Frugal Frump to Fab - 2015

indiepanda

Picking up on the comments people have made about colour and style, I have to say although it's not cheap to do, the money I spent on having my "colours done" and the style version too at House of Colour was really worthwhile.

My mum had an old book on colour and I had convinced myself I was a spring when I was younger, though I'd never really followed the guidance about what I should wear.

Turns out I am an autumn, and almost nothing in my wardrobe was the right colour for me. The style thing I often got wrong too for both my body shape and my personality.

Took me quite a while to gradually switch my wardrobe round to what works for me and even then, there's some compromise e.g. workout leggings its almost impossible to find brown so I just wear black with a decent colour top. I also still wear silver (mostly with the right coloured stones /enamel) and white in the summer. However, I follow it more than not, and it does mean when I buy something new I already have suitable shoes / bag / jewellery etc to go with it, and the number of complements I get wearing the right colours for me v the wrong is incredible. I gave up having blonde highlights too and the feedback on that was great.

I did ask the lady who did mine if she could tell by looking at someone exactly what palette they would be and she said that it often wasn't possible what with people changing their hair colour and wearing wrong coloured make up. So, if anyone did feel like investing some money in themselves, I would recommend it - suspect in the long run you save money by not buying things that don't suit you.

Rummer

I had a free consultation in Debenhams withe their personal shopper and they picked clothes that I never would have chosen that looked amazing on. There was no pressure at all to buy and it didnt cost a penny. When I am going on holiday next year I am going to get their help with my intended capsule wardrobe.

Rummer

Good Morning

I have grown so tired of the rain. None of my summer clothes have been given an airing and I have been reluctant to do much outside. Maybe I need to put on the waterproofs and get in the fresh air!

Loads of house fabbing

maman

Rummer wrote: »

Loads of house fabbing

At least you're doing something constructive. Well done:T.


I had a bit of a walk out this morning. It's bright and dry here but hardly what I'd call summer. Very disappointing:(.


I'm currently trying to come to terms with MarieKondo. Determined to finish the book this week. I've dabbled in a bit of tidying but really can't see myself pulling everything out as she suggests.

enchilada

Good lord my last reply on this thread was on page 10 and we're already on page 87! :shocked: where has the time gone?

Think I need to get back on the fabwagon so if it's ok with you ladies I will join you again

I was interested to see some of you talking about colour analysis- I had a bit of an obsession with it last year! I'm a light summer (self-diagnosed, I'd love to get my colours done one day) and really do find I get more compliments when I wear my colours, so I highly encourage anyone interested to look into it. I don't do it all of the time (you'll never stop me wearing black) but I'm more likely to accessorise with a scarf or something in my colour, and it really does make shopping easier! There are lots of online resources to help you find your season so you don't need to spend a lot either.

Lessonlearned, please put the red geraniums outside the house, they would look so lovely!

Does anyone have any favourite fashion and beauty Instagrammers and Pinterest boards? My favourite is Mimi Ikonn but would love to find some more to have a look at.

maman

enchilada wrote: »

Good lord my last reply on this thread was on page 10 and we're already on page 87! :shocked: where has the time gone?

Think I need to get back on the fabwagon so if it's ok with you ladies I will join you again

I was interested to see some of you talking about colour analysis- I had a bit of an obsession with it last year! I'm a light summer (self-diagnosed, I'd love to get my colours done one day) and really do find I get more compliments when I wear my colours, so I highly encourage anyone interested to look into it. I don't do it all of the time (you'll never stop me wearing black) but I'm more likely to accessorise with a scarf or something in my colour, and it really does make shopping easier! There are lots of online resources to help you find your season so you don't need to spend a lot either.

Lessonlearned, please put the red geraniums outside the house, they would look so lovely!

Does anyone have any favourite fashion and beauty Instagrammers and Pinterest boards? My favourite is Mimi Ikonn but would love to find some more to have a look at.

:wave: enchilada
I've not really explored Pinterest or Instagram so can't help there.


Would you post a few links to colour sites please? I'd like a bit of a dabble on my own before parting with big bucks;).

Rummer

enchilada wrote: »

Does anyone have any favourite fashion and beauty Instagrammers and Pinterest boards? My favourite is Mimi Ikonn but would love to find some more to have a look at.

