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HoCWinters.....the cool and clear chat goes on. Part 6.

396 replies

QueenCardigan · 05/05/2015 22:47

For all you winters out there, come and join us. We have sprinters, jewels, sultries and everything in between.

OP posts:
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12
queencerulean · 19/02/2017 20:05

Hi winters! Everything I've been buying recently has mainly been navy or grey! I'm really into neutrals at the moment. I haven't seen anything yet so far for spring that I'm desperate for. There's a lot of pinks around but I'm not a fan of wearing pink (although I like pink shoes) and there does seem to be green around but I find getting the right shade of emerald hard.

Love the thought of a pacers tee though lego

Weebleswobbles · 19/02/2017 20:06

Placemarking to read later - I'm a jewel winter, had my colours done last week

Keen to know where jewel winters find their clothes. The lady that did my colours recommended kettlewell- looking forward to finding others

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 22/02/2017 19:06

Hello weebles! Kettlewell is definitely a good place to start if you've just had your colours done - I think their SS17 collection is due out shortly (they always seem to be a it behind everyone else).

I spent at least the first year after I had mine done going shopping with my colour wallet in my hot little hand though, so I could check against it. And I got through a lot of Dylon dyes to make the most of my existing wardrobe.

Weebleswobbles · 22/02/2017 21:06

Hello Sarah!

Brilliant idea about dying existing clothes - did you do them yourself at home?

How have you found doing online shopping with your colour wallet?

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 22/02/2017 21:54

Weebles, you can buy Dylon machine dye (from John Lewis, haberdashers/DIY places, Amazon...) and do it yourself in your washing machine. If you follow the instructions it's fine and leaves your machine clean. I found it easiest to stay within the same colour area, e.g. dyeing blush pink to be dark red (Dylon call it burlesque red!), or dye lilac a deep purple, or maybe navy, etc. Winters are lucky because it's relatively easy to dye a pale colour a deep vivid one Smile

Online shopping... a bit hit and miss TBH. I'm getting much better IRL but online it depends so much on your own screen, as well as the shop's photos so can be tricky. Again, winters are lucky because black is easy, but I have to admit that choosing, say, the "right" red can be difficult online. I have become an avid reader of the reviews because they can often give a description of the colour... but it can be tricky. Anyone else got any advice (apart from choose sites with free returns)?

mimiasovitch · 23/02/2017 10:06

Red is a difficult one. I just bought some red cotton sateen to make a pencil skirt, and it's just a touch too warm. I didn't even think that I could return it, then read the t and cs too late. I'll known for next time, and probably run a dye over this lot. I have images of a fitted skirt with a flouncy but at the back hem. Pine green is really hard too. I see dresses that look right, but turn out to be a bit on the blue side. Not too bad if you're a winter close to autumn (burnished winter?), but sadly not for me. I'm currently living in a long kettlewell merino cardi in cherry, with a black skirt and a grey vest. The colour is fab, and it's beautiful made. I really should have got the green one too. That'll teach me for trying to be economical

NotMeNoNo · 23/02/2017 12:28

I've had a dye success actually. I had a cotton cardigan that turned out to be a warm tomato red, I dyed over it with Dylon china blue and it has just taken the edge off it to a cherry/carmine colour that's easier to wear.

Less success dying wool where I got the quantities wrong, pine green turned out black and the sodding thing felted in the final rinse. The jumper was not strictly my right style anyway!

SorrelForbes · 23/02/2017 13:23

I'm totally skint at the moment so on a shopping ban! However, I am keeping my eyes peeled for a dress to wear for a September wedding. I'm a Jewel Winter/Romantic Classic and the dress must have sleeves!

mimiasovitch · 23/02/2017 13:26

I'll try that dye not me. I have burlesque red in the cupboard, but I wanted something a bit on the brighter side. A cherry would be lovely.

NotMeNoNo · 23/02/2017 16:52

I had to be brave to dye something with a completely different colour. I am a deep winter so I don't mind my colours a tiny bit muted. After reading loads online I convinced myself to dye not the end colour I wanted, but use the dye that would shift the shade around the colour wheel IYSWIM.

mimiasovitch · 23/02/2017 21:55

I'll take pictures. I would never have thought to try that one, especially as it looks quite light. It's already ordered from amazon!

