HoC - are you confident you're in the right season?

[BabCNesbitt]

I had my colours done with a HoC consultant a couple of years ago, and I've been questioning what I was told ever since. I did the session on my own, and didn't "see" what the consultant said looked best on me. When I wear my two-star colours, I don't get that 'wow, I look so much better!' feeling - I don't hate them, I just look 'meh' and as knackered as usual!

If you've had your colours done, have you ever questioned the season you were put in? And did you find your way to another season?

(I know there are a lot of HoC/colour analysis nay-sayers, but I'm not against it in principle; I'm just not sure that what my consultant told me was actually correct!)

Yes absolutely trust what she said. I'm a leaf autumn and my best colours make me look healthy and younger than I am, even if they are not fashionable. She really backed up what I already knew.
Can you go back to her? I know you said it was a while ago but she should still be able to help you surely?

I don't live in the same town any more, and unfortunately couldn't afford to spend more on it right now! If it's just a question of accepting it unquestioningly, though, doesn't it become a bit cult-like? My "best colours" don't seem to make any difference!

Babs- do you have any colours that you know look great on you?

I suit warm browns - I'm meant to be a blue autumn - but the other autumn colours tend to make me feel a bit sallow.

Sounds like she didn't get what suits you right. Do Spring colours suit you more?

No idea! I've been trying to stick to what works with my palette. May have to schlep round the shops trying colours I haven't looked at for two years!

I am a winter. But I positively hate my colours. I went back to my consultant and while she didn't go through why one colour is better than another on me (I obviously can't see it) I am more at ease with things. One thing she said that helped me I'd that I don't need to wear my colours. If I like a * colour then I should go ahead and wear that. It will be a winter colour and hence suit me better than eg a spring colour.

Hope that helps ?

Sorry - I hate my three star colours (that got lost in translation - doh!). And I don't wear them.

I'm happy with mine but my sister's definitely wasn't right and we've been struggling to work out why. Some people fit the categories better than others I think!

Personally I think it is useful as a general guide but think that there are probably more colours that people can wear than they can't. I think the seasonal catergories are too narrow and not all colours within the catergories work for everyone. Human colouring is too diverse.

Maybe it would be more helpful if there was a system that identified the ones that individually didn't work for you and to steer clear of and that be the focus. Would certainly open it up more.

I think it would be better if someone developed an app to do it, get a colour-true image of yourself, upload, and let the app decide what colours suit you from all colours. Tbh though, I'm a colour analysis refuser and I can't imagine spending money on it!

I had my colors done by an independent consultant several years ago. Some of her advice was useful but I stopped believing in it when I realized that my eye color doesn't match my palette. I also think that the focus on color when applied wrong can backfire and look garish.

I think some people are easier to match with the palettes than others. I find the cool/warm distinction does not make much sense to me, I'm probably somewhat between seasons (quite neutral toned overall but with warm olive green eyes with rusty brown flecks and cool pale skin). After this, I have figured out on my own what to wear and am much happier with the results. But if you believe the seasons capture your essence, go for it.

Pseudo I think I've seen an app like this or at least you can use Photoshop and pixelate yourself but lighting has a major impact on how colors are captured.

I did a bit reading on color theory and don't think the seasonal color theory makes much sense. Colors influence each other so how we perceive them (also warm, cool perceptions) depend on what we contrast them with. Also believe some of it is quite subjective: when people get a new consultation they tend to get a different diagnosis, often in a totally clashing season. If there were absolute 'correct' colors for everyone wouldn't you expect all consultants to follow similar rules and get good agreement... Also, there is so much variation to human coloring that it is difficult to believe that four or twelve seasons could capture it accurately.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant about this but I think you should just believe your eyes. If you don't feel your palette, it probably doesn't work for you

I had a CMB colour analysis done and always hated the colours and never felt comfortable with the guidelines the consultant gave me.

Then I had HoC done and had a different colour palette recommended, which are much closer to the colours I'm instinctively drawn to.

