Five ways to know if you're wearing your Colours.
Getting your Colours right is just so important to your Ultimate Image so read today's blog with 5 ways to tell if you do have them right or not.
10 Spring Capsule wardrobe basics
10 Capsule Wardrobe Basics for Spring
Whether you're shopping your wardrobe or purchasing clothes online, starting with the right basics will be a great way to get a Spring wardrobe together.
One you will just love.
So what are my top 10 must have's for you as we move into the warmer months?
The Must nots
Before we speak of the must haves, let's talk about the must nots.
I always say "fashion is often about not what to wear, as much as what to wear",
Many stylists will claim every wardrobe starts with the LBD (little black dress), a pair of black jeans, black pants and a white top, just to name a few.
But sadly this is not a good place to start if you're looking for ageless style. MATURE women have special needs when it comes to style.
This approach has caused mature women a lot of grief and confusion when it comes to looking great and having a really workable wardrobe.
One of the main reasons why you could be struggling with your wardrobe is you are starting with black and white as your basics.
Black and white are not everyone's basics.
Your seasonal colours are your basics and getting started with your basic neutrals is the way to go.
Your first step is your colour swatch
Armed with your seasonal colour swatch and an idea of all the neutrals in your seasonal swatch is the starting point to your wardrobe.
So here are some top tips to basics I love to use for my clients for an amazing transformation.
My 10 must-haves for Spring
My absolute must have number 1 is my light off white jeans. I wear them everywhere and every way. Casual, dressy and everything in between.
Must have no 2 is the washed denim jean. Always, always a staple for every wardrobe.
Not too tight, not too loose, just right . This jean goes with everything is always stylish, effortless and cool.
Staple no 3. The linen/off white/light shirt. Know that a shirt maker suits all ages, all style of women and all shapes as well. Nothing is more elegant than a linen shirt.
My staple no 4. The denim jacket. The humble denim jacket has been around since Levi's were invented and what a wonderfully versatile and stylish piece of equipment it is.
Again this jacket suits all ages, shapes and sizes. Dress it up and dress it down and for those cool nights in Spring what better cover up can you have?
My elegant staple no 5. The beautiful colourful top. Nothing makes me more happy than to don a beautiful colourful shirt/blouse/top when the mercury starts to rise.
Adding a stunningly stylish top brings your sense of individuality and style into play.
If you want to wear sleeveless you can, or if not go for a little sleeve or a sheer long sleeve lightweight fabric top to make your style statement.
Staple no 6. The lightweight coloured or neutral shade pant.
The occasion may call for something more dressy than jeans, so a beautifully tailored cotton or even a very lightweight woollen or linen pant is just the thing.
Remember you have a multitude of neutrals to choose from as well as all the other colours in your palette. Did you know for example, lemon goes with hundreds of other colours?
Staple no 7. You're not going anywhere without that sombrero. Hat's add so much flavour to your outfit and be sure to choose something that makes a statement.
It's another piece that works towards your total look and there are so many creatively interesting hats to choose from.
Staple no 8 You're shoe statement. I am aware that not all mature women feel comfortable in heels but if you are please let them scream style.
Think of all the women you know that are known by the shoes they wear.
And if you're not that lady that loves shoes or thinks that shoes are only made for walking then try and be as stylish as possible in the right colours at least.
You can always find a funky flat sandal for spring or a fashionable comfortable flat.
Staple no 8. You're sunnies. What an excuse to add another stylish layer to your look.
Sunnies not only look great, they cover the eyes giving a more youthful appearance and also protect our eyes in the bargain so use this benefit all you can.
Glasses aren't just for seeing. They are to be seen.
Please please be sure they are in your colours. It makes all the difference to your look and also to your whole outfit. Please, please avoid black. They obliterate your face.
Staple no 9 A lovely lightweight jacket. Such a versatile piece. Have it long, short, mid length, lightweight, structured, loose, fitted, sheer, plain coloured, printed, striped. So many options according to the outfit and the occasion.