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 23/02/2017 22:01

Mimi, I live in the long Kettlewell merino cardis in the winter! I have several... Blush

NoNo, that china blue idea is brilliant... I would never have thought of that.

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 23/02/2017 22:31

Sorrel, have you looked at the Kettlewell Lola sparkle dress - still available in the sale?

carrie74 · 24/02/2017 10:13

Hello Winters!

Good to see the thread back. I've got a couple of recommendations: the first is a Lipstick Queen lipstick called Frog prince. It's green but adapts to your colouring to develop into the best pink for you. Mine goes quite a bright pink, whereas on friends it can go coral, or soft pink. Amazing the differences. Only available at Space NK in the UK, and quite pricey, but I think Barry M does one too at a much more reasonable price. I find the Lipstick Queen one really moisturising and long lasting though.

Second recommendation (haven't bought it...yet) is a gorgeous ice blue jumper in Cos: www.cosstores.com/gb/Women/Knitwear/A-line_milano_knit_jumper/46889-59225831.1#c-24479. It looked amazing on, but I already have a jumper in a pale grey that's the same style and I was worried about looking a bit same. They have quite a few jumpers in the same colour at the moment though (plus some lovely cobalts) so worth a browse. I ended up buying some stretchy ankle length navy trousers as I'm so fed up with jeans at the moment. They're brilliant, have an elasticated insert on the back of the waistband so you get the benefit of an elasticated waist without any bunching. Can't see them online though.

queencerulean · 24/02/2017 10:20

Waves to carrie (we must catch up irl!)

I'll have to check out cos as I love ice blue. I'm intrigued by the green lipstick idea too.

I don't tend to wear red but agree that the right green is a bugger to find. I utterly adore pine green and have a couple of tops that I thought were a good match but upon a couple of wears I've realised that the shades I have are just too dark. As a sprinter, I need brightness!

I haven't dyed anything for years since initially getting my colours done and had mixed success. It all depends on the fabric as well and I hate that stitching doesn't take the colour.

SorrelForbes · 24/02/2017 15:06

SarahWithAFringeOnTop Thanks for the link. Too 'evening' for this wedding I think and dare I say it, a bit mumsy? Hate cowls too, they make my 30H norks look enormous Grin

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 24/02/2017 20:47

Sorrel Grin at the enormous norks issue. Wish I could find something that made mine look like that! Envy

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 04/03/2017 14:27

I see Kettlewell's new season styles are out... what does everyone think of them?

Weebleswobbles · 05/03/2017 07:34

Sarah - I'm not overwhelmed by kettlewell SS17. I'm just going to use it for tops and scarves. E.g the cap arabella dress looks good but why only produce it in a print and with only two colours in winter colours??? If that was available plain and in quite a few winter colours, I'd probably have bought it in a few!

So relying on this thread to find great places to buy winter coloursSmile

mimiasovitch · 05/03/2017 14:29

I quite like the linen T shirt. I can see it with shorts and wedge sandals, though in my imaginings my legs are far slimmer and more tanned than they ever would be in reality.

user1066 · 05/03/2017 19:48

I quite like the asymmetrical linen teeshirt, as well, but not keen on the winter's colours. I am tempted by the striped tops, but nothing else. Is this it, or do they release a late spring / summer collection as well?

TheMightyMing · 05/03/2017 20:50

I'm a bit late to this , but how can I check if I am a cool clear. I'm dark haired, brown eyed with pale skin.

TheMightyMing · 05/03/2017 20:55

Sorry I meant to say 'please' how rude of me.

mimiasovitch · 05/03/2017 21:22

It can be quite hard to tell unless you've been draped. Even though technically you should be able to discern what colours suit you best, in practice people tend to be swayed by colours they prefer. I was convinced I was a bright spring, thanks to my deep abiding love of grass green and coral. I'm a sultry winter! There are lots of online quizzes available though, if you want to try. I'm not sure where, but 12 blueprints has quite a lot of info.

SarahWithAFringeOnTop · 06/03/2017 07:37

I know what you mean about the Arabella dress... I love the style of that one, though unfortunately the style doesn't seem to love me back Sad

I really like the look of the Milan wrap top, but it's not available for several weeks... also, I wish it was available in a bigger range of colours. I suppose as a new style they want to see how it goes. I think Kettlewell will still be my go-to for plain smart work tops though!