Limit your colour choices for more outfit combinations

If you've treated yourself to a professional colour analysis then you'll know exactly what colours suit you. You'll have a set of colour swatches that defines what looks good against your complexion and ensures you always look healthy and radiant. Great, Fantastic, you know what you should be buying and shopping becomes easy - Well yes and no...let me expand further.
Your colour analysis should provide you with a swatch of about 30-40 colours that suit you. I recommend that you narrow that down considerably. Consider the following:

• What do I actually like?
  Just because a colour suits your complexion it doesn't necessarily mean you like it. Take a good look a the colours that suit you and decide which ones you really like. Do step outside of what you normally would wear and try something new, but you have to feel comfortable in your clothes to look good so think about which colours make you happy.
  
• What is available this season?
  Your favorite colours will not always be in the shops. Each season different schemes of colours may be "in" and readily available. Check the seasonal offerings against your colour palette and choose what you is suitable for you on a seasonal basis.
  
• What is practical for my lifestyle?
  Consider your job and your lifestyle. Darker colours may be a necessity out of practicality because you have small children or perhaps work in a formal environment.
  
  Now here's how to make your colours really work for you.
  Taking into consideration the above points each season choose no more that 2-3 colours to buy clothes in each season. (colours not neutrals!). By choosing a narrower colour range it will be easier to mix and match. You will be able to coordinate outfits much more easily with accessories. Mix these colours with the neutrals that you should already have as part of your capsule wardrobe and mix them together for a more vibrant fun look. Seek out patterned clothes containing those colours too. Accessories in your chosen colours are vital to bring the look together.

The following season reevaluate. Are you still loving those colours? Are they still available in the shops? Are they still working for you? If so keep buying your colours, otherwise review your colour swatches and choose another scheme.
Happy ShoppingSharon Connolly

Please feel free to pass on or use the information contained within this document as long as the author is given credit.

What Colour Season are you?

On returning from a colour analysis everyone asks you "What are you? - ooo I thought you might be an Autumn!" Let me tell you a little about what these seasons actually mean. The seasonal names were just a term to describe the colours that suit you - Autumn being a description of warm golden tones, winter being perhaps frosty lilacs and blues but does it really matter what "Season" you are.
When I do a colour analysis I do give my clients a swatch, but I'd really rather not - what I want them to do is understand the "mood" of the colours they are supposed to wear, rather than anything else - take my second client today - She was what we would call a Deep - this means that her colours need to be Rich, Vibrant and strong. I asked her to imagine red wine, claret, port, winter berries, Christmas trees, holly, ivy and traditional Christmas decorations - thinking of these colours should be enough of an inspiration to find what suits when shopping.
Its all very well being the "mad matching woman" trying to find clothes that exactly match your swatch but you need to think about three things
a) how did those colours get there in the first place - it is just someones opinion - who was she to decide you look great in hot pink but not fushia?
b) if you stick to them too much you end up buying things that are the right colour, but do you actually like them. Is the style right for you, does it make you feel great?
c) Fabric is very important, a colour might look tacky in a satin but lucious in soft wool

I think anyone can wear any colour - its how you mix and match, and more importantly your hair and make-up that can make the difference. Sure its much easier to look amazing when you do wear the right colours - so if you want an easy life, come see me for a colour analysis.
www.maximisegroup.com/colour.htm
Have you had a colour analysis - best thing you ever did or waste of money?

How to Look Good Naked

Obviously I watch all the TV make-over programs - sometimes agreeing with their advice, sometimes cringing at what they do (NHJ take note!) but my favorite is Gok and how to look good naked - the thing about Gok is that I really think that he wants to help the women on the show and its not about him, it's all about them. Anyway I decided to investigate where you would want to go to find out if you look good naked and get that sultry photoshoot experience.

I went to visity FYEO portraits in High Wycombe to test out their risque, but tasteful photoshoot experience. WOW - I can't tell you how confident it made me feel about my body, they were fantastic, the shots are fantastic - I actually feel like I want to stop people on the street and show them how great I look. If I could plaster the images on the side of a tall building or in a shopping centre then I most certainly would because thank you FYEO - I certainly do look good (semi) naked - so thank you FYEO - I enjoyed the whole pampering experience and you've made me look like an FHM cover shoot