It was probably an expensive way of confirming my instincts about which colours suit me! It has also mostly broken me of my black-wearing habit though, which is good now I have a small DD who doesn't sleep and black makes me look even more tired than I am

I feel that it's a good general guide and it's helped me with online shopping, choosing more colours but I don't agree that all the colours in my palette suit me. Some are truly hideous.

OP, are you me?

I had my HOC colours done about 18m ago. It took her longer than normal to diagnose me and turns out I'm a blue autumn too. I generally dislike a lot of the colours in my palette and really struggle when shopping and end up with a lot of cream and khaki and that's about it!!!! Some of my "best" colours, according to the consultant, look revolting IMO.

I'm naturally drawn to bright colours so was gutted to not be a winter/summer.

Pretty much the only thing I agreed with her on was make up. I look much better in brown mascara / eye liner etc than black.

I was diagnosed as a summer, and I can see that those colours look best on me. I steer away from warm colours, but I have started wearing black again sometimes because I felt so limited not being able to buy it.
I do struggle though because my hair (which obv is not taken into account with HOC) has a naturally reddish undertone, and no hairdye home or hairdresser can make it cool toned. My eyes and skin are very much summer colouring though. If anyone has any ideas do let me know!

I'd ignore the colours and go for anything that makes you smile and gives you confidence. You will look your best then. :)

I'd go and try colours that you are happy with. You can look at how they look against your face on the shop floor before taking the item to try.

Thelovecats

I think you can get cool reds. (I got this from make up tips)

As far as I can tell, I am mostly cool colours, but I love wearing red, as well as green and some shades of blue.
My "oranges" tend to be colder too, more like salmon, as in this swatch.

disclaimer - I know nothing about doing colours, I hate prescriptive stuff.

I had a HoC analysis a year ago and came out a Winter (cool, clear, suit jewel colours).

My top colours were charcoal, dark navy, electric blue, emerald green, raspberry. I definitely saw what she saw in the session, but as someone that has worn a lot of black and also brown/camel/muted autumn colours my whole life, it was incredibly hard to start buying other colours. I just never, ever 'did' those bright, deep colours. Just wasnt me.

I started with charcoal instead of black and definitely felt 'lifted' slightly. I've just embraced a bit of navy and electric blue and cool white in my wardrobe and people have commented and said I 'look well. Next step is to buy something in raspberry . But I absolutely cannot and will not do emerald green. I've tried so many tops on in this colour and just dont like it. I feel like an Irish dancer in it (I am actually Irish too )

Are there any colours at all in your palette that you like? I'd try to build on those. And dont take it as absolute gospel, more as a guide. I still wear black and brown and camel. I love brown or tan shoes and sandals. I'm not going to ditch my whole wardrobe.

You see, if someone says I look well - well, I don't take that as a compliment

I know frugal and I are in agreement on this subject - I just think the cool/warm thing is too simplistic. I suit some warm and some cool colours.

I also never get the 'people notice you rather than your clothes' - I always notice the clothes

MrsCB

CheeseGrater, are you ever tempted to say "ah, fuck it!" and just wear what you like?

The annoying thing is that of all the things I tried on this afternoon, the ones that suited me best were the autumnal ones. Apparently my issue is not colour, but just looking haggard whatever I wear...

I had mine done a couple of years ago and I'm a winter. I've had a few moments where I've wondered whether I should be a summer as I can be a bit scared of the bright colours. But I can see that the bright clear colours definitely suit me better than the muted tones.

I do say 'fuck it' and wear what I like regularly! Life is too short to be a slave to what someone else told you suits you. But...I try to buy a couple of things in my colours each season because I know that they do give my appearance a lift.

I would NEVER have bought anything in electric blue for example, but every single time I wear it (EVERY time) somebody will say 'you really suit blue' or 'that colour is lovely on you' type comments. Which is nice .

I think part of it for me is resisting the urge to 'hide' in muted, soft colours.

Jewel winter HOC person here - as a result of my session I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried jade green - total "wow" moment, the colour made me look amazing! From there I have the confidence to wear colour, albeit tentatively. The style session on the other hand is pure witchcraft! I now know why some perfectly lovely clothes make me so uncomfortable others are just perfect!