Colour Analysis Blog

Going Grey … Gracefully? Lynne’s story

28th January 2022 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

Our natural colour

I always admired others who had dark locks, as I thought their hair stood out. Mine, on the other hand (being “mousey”), I felt was “something and nothing”. (We are never happy with what we have, are we!) However, when I reached the 40 mark, I realised that I was lucky, as any grey I might have was better hidden, and some I knew were paying quite a lot more at the hairdressers to have theirs coloured.

As we age

So, it’s a problem we will all face, actually, whether our hair is fair or dark, and it is a question that crops up a lot with my clients – shall I just go grey gracefully (as many were forced to do during lockdowns) or what?

What I say to my clients is that Mother Nature isn’t cruel, and we will go a grey that suits our natural skin pigmentation, be that a “warm grey” or “cool grey”, so leaving your fate to nature isn’t a bad option. It is, of course, all about how you feel about it and of course adjusting our self perception when we look in the mirror.

Why I created the “Confidence With Colour & Style Cards”

But, I wanted to write this blog to highlight another issue which was brought to my attention again recently, and is exactly why I created the “Confidence with Colour & Style cards”.

Lynne’s story

Lynne recently acquired her “Summer” box, and told me that she had read through them all, enjoying being reminded of her colour analysis experience, which had been a few years ago, and how some of the messages in there had been given to her at the time (although she couldn’t remember what jewellery colour suited her). I know there is a lot of information that is given at a colour-analysis session, and that it is hard for most people to remember it all, which is exactly why I created these boxes of cards. However, there is also more in the boxes than most people will be told at their colour analysis session, as it is meant to help people go beyond their initial experience, and give them some more things to consider, especially for those that take a while to go back to their image professional for more.

Now Lynne was currently in the hairdresser’s and texted for advice on hair colour, as she thought she had been told to avoid “ash blonde”, at all costs, so usually went for a warmer colour each time since her colour analysis. Funnily enough, hair colour isn’t covered in the Cards “Starter Set”, but I advised that Ash Blonde was in fact a good choice for her as a Summer, and although she had already chosen today’s colour by the time I had replied (an hour later), she had decided to go away from the usual warm tones. As soon as Lynne got home, she reported her first compliment: “It makes you look younger.” Boom!

The moral of the story is that had Lynne not looked at her new box of cards, which is a new item available for clients who have had some input from a stylist, she might not have thought to question her hair colour. Somehow she had got the wrong end of the stick all those years ago – which of course can happen when communication is involved – and wasn’t reaping the full benefit of having had a consultation with an image professional. This too is the point, that she did not go back regularly to her consultant, or they might have been able to correct that misunderstanding sooner.

So, ladies and gents, hair colour is important to looking your best, and you do need to know what colours suit you if you are paying to have some colour added. Of course, some hairdressers are good at advising but not all give advice and leave it to you to choose.

If you would like to know what suits you and why, please get in touch!

Fiona

Your Colour & Style Consultant

07469 246722

New Year, New Hopes

4th January 2022 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

New hopes and resolutions

As we turn our attention to new hopes and resolutions now a new year begins, have you set any goals that involve a new career or career change, or maybe getting your first professional role, or perhaps you’re thinking of retiring this year?

Different life goals

Maybe you’re thinking about a different kind of life goal: like getting married or starting/increasing your family.

Colour can help!

Whatever you are planning and whatever you are doing, bringing colour into your life can help!

Colour connects to feelings

There have been all sorts of studies over the years about the best colours to make you feel energised or relaxed, and I know from my own experience of having a blue coloured bedroom that it never felt warm until we re-decorated it pink! There is a definite link between colours and our feelings, and colour can be brought into our lives from kitchen utensils, furniture and furnishings, as well as clothing, accessories and makeup.

Brighten your mood and your life will follow

I think if we are in a place of happiness we generally might be more inclined to dress in colour – especially yellow, orange or red – whereas if we are not in such a happy place we may be more inclined to dress in darker colours like deep green, dark grey, navy and black. Some people, and I am one of them, believe we can alter our state of mind by wearing colour too. So if, for example, you want to be more happy, if you dress in brighter colours, not only may you attract more comments (hopefully compliments) which will cheer you up, but the colours themselves will lift your mood. Try it and see.