Your staple no 10. Whether it's Vuitton, Boho or Faux a stylish bag completes your Spring look.
Just a few things to consider. Choose the right colour. Choose the right shape. Choose the right style for your outfit and choose the right size for your body and also for the balance of your outfit.
If you need more help putting the perfect Spring Capsule Wardrobe together according to you Seasonal Colours please contact me @Your Colours and Style.
How to wear your neutrals
How to wear your neutrals
What is a neutral colour?
I would describe a neutral colour as one that is quite benign. One that's not screaming for attention, and one that's a base for all of your other amazing colours.
Not everyone feels good in a pink and green outfit for example but they may enjoy wearing perhaps a green top with a neutral like grey.
It's good to start your wardrobe with your neutrals then add your colour in next.
But are all neutrals created equal? Definitely not. Many stylists are firm about having a base of dark cool neutrals like black, pure white, greys and navy’s with a splash of brown thrown in. But those neutrals are only found in the Winter Palette. Black doesn't go with everything, as we've been led to believe. And Winter neutrals don't go with Summer, Spring or Autumn neutrals.
As a colour consultant of 20 years, I have found these ideas to be quiet damaging as a whole to the fashion industry. Using black as a style staple is not useful to your Image picture.
Here's an example of working with a warm Autumn neutral and Black a cool dominant neutral to create a mismatched look.
YOU NEED TO FIND YOUR COLOURS AND THEN WORK WITH THE NEUTRALS IN YOUR PALETTE ONLY
For a stylish, complete, co-ordinated wardrobe that suits you down to the ground, you need to work with YOUR neutrals only.
The reason being, neutrals from another palette will not look good on you, and also will not go with the other shades or neutrals in your palette.
THE NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTES.
Some stylists categorize people as neutrals. But I like to call only colours neutral not people.
Every colour is either a Cool Deep or dominant colour,(Winter) a cool muted colour,(Summer) a deep warm colour (Autumn) or a warm bright colour (Spring)
That's it. Every colour on the planet will slot into one of four palettes only. And you will be one of the four palettes as well. No sub colours or flow people in my opinion. Some colours "flow"but not people.
THE COLOUR SWATCH BOOKS FOR THE FOUR SEASONS
Get your colours right. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter. What season are you and there is no need for any sub seasons.
You will have thousands of colours to choose from that will all look amazing on you.
So what are the four types of neutrals I’m speaking of?
Warm Deep or Autumn neutrals are lovely deep olive greens, rich creams, clays, golden browns, deep apricots, muddied burgundies and pumpkins to name a few as well as rich warm khakis and golds.
The bright Spring neutrals on the other hand are still warm but much lighter than their deep counterparts, so colours like light soft caramels, light creams, warm light browns, tans, peaches and apricots are part of the Spring neutrals.
Moving into the cooler palettes we have the boldness and clarity of the deep Winter colours, black, pure white, all greys, silvers, dark navys and deep deep browns.
Forget burgundy as some may include in the Winter palette. I reserve that for the muted cool neutrals of Summer. The denim which is a winter denim is dark navy blue.
Summer neutrals are cool and soft and muted. Ones like off whites, soft grey, cool taupes, cool beiges, light cool khakis, burgundy and maroons create a nice base and don’t forget your dusty navy’s. Please don’t forget light denim teams best with these colours.
With all this in mind you can see there is a plethora of colours, considered to be neutral.
So once you know your colours, you can stick to the neutrals within your season for best results. Ask your consultant how to incorporate these into your wardrobe.
It’s always best to get professional advice about your colours and be sure the colours actually “fit”with you.
If your not happy with your results after a colour analysis, my advice would be to get a 2nd and sometimes even a 3rd opinion until you get your colours right.
I have had so many clients over the years who have had their colours done incorrectly.
There is a mindfield of systems now so I hope you find a solution that’s right for you.
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT COLOURS?
Here are a few checkpoints.
