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Original poster

Colour matching, worth it?

26 replies

ColourBeautiful · 31/10/2021 13:35

Just that really.

Had a baby a few years ago, feel in a rut with clothes. My body is not the same as pre baby, not sure what suits me. Thought this could help…. But is it an epic waste of money? Looks like it could cost upwards of £75.

Would love to hear from people who have used a colour service…. Or just figured it out themselves?

Thanks!

OP posts:
BigButtons · 31/10/2021 13:39

I had it done. It was useful. Apart from one colour, which I have always hated- salmon pink- but it turned out really suited me. I don’t wear it because I still hate the colour.
I was given a little colour match booklet I could take shopping with me. Trouble is it was very hard to find say that exact shade of blue in an item I act liked.

Original poster
ColourBeautiful · 31/10/2021 13:51

Which company did you use? And how much did it cost?

Did it completely revolutionise your wardrobe? We’re you shocked about your best colours?

Sorry for all the questions, just the price tag seems steep. I’ve seen some for £170.

OP posts:
MistySkiesAfterRain · 31/10/2021 13:57

Have a look at Styled by Susie. I'm toying with giving it a go.

BigButtons · 31/10/2021 14:12

I used someone local to me rather than a big company. It didn’t really revolutionise my wardrobe as apart from the salmon pink it just confirmed that the colours I wore were the colours that suited me. It was useful finding out my undertone though. I always thought I was cool, turns out I am warm. So I know not to go for blue reds but more orange ones for example.
Try this when you are shopping. Go without make up or jewellery and hold the clothing right next to your face and be really honest about if the colour brightens your complexion. Ideally you would cover your hair too- that’s highly unlikely though 😂

goose1964 · 31/10/2021 14:30

You don't need to have your colours done. When you get dressed note what that colour does to you if it makes your skin sallow or you look I'll don't buy it again. When you buy new clothes ask yourself if you've had clothes that colour before and if so how did the make you look. There are plenty of guides online and they vary , some make me a spring , others an autumn. The colours I look best in are the richer end of the palette whilst it's the lighter end of autumn. It's odd but these are colours I gravitate to.

Floisme · 31/10/2021 15:09

I think it depends on whether you can see what colours suit you. I think I can - I've no idea what season I am and I don't really care, but I can see that very bright, very pale and very dark colours/shades do nothing for me but that most in between colours are fine, and that there's a specific shade of blue-ish purple that looks great. That's enough for me.

If I couldn't see it, I'd pay. However, I would want to come away from the session being able to see it for myself, not just with a swatch of approved colours that I'd have to take everywhere with me for evermore.

Santastuckincustoms · 31/10/2021 15:15

I thought bright red suited me and pastels washed me out but it's the opposite and people have commented since whenever I wear pastel colours. I did style by Susie which was ok. You can save your money and join the style Facebook groups and stick some photos up, people will analyse you off then reasonably well.

Whereismylatte · 31/10/2021 15:16

Can you pull out your favourite clothes and see if there's an underlying color scheme? I'm not against having your colours done per se, but the colour expert my friend used during their consultation told me (me- peacefully have a cuppa on the sofa, minding my own business) that the jumper I was wearing was utterly wrong for my colours.Blush

Kept the jumper. I still like teal.

Try the online advice first maybe (do you look best in silver/gold Jewellery etc etc)

DotBall · 31/10/2021 15:24

A colleague had his colours done years ago. The main thrust was this:
Hold a garment next to your face and ask someone else if they notice your face or the colour first.
If they notice your face first, the colour works for you.

It was like magic when we tried it!

Original poster
ColourBeautiful · 31/10/2021 16:58

Thanks for all the advice!

Especially like the… do you notice the colour or face first!

Do you all tend to find your wardrobes have a ‘colour palette’?

OP posts:
Whereismylatte · 31/10/2021 21:18

I was trying to move towards a capsule wardrobe with a few trendier pieces mixed in, and when doing an audit of what I had (i.e. pull out what I actually wear, donated the rest) then I found I live in cool blues, some dusky pink tones and grey-blacks more than true blacks, as such. I've a few marroonish reds.

Doesn't sound exciting (maybe it isn't!!) But everything works together for my style (dressier, but soft textures).

im not sure I want anyone to notice my tired old face first lol

Blueuggboots · 31/10/2021 21:23

I had my colours done when I was in my teens.
A few years ago, I went to see a lady who did my colours again and also discussed clothes I love and wear a lot, clothes I have in my wardrobe I like but don't look right in.
She explained why certain things don't suit me and what does.
It was brilliant. I can walk in a shop and take a glance at something and know if it will suit me both colour and cut/style.

mowglika · 31/10/2021 21:50

I had my colours done for free with CMB and House of Colour at their training days. Just email their head office and ask to model for the next training sessions. Also had a style consultation done on the same day. Def worth doing imo, I had been wearing autumn/warm colours most of my adult life and discovered that I was actually a cool winter which has completely changed up my wardrobe for the better.

