Apr 11, 2019 | personal branding, Style, Style Personality, Uncategorised
The second installment in my style personality series looks at the Dramatics amongst us. Before we get too engrossed though, lets take a moment to remind ourselves what your style personality influences. It is that subconscious decision maker within each and every one of us that pulls us like a magnet to those new shoes, that new hairstyle or even that new car.
For our Dramatics, the “wow” factor is crucial. You will always make an entrance no matter the occasion and love nothing more than being noticed whilst being the centre of attention. Shopping is one of your favourite pastimes. Your wardrobe is brimming with clothes and accessories that make a statement, it consists of many different styles that you have bought on impulse without a thought as to whether you have anything to co-ordinate them with.
You spend time researching on the internet and within fashion magazines for shopping ideas and trends. You are not remotely concerned with clothing practicality, whether that be comfort or if they can be tumble dried, this simply does not enter in to your mind. Regardless of your colouring you like bold and strong colour choices, often changing your hair colour and style to create new statement making looks.Your home is full of the latest hi-tech gadgets and you are drawn to fast cars that also make a statement. Perhaps you like to take the odd risk too!
My one word of wisdom for all you Dramatics out there is to be mindful that not all the latest fashion trends will suit your body shape so just because it looks good on the front cover of Vogue that will not necessarily translate to looking good on you.
Celebrity examples would include, David Beckham, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams or Chaka Khan.
Mar 12, 2019 | Accessorize, Clothing, Fashion, Men, Style, Style Personality
Lots of my customers have never heard about style personality before and yet it governs a major part in the decisions that we make in relation to hairstyles, clothing styles, footwear and even the cars we drive, the homes we live in, or the holidays we enjoy. I have therefore set myself the task of covering all six style personalities in my blog over the next six months. That way you can start to piece together the two or three categories that you align yourself too.
So what is “style personality”? In an nut shell, it’s your first buying decision so it’s the subconscious pull that you get when you first walk in to a shop. Naturally, the colour and styling of your clothes play an important part in your appearance, but it is your personality above all else that acts as a catalyst to pull your whole look together. Your personality dictates your style, which is your own interpretation of fashion, ignore it and buy clothes simply because they feature in all the glossy magazines or look great on a friend and you will not look comfortable, nor will your wardrobe be very user friendly, instead it will be a muddle of styles which will only add to your confusion.
So lets kick off our tour of the six style personalities with our creatives, our trend setters rather than a trend follower. Shopping to these men and women is an art form. If you fall in to this category you will be great at combining different items of clothing and accessories to give yourself a unique and interesting look. You rarely throw anything out because you know you will use it again at some point, even if it has to be remodelled. You prefer public transport to any other methods of getting from A – B. Your wardrobe is full of items from many different sources be it vintage, hand me downs, one off boutiques, E-bay purchases or charity shops, with the occasional high-street gem thrown in for good measure. You may feel challenged in a very formal business environment but with careful modification your creative urges can still be fulfilled with one-off pieces of jewellery, a statement tie or an eclectic jacket. You will often make interesting purchases whilst away in unique holiday destinations far off the beaten track.
My one area of advise to all those creatives out there is to be careful that your passion for being an individual does not result in you being inappropriately dressed for certain occasions.
Celebrity examples would include, Sir Elton John, Paloma Faith, David Bowie or Nicki Minaj.
Nov 6, 2018 | Clothing, Fashion, personal branding, Shopping, Style
I love meeting people for the very first time and trying to guess their own individual style personality. It’s a science in itself you see, and everyone has their own unique sense of style which is that subconscious pull that you get when you walk in to a shop, go looking for a new car, choose a partner, a handbag or even a holiday. Its your very first buying decision and comes before any consideration of colour or even shape. It can be rather important to know what yours is, as it may need tweaking every now and then to give you the best possible results when out shopping, attending a special occasion with a specific dress code or even when purchasing something for a loved one who may or may not share the same style personality as yourself. There are 6 different style personalities in the Colour Me Beautiful system and the majority of people fall between 1 or 2 categories. It really is fascinating as it can tell you a lot about yourself and your daily choices around make-up routines, shopping habits and outfit co-ordination.