You'll look younger and more attractive in your colours
Your hair colour will compliment your colours
3. Your make up will blend into your skin and not sit on top
4. You will have 100’s and 100’s of colours to choose from
5. You will feel at peace in your colours
6. All the clothes in your wardrobe will coordinate
7. You will have heaps of outfits even if you have a small wardrobe (capsule)
8. You’ll always get compliments about what your wearing
9. You'll find it easier to accessorize and mix and match
You’ll look very stylish all the time.
For more information contact Your Colours and Style Sydney
5 Best Foundation Tips
The New Year might just be a good time to revamp your make up
Your Image is not the same without a good face of make up
You could wear the most amazing outfit but if your face is not right the whole thing will look below par
So let’s get down to some great ways to improve your make up with some tried and true tricks to applying your foundation.
Here are my 5 top tips?
Beautiful skin is always the best place to start when applying your make up.
If you apply foundation over dry skin, the foundation will appear dry and flaky. Make sure you have subtle moist skin as your base.
My clients are always asking for a foundation and powder that doesn’t make their face look more lined. Even if you are more mature and have a number of lines and wrinkles, having the right foundations and powders as well as knowing how to apply them will make the face appear less lined and much smoother. Actually it can take years off your appearance.
The first step is prepare your skin. That doesn’t happen overnight. Skin should be looked after from an early age by using the right products and treatments and taking the right care.
Stay out of the sun and wear a sunscreen daily. Have regular facials if you can afford them or have good home care.
Cleanse and moisturise and apply vitamin C serums and retinols so the skin is soft and moist.
Tip no 2. The right colour foundations, powders and concealers.
WRONG COLOUR FOUNDATION
Have you ever noticed foundations that look bad?
The most common problem is the colour. The wrong colour can make the face look heavy and unnatural.
How do you choose the right colours?
Our Colours foundations stick mostly to beige or pink based foundations. Yellow and orange tones have become mainstream and popular but these tend to make the foundation look thick and heavy.
The wrong colours are somewhat better on very young flawless skin, but who has young flawless skin?
The rest of us look better in pink based foundations because skin colour is pink.
If your face is too red try the beige neutral based colours.
To know if the foundation you choose is right for you, apply a tiny streak of foundation on the base of the cheek.
The foundation should be unnoticeable. This is a good colour match for you.
The same apply’s for powders and concealers. Powders are meant to sit on top without changing the colour at all and concealers are meant to conceal, dark areas and spots etc.
Tip no 3. Apply a tiny tiny amount.
Take a close look at your face in the mirror. Can you see the skin isn’t perfectly one colour.
It’s actually quiet spotted or mottled. This is completely normal. Some people have more pigmentation than others and unevenness.
Not to worry. A good foundation will smooth the skin out to more uniformity, as long as it is exactly the right shade for your skin.
The secret is to apply as little of the appropriate foundation as you possibly can. This can be done by applying a small amount with a foundation brush and then buffing it in with a buffer brush or stipple brush.
Tip no 4. Seal with the right powder or not.
A light dusting of wet and dry powder. Medium skin tone
Powder is a personal choice. A lot of mature women are afraid of powder as they think it settles in the lines and wrinkles.
This isn’t the case if you dust lightly over your foundation and buff it in and also if you have the right colour powder as well. It needs to be somewhat translucent as you don’t want to change the shade of your foundation.
If you prefer a dewier look you can skip the powder, but remember powder is a good setting agent, it dampens shine and allows your make up to be more long lasting.
Tip no 5. The right concealer.
Concealer #500 applied as eyebase and inside eye area and part of the under eye.
Light porcelain skin colour
Your foundation, powder and concealer trio is the whole base for your make up.
First prep, then moisturise, apply foundation, then powder and finish with concealer for a good palette to work with.
All your colour and definition can be made once you have a good clean face to start with. Begin with the wrong foundation and your make up is all downhill from there.
Light skin tone above. Deep skin tone below.
If you would like a free make up appraisal contact Your Colours and Style.