So, if you are taking on new, difficult challenges going into the new year, would it be worth having a consultation with me to see how you can brighten your clothes to give you more compliments and confidence?

Colour is not a fad, nor random. It definitely impacts the wearer as well as those around them, and can be used for positive change. I know that from my own experience: the career door opened once I started wearing the best colours for me, and I have never looked back.

I look forward to consulting with you to see what your colour experience unfolds.
Fiona

Your Colour & Style Consultant
07469 246722

The importance of knowing ‘your’ colours

10th November 2021 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

Comfort helps performance

I think most of us are on board with the idea that dressing well can help us do better in a job interview, but could it also help us score better in an exam? Remarkably, yes it could. It comes down to two factors: self-confidence (helping to ensure we bring our ‘A’ game) and comfort (so we can focus on the task in hand). Studies have shown that how comfortable you feel in what you wear has a positive impact on your cognitive performance and helps reduce distractions.

Boost your confidence and comfort

One of the ways we can boost both our confidence and comfort levels is by understanding what colours – and shades of colour – suit our style, our body shape and our personality.

Colour impacts on a number of levels

Colour theory tells us that, as humans, we respond to colours on a number of levels. The most obvious is the visual or biological response, how the light from colours reaches our eyes and is interpreted in our brains. For example, bright colours will usually appear larger or closer to us, where darker or dull colours will seem smaller or further away.

Then we might have a psychological response to colours, often through years of association with a colour. The hint of a blue flashing light in your rear-view mirror and your sub-conscious is already planning your next move; you would respond differently if it was an orange or green flashing light.

A small step on from the psychological is our emotional response to colours. This could be a passion for pastels, because we associate them with the comfort of Grannie’s flowery blouses, to a hatred of purple because it reminds you of that horrible teacher from school with the purple tights. Of course, this varies with colour temperatures, tones and hues, so you might find there is one shade of purple you actually like!

We have a complex relationship with colour

Partly because of our complex relationship with colour, it becomes a memorable feature and the one we will refer to most frequently. “That red car you used to have…”, “Those silver sandals you picked up in Greece…” It also helps to explain the urban legends of the ‘little black dress’ and the ‘lady in red’ (both are feminine, confident and stylish but I’d bet the lady in the red is probably bolder!).

Colour can make you memorable or feel braver, or it can help you disappear into the background. It can make you look taller and slimmer, or like you’re a woman with the confidence not to give a hoot!

What about how others respond to colour?

For all of these reasons, colour is usually the top motivation for buying an item of clothing. But that purchase is based on how we respond to the colour rather than how others will respond to it, or if it will suit our skin tone, hair colour and body shape. To understand the responses of others, we need to step outside of our own reactions and see ourselves as others see us, through the eyes of a trusted friend or an Image Consultant. Yes, you might have picked a ‘statement’ outfit but is it making the ‘statement’ you think it is?

Finally…

Understanding the colours that suit you will mean you have a wardrobe that you can be confident in, where garments will often blend or tone well with each other. You don’t have to worry about whether anything really suits you or feels comfortable; instead you can think ‘how bold do I feel today’?

Tips for sticking with your colours

1st November 2021 by Fiona Mobbs 2 Comments

The goal of every Image Consultant is to leave our clients with a wardrobe of clothes that are not just ‘easy’ to wear but that make them feel good when they wear them. (As one friend put it “My wardrobe makes me feel like a million dollars without costing me anything like that much!”)

Hopefully, that confident feeling you have gained from your consultation will last forever (what incredible value for money!) and you will continue dressing with comfort and confidence for years and years to come. However, we are all only human and it is only human to have little lapses or to revert to old habits. How easy it can be to get carried away in the moment, only to find you have bought a really expensive cashmere sweater in a colour that makes you look ill every time you wear it!

So here are my five top tips to help you stay on track and carry your new-found wardrobe confidence into the future.