I’ll start with our Creatives, the ladies and gents who want to carve out their own individual sense of style. Looking like everyone else is really not high on their agenda. Instead they opt for a sometimes quirky and eccentric approach to dressing with no fears of trying new things or standing apart from the crowd. Celebrity examples would be Paloma Faith or Lady Gaga.
Next we have our Dramatics who like to be seen and who like to make a show stopping entrance. They are conditioned to follow trends and require a new outfit for every occasion that they attend. They do not shy away from colour and like to make a statement with their outfit choices or make-up styles. Think Katy Perry or Angelina Jolie.
Next up is our Romantics who crave detail and femininity, whether that be in material choices where texture is crucial or in the finer details of the outfit such as buttons, fringing, beading ,hair adornments or in jewellery. Everything oozes all things pretty so underwear is often very delicate and detailed and the wearer will persevere with it even if its uncomfortable! Think Kylie or Katherine Jenkins.
We then have our Classics (like myself) who are creatures of habit when it comes to dressing. We shop in the same “safe” shops and buy simple yet elegant items that invariably match other items in our wardrobes. There is not a lot of risk involved in this category as we stick to the same tried and tested formula whether that be make-up application which may not have changed since we were teenagers or hair styles. Think Deborah Meaden or Hilary Clinton.
Our Naturals come next who have a no fuss approach to dressing. Comfort and practicality feature heavily in these wardrobe choices and they prefer an uncluttered look. Low maintenance is crucial for these individuals so a hair cut that styles itself, a low time investment make-up routine and flat shoes tend to be preferred. Think Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet.
Finally we explore our final category, City Chic. This is a far edgier version of the Classic. It has a more modern and European feel to it which oozes elegance but still has the ability to take a risk. Good tailoring is essential and investment pieces fill these wardrobes where items tend to cost more at ticket price as the buyer knows how to take full advantage of a timeless piece that will co-ordinate effortlessly. Think Halle Berry and Kate Middleton.
So now that I’ve got your all thinking about the style categories that you may fit in to, take some time to guess which style personality best fits your friends and loves ones, It can really help with present buying and with Christmas just around the corner this is my early gift to you!
Oct 10, 2018 | colour, Fashion, Style
Arriving in October, I wanted this months blog to reflect the abundance of colours available on the high street and how to introduce them in to your wardrobes. Following on from London fashion week and the A/W 2018 catwalks, these were the colours of the moment as identified by Pantone.
Green is everywhere this season and rest assured there is a green for everyone that will harmonise with your skin tone, hair colour and eye colour. If you’re unsure why not make it your mission to step out of your comfort zone and discover the perfect shade for you.
Burgundies and purples return every autumn, but this year reds and pinks are staying too. A great way of adding a splash of colour to the neutrals that feature in your palette.
For lights like myself, autumn/winter can be tough seasons to navigate whilst not “being worn” by some of the more dominant shades that are available. Try and keep the colour of your tops within the neutral and lighter shades of your palette. Prince of Wales fabric is elegant without being too overbearing.
For all the deeps, brown is the new black! From black/brown to chocolate to coffee and mahogany, embrace all these intense colours that will make you look co-ordinated and on trend. Don’t be afraid to wear dark colours from your palette together to make a truly show stopping entrance.
For all the warms out there, if ever there has been a season for you, it is now. Embrace all the wonderful display of chocolates, oranges, ochres and mustards. If choosing a navy or charcoal grey as a neutral then team them up with one of your warmer hues for full effect.
For all the lovely cools, I can assure you that your colours are out there too, from animal prints in greys and blues to checks in purples and damsons, via pinks and silver. Big chunky necklaces are in this season too, so aim for a silver, pewter or gun metal backdrop to set any outfit a blaze. Be warned though, if you’re going for a chunky necklace then don’t over do it on the earrings, unless you’re as tall as me that is!
The clears can enjoy the vibrancy that a new season brings. Team up your black/browns with greens to really make an entrance. This is the time to wear colours at their most striking, the more contrast and boldness the better.
