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....

Like MrPop my consultant didn't define what type of winter I am, but thanks to your comments I'm coming to the conclusion I am a jewel winter.

I saw an amazing silver coat today - sounds weird I know but it was gorgeous. I wasn't 100% happy with the neckline though - a bit too "slouchy" for me. Apart from that it was gorgeous!

here is a grey coat but it may be a bit short and not the warmest

Calling sultry winters!

I can't see how to work our ** colours with black or navy bottoms - it all looks a bit muted to me. Any tips would be appreciated on how to wear charcoal/indigo/pine green/raspberry/burgundy/carmine near my face without looking muted.

Cardigal - tell us what you currently do and we can give you tips as to where you could make your outfit look better.

Nigella - what are your * * colours? We might be able to work out what kind of winter you are.

cardigal how about adding in a belt or jewellery in one of the brighter colours? Or bright shoes or handbag. I'm sure it doesn't look muted but I guess it may look low contrast.

Cardigal - do you wear lipstick?

Hi, thanks for your thoughts! I'll try and be specific:

I have a charcoal woollen cardi/jacket that I love but when worn with black trousers looks low contrast - a much better description than 'muted' thanks QC!

I have a navy cardigan that works well with my navy/grey pencil skirt but also looks low contrast.

I love electric/cobalt blue with black, that works as does fuchsia and black and fuchsia and navy.

I have a light grey pencil skirt that works with navy and grey but not the charcoal for some reason.

I haven't added burgundies or damson to my wardrobe because they don't work with my neutrals of navy/grey/black.

I think the Queen hit it on the head when she mentioned low contrast. It all looks a bit bland.

I don't own a belt - lipstick-wise I'm getting better but still put off with the brights.

I genuinely can't get my head around being a sultry winter that suits the deep end of the palette yet has to wear bright lipstick :(

I'm a natural/classic/ingénue size 10/12 soft curved if that helps! I love the cardigan look as it makes me feel less busty.

Thanks for listening/reading :)

Maybe I need to wear bright tees under my cardis?

Cardigal I am a sultry winter and my consultant said to avoid bright bright lipsticks. Still in the winter palette, but not fuchsia etc. I find a slick of Revlon Bordeaux gloss is great. How about bright white tshirts under to add that bit of contrast that you need?

I second white tops under the cardis and jackets. I love that look and it works well for me.

Also, I suggest a silver necklace or one in a brighter colour. Depending on your style there are lots of types that might suit and 'lift' your outfit.

Also, consider pattern. Navy trousers or skirts with a burgundy/damson and white patterned blouse could be great.

And navy trousers and a white top with burgundy print scarf would be lovely.

Thanks ever such a lot! It feels good to chat to people who understand the whole sultry winter thing :)

I really think I have quite a neutral skintone, fuchsia pink lipstick is very scary!

I think maybe being a sultry means I almost lean into autumn colours - not the earthy oranges and greens obviously but it's not a clear cut 'bright' diagnosis.

White tops sound good - thanks for that suggestion, it all needs breaking up a bit in my opinion.

I wear Collecton 'prohibition' thanks to a recommendation on an earlier thread but have to blot most of it off as it's so loud.

Can I wear black opaques and black calf length boots with a navy skirt?

I like the pattern idea too, thanks

Cardigal- my consultant saw me wearing Prohibition and said it was a tad too bright for us sultry winters. There are a few of us and in previous threads we've all noticed we are neutral, rather than cool toned.

Thanks for that, will check the Revlon Bordeaux :)

It's the first time I've felt confident in my diagnosis coming here and confiding in a few fellow sultries!

I must stop trying too hard, since my style day I've been so hung up on buying the right thing that it's stopped me buying anything! I've tried on over 50 things this week alone and bought nothing.

I have mostly ignored all the stuff about buying to last. I took me a few months get used to shopping for my new look, so I stuck to cheap shops where I felt comfortable and whereby felt like if I made a mistake it wouldn't matter.

Don't worry though, now I am finding my feet and branching out.

As a sultry then are you advised to avoid the bright colours? I'm at the other end of the spectrum to you as a sprinter so leaning into spring so all the bright colours suit me best. But i was advised that I can still wear the other colours as long as they're not head to toe.

I'm fairly neutral colouring too. I have prohibition but wear it by just dabbing it on with my fingers otherwise it's a bit overpowering for me.

I love the thread too

Cardigal the tending towards autumn colours thing sounds familiar. I think I have heard that about sultry / dark (not sure of difference) winters.

Re wearing other colours in the palette, I would think they are all open to us though like you say QueenC not necessarily top to toe. It would be pretty boring to have to stick to the 100% ** colours all the time.

Interesting comments re bright lipsticks - I am a sultry and I wear these (including prohibition which I love) - maybe it is because I like a bit of drama in my outfits?

I agree that you need to add a third colour although I don't wear much white as its not one of my star colours. The third colour could be a top under your jackets/cardigans or it could be accessories such as shoes (e.g I have a gorgeous pair of damson heels), handbags, scarves, necklaces etc. Nail polishes are a great way of adding a contrast colour. You need to experiment - have fun!

Someone upthread asked about jackets rather than cardigans and I can recommend Whistles's Elle jackets. Stores such as House of Fraser have Whistles if you need to see these in real life.

Jacket link

I was trying to find jersey blazers MissScatterbrain. Someone else recommended Whistles too. I'll take a look next time I'm near a John Lewis or HoF. In the meantime I've picked up a silver grey one in H&M and ordered the black online. Sleeves a bit short but look OK rolled up.

Re. black opaques and boots with navy skirt - definitely yes. I would wear black opaques and boots with pretty much any colour of skirt provided the style is right.

I know some don't like navy and black together but I do.

Someone mentioned not adding burgundy or damson to their wardrobe as they don't go with navy/grey/black. I disagree on that one too . Navy and burgundy together is one of my favourite combinations. Grey and burgundy is good - provided you didn't have to wear that as a school uniform when you were a child! Black and burgundy I'm less keen on but wouldn't avoid.

I am a burnished winter though and I think maybe high contrast is less important for us? That's only based on how I look and also I remember there is a comment in the HoC winter booklet that burnished winters can wear a single dark colour like navy or damson head to toe whereas others should avoid that.

Navy skinny khakis, navy fitted shirt, burgundy belt and shoes - one of my favourite work outfits (dress code = 'dress to express' i.e. wear what you like provided it isn't indecent!). Grey jersey blazer added if it is cool - which it never is in my office as no air con but the meeting rooms have fiercely cold air con.

Thank you MissScatterbrain. The jacket looks lovely. I feel a shopping trip to somewhere that has a HoF or a JL coming on before term starts.
I've just been looking at my wallet this morning as I cleared out my handbag - I need to bite the bullet and buy some scarlet now I'm feeling braver! Its 100% * so a top will be OK as a start for me. I'm also going to looking for electric blue, lobelia, magenta and lagoon blue tops (again all 100% *). But a blue or black jacket will make them feel less scary.

Agree that damson & burgundy look great with charcoal, navy and black.

For me, black shoes/boots with navy is ok but not the other way round.

I think scarlet is a scary colour so you are brave and it works best for me as a jumper or cardigan, because I can add neutrals to tone it down.

Happy shopping!

I agree, although it is 100% ** I can't imagine me in total red! I now remember the consultant telling me I needed a little red dress - maybe one day when I'm really into my colours and feel I can carry it off?