Your Image Consultant will have left you with your personalised selection of colour swatches so, of course, the ideal is that you take them when you go shopping. If you don’t want to carry the whole selection around all the time, could you slip a few of your favourite colours into you purse so they are always handy? And, with technology today, Fiona has created some that can be kept handy on your phone, so you need never be without them again!
Make a note of how you feel in an outfit (and if you got any compliments) to keep yourself motivated. It will help remind you that your colour selections really do suit you and make you feel ready for anything. Just a notebook by your bed would do; read back over your notes whenever you need a little boost.
In your wardrobe, try hanging garments in colour order: all skirts in colour palette order, all shirts in colour palette order and so on (rather than random shirts here and skirts there). It will provide a visual reminder of what your colours are, as well as what contrasts or blends well together. It will help make those wardrobe decisions on busy mornings a little easier.
If you do ‘fall off the wagon’ and buy something that doesn’t suit you, don’t despair. Make a mental note of how often you actually wear it (I bet you’ll go with the tried and trusted garments that you know suit you instead!). If it’s hanging in the wardrobe more often than not, could you dye it, dress it up or donate it to a friend who it will suit?
From time to time, remind yourself why you visited an Image Consultant in the first place. Remember the ‘old’ you, who never knew what to wear, worried about if things suited her and never seemed to have the same style confidence that others seem to have. You are not that person any more and it’s down to what you have learnt about your personal colour and style.

If you need more motivation, I have designed just the product for you. It is being launched this month (November), so look out for more information and how you can obtain yours through me.

What a delight! Carole needs bright!

13th October 2020 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

I met Carole earlier in 2020, when she'd just started her business as a 'Virtual Office Manager'. She seemed lovely (just the type of person who I'd love to work with). I kept meeting her at different events throughout the year. She saw one of my posts, which prompted a conversation about colour analysis, and you can read Carole's story about what happened from her perspective over on her website:

www.caaadmin.com/new-blog/colour-your-life-with-change

I was really delighted to help Carole examine her wardrobe in a new light. She now knows she needs light, 'warm' and bright colours to light her up and make her look younger and healthier. She's happier in her clothes too, and enjoying quite a lot of compliments from what she tells me! Funnily enough, she already had some great pieces in her wardrobe to work with, and can now be more confident to wear them.

What do you think?

Carole's "before" photo, wearing darker colours she now knows to avoid.

Carole's "after" photo: with blue and pink already in her wardrobe.

Carole wearing a black cardigan over a grey cami

Carole's colour analysis was conducted in September using the 'remote' process I devised during the Coronavirus 'lockdown' in March. My process is to post a goody bag of essentials to my client. When they receive it, a two hour Zoom call is set up. After that a one hour meeting is held at the client's home to finish off the process when allowed, and it can be safely conducted. The process includes information about the make-up and clothes you already own, and a wallet of 30 colours to represent your "season", if the process can be concluded this way. (I cannot guarantee it will work over the internet as there are some variables like lighting and screen colours. If I cannot be sure of the result I will tell you and we can make alternative arrangements, or you can have your money back.)

If you would be interested to find out how £150 investment in yourself can improve your life, please contact me on the number below. I look forward to your call or email!

Fiona

Your Colour & Style Consultant

07469 246722 / fiona.yourcolourandstyle@gmail.com

“Remote” Colour Analysis: how it works with Your Colour & Style

23rd July 2020 by Fiona Mobbs Leave a Comment

What is Colour Analysis?

Colour analysis is the process of discovering which colours of clothing, accessories, make-up, and hair-dye look best on someone, so they can shop with knowledge and focus to make themselves look healthiest and most attractive, and save wasting money on items that don’t serve them well.

How Covid-19 changed things

When I trained over 11 years ago, I never imagined I would be able to colour-analyse through the internet! Yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing since the world adapted because of Covid-19. I, like many business owners, had to re-think my business proposition to make it work in this new world. (Thank goodness for the internet and Zoom I say!)

Because I am experienced, I have worked out a system that works for my clients and me, although I cannot guarantee it will work in 100% of cases because there are a few variables that I can’t control when working “remotely”. So, my system comprises of posting some drapes to the client in advance of the consultation, them sending me some pictures, then carrying out the analysis using Zoom (so they can also have a recording – a new bonus from this process) and completing the analysis at their home face-to-face when possible. A total of 3 hours for £150, backed by the guarantee that if it cannot be completed on-line either money-back, or conducting the analysis in the usual face-to-face way at my client’s home, with adequate safety measures in place.