Finally for all our softs, as brown is the new black then favour the paler versions from your palette in taupe’s and coffees. Team your neutrals with blues and pinks this season to get the most amount of variety within your palette. When masterminding your outfits, keep to a similar shade from head to toe and you will look instantly put together and effortlessly stylish.
Of course if you’re unsure what your perfect shades are, then with Christmas approaching why not consider a gift that will keep on giving and treat yourself to a colour session here at Styled In Colour.
Aug 3, 2018 | hair, personal branding, Style
For this months blog, I’m enlisting the help of my good friend, Julie Butterworth (lovingly known as Mrs B) of SOS (Simply Organised Spaces) to take us on a journey of what going grey can do for you when you embrace it head on! Julie did not start life with white hot hair, she was actually more of a medium warm brunette with a warm skin tone to boot and enjoyed her 30’s choosing clothing shades to compliment these two attributes such as oranges and lime greens. Fast forward a good few years and Julie was tired of the endless upkeep that having a medium brown crop meant and the multiple root touch ups that she had to endure. A good hairdresser (in Julie’s case it was Shaunna at Evolve in Edenfield) worked through the transition process of dark to light or as Shaunna refers to it, “Colorado to Natural White”, perfectly.
So lets begin on New Years Eve with the original picture, top left, Julie hated the way her hair was making her feel and didn’t like the amount of make-up that she was needing to use in order to feel “human”. It was at this moment that Julie took the brave step to stop dying her hair as part of her New Years resolution.
A good hairdresser will support you through each stage of the process and Shaunna did just that, agreeing to let the underneath layers grow out for 3 months (it’s worth mentioning at this point that Julie has fast growing hair) whilst topping up colour on the top layers and roots. The second picture demonstrates 4 hours at the hairdressers of which non of the “grow out” hair was coloured. This was followed up every 4 weeks where Julie had a conditioning bleach strip for a few minutes at a time which kept removing colour but which kept the hair conditioned. The final result came just 9 months after Julie started the process and she maintains this look with regular stylish cuts and White Hot Hair products.
With the alteration in Julie’s hair tone from that of a warm hue to that of a cool hue she realised that some of her most favourite shades in her wardrobe were no longer making her look and feel fantastic. Following a colour consultation and make-up prescription, Julie discovered her most flattering colours to match her shiny new locks.
So, is going grey something to be feared or avoided? If you ask me, Julie looks 10 years younger as a Silver Siren, so what are you waiting for?
Jul 9, 2018 | Fashion, Shopping, Style, Uncategorised
From statement making patterns to a more subtle Breton stripe option, there’s a stripe for everyone. Find out below how to introduce the trend in to your wardrobe.
The Breton stripe was pioneered by Co Co Chanel and is a timeless classic that will feature from season to season time and time again. It is quite simply a wardrobe staple that will never go out of fashion. When advising clients on the best stripe, you need to begin by considering your scale. If you’re 5ft 8″ tall or over then opt for a bolder statement making stripe. Conversely, for anyone 5ft 3″ and below then choose something a little more delicate that won’t over power you. There really is a stripe to suit every body shape and here’s how.
A diagonal stripe is fabulous for any body shape and works on anyone and everyone to break up problem areas and to disguise any challenges.
For people with a bigger bottom half and narrower shoulders then opt for horizontal stripes across your top half to create the illusion of a bigger torso.
For people who are petite and who would like to maximize their height, then opt for a thin vertical stripe to elongate the silhouette.
For people who are straight up and down with no waist, horizontal stripes of varying width can look fabulous (be careful with a larger bust and choose more of a uniform stripe in this instance).
For clients who have a larger top half than bottom half then consider wearing your stripes down below in order to draw all the attention to your most celebrated features.
Women who carry additional weight around their mid-section benefit form vertical or diagonal stripes.
Curvaceous bodies can accentuate their curves with horizontal stripes which will add focus to their hips and bust.
All that’s left to do now is to get hunting for those perfect wardrobe essentials. Happy shopping folks.
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