I like Keiko Lynn lots of skincare, makeup and fashion information.

indiepanda

maman wrote: »

:wave: enchilada
I've not really explored Pinterest or Instagram so can't help there.


Would you post a few links to colour sites please? I'd like a bit of a dabble on my own before parting with big bucks;).

I had my colours done by House of Colour, but I don't think their website gives too much away about colour typing to help you self diagnose as they're wanting you to pay for it (and to be fair to them, I'd self diagnosed myself as a spring based on an old Colour me Beautiful book my mum had and turns out I am an autumn so I can see the value in having someone trained do it!)

Their website is
http://www.houseofcolour.co.uk/

Or another colour consultancy
http://www.colourmebeautiful.co.uk/home

They publish a number of books which you could use to self-diagnose - most up to date one I could find on Amazon is called "Colour Me Beautiful: Expert guidance to help you feel confident and look great" and is £5.95 in paperback.

I bought a previous edition of this book and didn't find it anything like as useful as seeing the HOC consultant, and find the approach CMB use these days a bit complicated compared to HOC (CMB don't do "seasons" any more but a wider variety of "tonal directions" and I couldn't work out which I was reading the book.)

This site might give you a bit of an idea about it - Kettlewell Colours, a clothing company set up by a lady who'd been colour typed and couldn't find clothes in her colours. I have lots of clothes from them - they aren't cheap but the quality is fantastic and the discounts in the sales are good too. They show what colours are in the different palates - mainly follow the HOC system but there is a bit that explains how it would translate to the latest CMB system

http://www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk/colour-analysis

greenbee

I'm away for work at the moment. I don't wear make-up unless I'm seeing clients... and I've managed to get a tan this summer. So I had an interesting time trying to blend my foundation to get it right. Matching the colour on my face was too dark, leaving a line on my my neck, so I had to redo it. I went to the MAC counter at T5 a while ago and they gave me two colours that I can use to blend through the year (and also to go darker for on-stage and video work if necessary).

I found THIS tutorial really interesting when someone posted it on FB a month or so ago, and have looked at some of her others since. Mind you, I think I need to wear make-up regularly to remember what I'm supposed to be doing!

I'm lucky in that I can wear most colours, but I prefer to wear strong ones (my mum, of course, thinks I look nice in pastels and beige, and with no makeup...). I have an amazing hairdresser who is very helpful with suggestions on colours (and suggested MAC for the makeup advice).

I need to get back on track with diet and exercise. In January I thought I'd pretty much lost as much as I wanted to and anymore wasn't going to look pleasant. Since then I've put about half a stone back on (possibly more depending on when I weigh myself) and as a result I'm not feeling as positive about my body and some of my clothes aren't looking as good on me either!

I'm away for work at the moment, so trying to be disciplined despite the airline and hotel food and drink and temptation to just work constantly. All hotels bar one have a pool, all have gyms, and I need to make time to use them and to run.

So now I really need to take off my makeup, go for a quick walk, then have a swim before finding some nice healthy food and having an early night.

ALthough it might be a good idea to finish my presentation for tomorrow first

enchilada

maman wrote: »

Would you post a few links to colour sites please? I'd like a bit of a dabble on my own before parting with big bucks;).

Actually no, I'm still new but put this in your browser address bar and see if it works!

thechicfashionista.com/your-best-perfect-colors.html

Mimi Ikonn (who I mentioned earlier) also has some excellent Youtube videos on the subject.

Like other users have said, the best way is to get them done professionally, but if you're torn between two seasons, think carefully about what you know suits you- for example, when I go through the questions, I could be either a spring or summer, but I know I look horrible in buff, so I think I'm a summer. You can also be a neutral which complicates things a bit! I'm very pale with blonde hair and green eyes so it was fairly easy for me, but one day I will get them done professionally when I can afford it.

If anyone is a light summer, let me know and I will share my Pinterest board

indiepanda, thanks for letting us know about Kettlewell Colours- I'm going to have a look now! I once found a site specialising in makeup based on colour analysis but I can't for the life of me find it- I'll keep looking.

Rummer, I'll have a look at Keiko Lynn tonight at home. Baking tonight for a cake sale on Friday so will play it on the tablet while I cover everything in flour!

Edit: I found it! And they also do an online colour analysis where you can send in a picture of yourself for £25. janefardon.com/online-image-consultant-service-bronze/