A recent client example

I recently had the delight to conduct an analysis for the lovely Suzy, who helpfully (as a seasoned brand photographer) was able to take her own before and after pictures! I think you’ll agree they are stunning and show how the harmonious “autumn” colour shades create rapport with her features and make her look the warm and friendly person she is.

We discovered she was an “autumn”, meaning that she needs warm and soft colours to best combine with her natural skin tone, hair colouring and eyes. As it happened, one of those colours (a teal or kingfisher) she had chosen as her business brand colour, so she obviously loved it.

Suzy’s “before” photo

Suzy Ellis' "before" photo — Suzy Ellis in a bright blue (“winter”) dress – before she realised she needed warm and soft colours to make her look her best

Suzy Ellis' "after" picture — Suzy Ellis in her autumn top that she loved, and which loved her!

As part of the analysis I offer, I like to connect the theory with my client’s reality – and that involves discussion about the clothes they already own. It may be that I can give advice about making something work better; combining items that the client had never thought of; or what to do with something that the client is ready to put away or move on as they now know it is not best for them. All clients declare, as did Suzy, that this would be the scariest bit, but I can reveal that 100% of my clients afterwards say this is “the best bit” (I think because it makes the theory come alive and is practical for them).

The Client’s Perspective

Suzy kindly wrote about her experience, from the client’s perspective, and I am delighted to share it here with you.

The words of Suzy Ellis, Brand Photographer

” I’ve never been particularly into fashion, much preferring comfort over style. However I recently met Fiona in a networking meeting and what she had to say really grabbed my attention. I decided to join her online clothing swap as I was getting very depressed wearing the same tatty jeans and ancient T-shirt’s every day and thought this could be the opportunity for a change. My body shape and size has changed since having children so my wardrobe was full of clothes which I was desperately hanging onto in the hopes that I might fit back into them one day. Fiona’s event seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some new clothes.

The event was great fun and I ended up with some lovely new items, however one thing I did notice was that the other ladies on the call all seemed to be aware of their “colours”. This is something I’ve never really considered before. I’d always just bought clothes which I liked the look of and which (I hoped) were a flattering style. It never really occurred to me that there were specific colours which would compliment my skin tone, hair and eye colour. That would make me look healthy and bright.. and that would cause people to actually compliment me on my outfit (not a common occurrence for me).

After chatting with Fiona I booked one of her remote colour and style consultations. She explained how it would work, partly via zoom meeting and partly face to face when we were able to safely work together. She then arranged for me to have a pack of colour charts, multi coloured swatches and a colour wheel delivered to my house. I sent Fiona some images before the consultation of my face without makeup or jewellery so she could see my skin, eye and hair colour.

The Zoom Meeting

The Zoom meeting was fantastic! Fiona explained all of the seasonal colours to me and how and why colours compliment each other. We discussed my usual clothes and what colours I usually wear and why. I then used the colour swatches to hold up near my face for Fiona to see which tones suited me best. We both came to the conclusion that autumn colours worked best with my complexion. Afterwards, Fiona helped me go through some of the items in my wardrobe to see whether they would work with my colouring. It wasn’t just a case of … no that doesn’t work, get rid of it. She recommended how I could accessorise some of my clothes to make them look better, possibly take them to a tailor to be adjusted or even save some of the nicer items for my daughter when she is a bit older. I was slightly worried about this part of the consultation as my wardrobe is not something I’m proud of, but Fiona was so wonderful. She didn’t bat an eyelid about the random things I pulled out, and even encouraged me to give some of my older clothes a second chance. It was a lovely experience and I am very much looking forward to our meeting in person to talk a little more about makeup and accessories.

I have now had a sort out of my wardrobe and bought some new items in colours which I’ve never considered before but I think will suit me. I’m looking forward to going shopping again with my colour palette and I finally feel like I can spend my money wisely on clothes that I will actually wear and feel happy and confident in. “

Fiona says:

I am delighted that this analysis was able to be concluded for Suzy, and that she is now on her way to looking her best every day with ease.

If you want to see what can happen for you, Fiona can offer on-line analysis, as well as wardrobe consultations and support if you are buying new clothes, whether that’s brand new, or just new for you (ie previously loved).

Suzy’s website, for anyone wanting her help for their brand photography, is https://www.suzyellisphotography.co.uk