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!)

Ha ha, yes I 'rebel' against my colours and often do it with a mumbling of a "screw you HOC consultant" which I know is totally pathetic and childish!

Annoyingly I also get most compliments when I wear 'my' colours......

I feel if you reject the colours recommended to you so strongly, then you have been 'misdiagnosed'. I have heard of a few people where this has been the case.

I wasn't done by HoC or CMB but by an independent. Had it done at 17 (so ages ago) and really love my palette. At the time I was told I was borderline spring / autumn but I am much happier with my spring colours and have pretty much discarded anything from the autumn palette. However I definitely have three or four colours within my spring palette that are much better than others. I can see it and I get comments on these colours. I also find when shopping I can discard most of the range and go straight to my colours. And sometimes I go shopping and realise that the entire high street is going to look crap on me this season and buy nothing for ages!

I am totally convinced that my season is right. I think you should go back to your consultant if you're not convinced.

I think some people just see it more easily than others. I saw it in the consultant's room in the natural light with the full set of drapes - I rarely see it in real life in artificial light. I don't think this is necessarily the consultant's fault, because other people sometimes comment on what colours would/do look good on me.

As a Spring I also find it hard to wear my colours a lot of the time because a) it's hard to find neutrals in the exact shades (and there's the dreaded "children's tv presenter" worry if you just wear colour!) - cream t shirt anyone? and b) the general fashion for as long as I can remember has just been for greys, blacks, whites. So, often I just wear pale grey or navy blue without making sure it's the exact right shade. I saw my consultant recently and she peered at me and said "Are you happy with being a Spring?"

I'm more sceptical now anyway - probably because I'm not a very visual person - I can accept that everyone has a few "best" and "worst" colours but I also think that there is a lot of overlap in between. I'm a blue spring and would wear silver jewellery. I also wear charcoal, but not really black. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I'm confident I'm in the right season, but I'm not really confident about the whole seasons "thing" anymore. :)

I now think being able to use your best colours has a lot of it has to do with your own personal style - I am a winter but do not like the deep strong pinks despite these looking good on me so I just don't wear these unless in very small doses. I know another winter who is the same about red.

I tend to wear a lot of neutrals and use my favourite bright colours to add contrasts and interest - often in accessories or in a top that will be visible under cardigans/jumpers.

It might be too late for you OP, but for anyone else having this done -you really need to make sure that you can "see" your best colours, as it will be you who will be doing the buying and wearing of your clothes. Do not not be afraid to ask your consultant to go through it with you again if you are unsure - otherwise its just a waste of money.

And wearing an unflattering item of clothing even if its in one of your best colours will still not make you look good

I had a CMB analysis a few years ago and the consultant was really torn between warm or deep autumn as fitting me better.
Years earlier a colleague of mine who was interested in colour told me that people are normally either pink or yellow toned skin, but mine seemed to switch between the two (and I can see that TBH).

I've stuck to autumn colours, although not the bright reds/orange/yellow, so the muted reds, lots of shades of brown, cream, deep purple or green colours etc.

I still love colours such as bright reds, royal blues but usually tend to wear them as accessories. I also still wear black quite a bit, but can really tell that's it's nowhere near as good a colour on me as a dark brown or deep red.

I had a HoC analysis five or six years ago. She took ages to get my colours and then came up with a Deep Brown Summer.

Frankly the colours were hideous - I did stop wearing black for a while though.

A few years ago my friend asked me to go with her to see Nikki Bogardus with her. Nikki is brilliant, and my friend looked fabulous in her colours.

Nikki explained that with HoC you can only be a warm or cool. Her system Sci Sys (?) allows for neutrals so you fit in between the HoC seasons iyswim... So I went back and had my colours done again. I'm a soft Autumn which makes much more sense to me (I have green eyes and brown hair almost auburn) and I love my colours now!

Nikki's great - what she says makes SOOOO much more sense to me than the HoC system.

After I met her with my friend she said a good way to tell what your colours are are the things you surround yourself with in your life. Once I'd had my colours redone I realised I had painted the walls of my house in my colours...

I don't work for her btw!

Having said all that about HoC - I do recommend their Style Analysis.

I really can't wear cheap clothes, they look awful on me, and the consultant really helped me develop my personal style with fabrics I should wear to look my best (cashmere!!) and that I really can't do scruffy and look good.