BlueCowWonders · 01/11/2021 19:10

I had my colours done when I moved house - I realised as I packed that I had so many colours in my wardrobe that they couldn't possibly all suit me. (Probably the opposite of people who wear all black as they are hesitant about wearing colours)

The consultation was brilliant as I could see immediately the best colours and colour combinations for me.

I had thought that with reddish hair and freckles, rust/ brown/ orange should suit me but saw so clearly that much deeper shades generally are so much better. Turns out cool colours in darker shades are exactly right for me, and my wardrobe now coordinates really well. Shopping is a lot faster too.

woodhill · 01/11/2021 19:13

Do your colours change over time as I had mine done by cmb in my early 20s?

Whatwouldnanado · 01/11/2021 19:30

Had mine done with House of Colour and no regrets. It boosted my confidence and got me out of a rut and into warm, clear colours. I never worry about what to wear. It cost 75.00 including advice on basic make-up. Got some of the money back by selling a couple of coats that I'd hung on to but never wore and never impulse buy now. It works for me. I treated to DD and DN to sessions and they love using it too.

Tinseltrauma · 01/11/2021 19:30

Have a look at Style Me Happy. She also has a fb group Style MeHappy Community. I just treated myself to a mini analysis, where I uploaded some photos and answered a few questions. For £20 she gave me my 'season', body shape and a 'mini shop' which is a selection of clothes currently in the shops for my shape and season.
I found it really helpful as once you know that you can find further info online. She does a more in depth analysis too if you wanted, still online but involves a video chat and recommends make up etc too.

Tinseltrauma · 01/11/2021 19:31

Here's the link

www.stylemehappy.co.uk/

buckeejit · 01/11/2021 19:40

I had the colour & style done by house of colour & it was brilliant.

I could see what colours suited me & the style portion explained why certain things that I love don't suit me & my style/personality.

My whole wardrobe is autumn colours now & everything goes with everything else. Absolute best bit of it all was learning what shades of red lipstick suit me.

LakesideView · 01/11/2021 19:51

I had mine done with House of colour 4 years ago. It was money well spent for me. No it’s not cheap but it’s saved me time in shops (I can scan a store now and see at a glance which colours would work for me). It’s also saved me money because I don’t buy clothes that aren’t quite right and sit in my wardrobes for months/years any more. I’ve also had a follow up session for Style which was interesting, it’s narrowed down clothing choices considerably (but in a good way!). The Facebook groups associated with HOC are friendly and supportive which is helpful.

woodhill your season doesn’t change but I know HOC offer a “re-rate” after a while because your Wow colours can change as you get older, especially if you decide to go with a natural grey hair colour.

LakesideView · 01/11/2021 19:52

Oh I forgot to say one of the ways it’s a game changer is packing for holidays! Pretty much all your clothes colour co-ordinate so it minimises packing (no “Oh but the red shoes only go with the one dress”). DH was amazed the first time I packed for a holiday after having my colours done.

woodhill · 01/11/2021 19:58

@LakesideView

I had mine done with House of colour 4 years ago. It was money well spent for me. No it’s not cheap but it’s saved me time in shops (I can scan a store now and see at a glance which colours would work for me). It’s also saved me money because I don’t buy clothes that aren’t quite right and sit in my wardrobes for months/years any more. I’ve also had a follow up session for Style which was interesting, it’s narrowed down clothing choices considerably (but in a good way!). The Facebook groups associated with HOC are friendly and supportive which is helpful.

woodhill your season doesn’t change but I know HOC offer a “re-rate” after a while because your Wow colours can change as you get older, especially if you decide to go with a natural grey hair colour.

Yes thanks that's what has happened Smile
purpledagger · 01/11/2021 20:40

I worked out my colours myself.

I read up colour analysis theory (Justine Lectone has a good you tube video, google and kettlewell colours has a quiz). I also looked at celebrities with a similar colouring to me to see what worked/didn't work for them.

I started by working out whether I was a cool or warm season. This narrowed the seasons from 4 to 2. From there, I looked at the colour palettes of the two seasons left and just felt drawn to my season. I did try the other season, just to rule it out and didn't feel comfortable in it. From there, I was able to determine which type of season I was, although I just stick broadly to colours in my season.

Plutonium7000 · 01/11/2021 20:49

I worked out my colour palette using online guides. Turns out I was wearing all the wrong colours. I get many more compliments now and it helps me to narrow down choice hugely when shopping (especially online).

I realised that when I wear my best colours I don't feel the need to wear make-up. Whereas some of my old clothes I only wore with loads of blusher/other make up to brighten my complexion. I also realised that all my dresses were already in my best colours. Probably because I'm more selective with dresses and only buy ones that I feel amazing in. So now I apply this rule (and the no-make-up rule) to every item I purchase.

Don't know if that helps?!

buckeejit · 02/11/2021 22:27

Ooh great to know about the re rate, I'd quite like to get mine done again. Would love to do it with a Friend. It's always what I'd think to buy all my friends when I win the lottery, would be a great day out!

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