterday!

Today I am wearing dark blue jeans, black leather jacket, a burgundy jumper and ash Jalouse boots. I am shopping at West Quay (currently typing whilst inhaling a cheese scone and a coffee in the JL café) so will report back later on any finds.

Hello, today am wearing Me&Em dark grey ruched skirt, Gap dark grey crew neck LS top, J Crew Factory cobalt blue 3/4 sleeve cardie and black opaques with black ankle boots. Long silver necklace.

Got a 40% off instore voucher for Gap today, so plan to stock up on my LS Ts at the weekend. Also DD is off to her first long school camp on Monday , and I need to make sure she has plenty of layers, so may buy her some joggers and leggings (which she will then insist on wearing ALL. THE. TIME. and no longer wear her beautiful other clothes).

Oh do report back Sorel

Fooogle I always love the sound of your outfits (apart from the bare legs, brrr). Where is the midi dress from?

It is v wintery here. I am in black trousers, 'ice' (not really but close enough) blue top and damson uniqlo cardi / burgundy coat when out.

Lovely bag Queen - have you used it yet? Will it be your every day bag?

Stokey I love the colours of that dress. Lots of good colours for us at hush - though I am not completely convinced by quality full price apart from my beloved harems

Random question prompted by your post Carrie - do you wear tights under your maxi skirt? I just tend to wear maxis in summer cause of the footwear / sock / tights conundrum.

I'm feeling a bit lacking in colour today. I'm wearing black wide leg jeans, a long dark grey vest from H&M, a black slash neck from H&M and a damson/burgundy merino cardi from Pure Collection.

Looks like a lot of us are wearing a bit of berry/plum/damson - Boden black cashmere over a Primark burgundy LST & jeans here.

Is it a 'pop' of lipstick you need nowhere , that's my answer if I can be bothered! I like how doesmybumlook40 blog has leather cuffs too, always think they can oomph my colours. Sometimes I like to look a bit dark though, feels a bit more covert!
I might just do nice descriptions MrPop! The midi dress was cheap from ebay seller that had all different colours. I didn't think I'd wear it super lots so too stingey to buy a 'real' one. Think was a £10?
Yes, I don't know re maxi's and tights... I tend to think of it as a summer thing too...nice if it wasn't though

Hi MrPop, skirt today is knee length - I tend to keep maxis for summer too, as don't fancy dragging cold wet mud around with me all day . So yes, tights are de rigeur - fleecy lined tights today. Am toasty warm!

If I were to where a maxi in winter, I'd wear tights for warmth, and maybe ankle boots...

As I was technically meant to be doing Christmas shopping today I didn't go into very many shops but did have a good browse in JL. I saw and tried the following (all Reiss):

Ice aqua jumper - A good match for Ice Green (shade 30). Good colour but the mesh bit looked very odd on me. I think it would be better on someone will a smaller bust.

Blue lace jumper - Fell between Royal and Electric blue (shades 10 & 11) but still very cool and deep. Alas, the bust line was, again, wrong for me. The sleeves were very tight too. I don't think my arms are freakishly wide but maybe they are...

Chunky grey jumper - Fell between Light grey and Grey (shades 3 & 4) and the metallic thread was silvery too. Looked bloody awful on though! Too chunky on me but would look great on someone very tall and thin.

Green dress - A good match for Light Emerald (shade 27). I tried this as the cut of the body and skirt fit with my style guidelines. However, the V-neck didn't work for me and the armholes were annoyingly big at the sides. Flesh could be seen! The fabric was a great colour and felt lovely (for polyester).

Textured white shirt - I loved this! A good fit (slightly gapey on the thrid button but nothing noticeable) and a true white. The texture fits with my style rules but, but, £95 for a viscose shirt! I didn't buy it as I begrudge spending that amount when I just bought almost identical silk ones (in black and navy) from Uniqlo for £29 each!

There were a lot of grey, blue and black metallic jumpers around and lots of black sequined dresses so if you like sparkle this could be your time!

I agree Sorrel, I can't really get my head around the difference in pricing in shops for similar or not so similar materials/shapes. Reiss is a bit too 'spensive for me usually though I like the look of their wide leg trousers. In fact I always like their stuff, just not their prices. Hope you enjoyed your shop and bought some Christmas presents

office
clarks
decision time I think. Want to wear with skirts, skinny trousers, poss jeans...

I love Reiss and seem to spend a fair amount of time trying on various items from their range but never buying anything! It's so pricey. I do love my A-line skirt and blue dress from last season though. Cost per wear they've worked out as good purchases.

Apart from something for my DM and a couple of small gifts for children of friends, my shopping is done [smug]. I'm going to to make some Christmas chutney this weekend as 'extra' presents for people I've forgotten to buy anything for.

I much prefer the Office boots. They are almost indeintical to the Ash ones aren't they? A much better price though! My Ash are on their third A/W, have been re-soled and re-heeled once and are holding up well.