Before we catch up with Liz, I’m going to review some of the reasons the colour analysis process is so critical.
Last week I was asked to explain the difference between a “fashion victim” and a “fashionista.” Bottom line, the former aspires to be the latter — but has taken things too far! The fashionista follows trends closely and may even work in fashion’s inner sanctum, as a designer or promoter.
The fashion victim is her own worst enemy and often, her biggest stumbling block is colour. Magenta, for example, is a so-called “hot- trend” colour this holiday season but it’s extremely tough to wear head-to-toe. The fashion victim will select a magenta, cocktail dress, regardless of her colouring — skintone, hair, eyes. The fashionista, on the other hand, knows which colours suit her best and her dress will reflect this. Now here’s where the fashionista’s cleverness comes into play; she’ll accessorize with magenta — a jewelled magenta cuff and magenta satin party-shoes or maybe one of the new tiny handbags.
The point is that once you know which colours suit you best, you’ll resist the temptation of making costly wardrobe mistakes — like becoming a magenta party-dress victim! Your best colours, or palette, determine not only your best clothing choices, but also your makeup —everything from foundation to blusher, lipstick, even eye shadow — and your hair colour, including highlights and lowlights.
Our fashion victim could choose to accessorize her magenta dress with matching lipstick, maybe hair extensions, even eye shadow. Our fashionista, on the other hand, is holding firm with her magenta minimalism — strictly cuff and shoes — or the tiny perfect bag. (Let me be perfectly clear that the shoes could have five-inch heels and the cuff could be what our grandmothers would call “over the top” and the bag is probably too small for anything more than a lipstick. Fashionistas are not known for understatement.)
When I hear comments like:
• My makeup doesn’t seem to work
• My lipstick colour is off
• My hair colour isn’t right
• Sometimes I look blotchy or sallow.
• Every time I wear this top, dark circles appear under my eyes
Experience tells me colour is the root cause of these problems. Let’s examine a couple of all-too-familiar situations:
A woman with warm-coloured eyes, hair and skin tone purchases a cool-coloured lipstick; it’s a very close match to her new suit. Unhappy with the outcome, it’s back to the makeup counter for another lipstick. No luck. Next step, a new necklace and earrings —thinking they’ll do the trick. But all she’s doing is compounding her suit mistake. Doesn’t matter if the suit is the most flattering shape in the world, wrong colour cancels out the benefits of cut.
Another woman — with cool-coloured eyes, hair and skin tone — has her hair coloured and highlighted — an expensive undertaking. At first glance, it’s perfect; with a warm base and red highlights, it’s exactly like the magazine picture she brought to the salon. As she re-applies her lipstick, she suddenly realizes that this wonderful new hair colour is looking brassy and that it clashes with her makeup. Her solution? New foundation and blusher and eye shadow and pencil and lipstick and liner and gloss — that in the end don’t remedy the problem.
So much time, effort, energy and money wasted. Around and around in circles, hair and makeup and clothing are connected. The absolute starting point is determining if you’re cool or warm. See how vibrant and alive Liz looks in the cool palette, versus the draining aspects of the warm colours.
Thoughts from Liz
“I knew that I was a ‘winter’ but it was interesting to see how drastically my look changed as Diane held different colour palettes against my skin. I also discovered colours I didn’t know were part of the cool palette that works for me. This process definitely made me aware of my best colour choices and opened my eyes to a new, expanded palette. Thank you Diane — now I can’t wait to go shopping!”
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Posted on November 24th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Dress, Fashion, Image, Image Consultation, Womenswear
An important thing to consider in shopping for women’s clothing is how to find the right fit. Nothing is more of a nuisance than ordering an outfit or garment only to find out it’s too tight, too short or too loose when it arrives. Before ordering online, be sure to take accurate measurements of your hips, waist, bust, and leg length. Look for clothing websites or Internet shopping malls featuring a size chart for their brand of clothing. Sizing charts can help a great deal because sizing often varies from one brand to the next. Also, compare material types, and be sure to read the wash and care instructions for all items.