Content blogger, Kate Llewellyn, describes her colour analysis and style consultation with VHL!

First things first…a cuppa! 

On a wintery, but at least a sunny day, Victoria arrived at my home full of smiles with a bulging bag and a big white mirror. After a hug, chat and the making of said cuppa (no-one is allowed to arrive at my house without being forced to have a mug of something hot!), she sat me down in front of the big mirror. With no make-up on and my hair barely dry, it was not my favourite place to be to start with! However, as the style consultation went on, it was possibly the most educational space I have ever been in, in recent years.

Victoria duly wrapped me in a white cloak (this is to block out all other colours I was wearing and see the true me) and we began…a huge next step on my style journey.

Identifying my season with colour analysis 

From my photos, including pictures of my wrists?!??!? (see previous blog post!), Victoria had identified that I was likely to be a ‘summer’. Victoria used the seasonal colour spectrum to identify whether I was either a ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ tone. She identified that in terms of ‘metallics’, I suited silver (cool), rather than gold (warm, and phew, at least my wedding ring is the right colour!!!)  Victoria then showed me an array of lovely coloured capes, each had a number of coloured triangles, showing colours throughout the tonal spectrum, soft, deep, warm, cool, clear or light.  They were rather beautiful as a display! She draped a few which did nothing for me, around my neck and then ta-dah, the cool and light summer one, I instantly got the idea of what sort of colours would work for me and my skin tone at that point.  I was so exited to continue!

Next came the most educational time of my life and a wonderful chance to discuss everything colour, clothes and style. Victoria had huge bundles of material in every colour and shade imaginable and we stepped through many of the tones making comparison and seeing which suited me most.  I couldn’t get over the difference, just looking in the mirror. My right and left eyes would look completely different depending on the colour draped over each shoulder. My hair colour and skin tone genuinely looked better (or not) depending on how well the colour suited me and the shades were some times not even that different. A lot of this had to do whether the tone had a blue undertone, a neutral or a warm base.

 It was quite simply brilliant.

Victoria went through lots of colours: reds, greens, blues, oranges, yellows. Then, she identified my neutral colours; black, grey, navy, white/beige etc. The neutrals were incredibly interesting to evaluate as I had always thought of these as colours that ‘everyone can wear’, but still by comparing the shades, I could certainly see a difference to my skin tone. 

 My colour palette

When we found a colour that enhanced my features or skin colour, Victoria put it to one side, so that by the end I had a beautiful selection of what Victoria calls your ‘power colours’.  In truth, it turns out, I have been wearing a lot of the wrong colours. I really didn’t realise I could wear pastel colours. As Victoria noted, it is about the clothes enhancing your best features (she kept saying I have nice eyes…so strange being complimented so much in a short space of time! Thank you!).

My most amazing discovery was that the clothes I currently wear have actually been ‘enhancing’ something I dislike most about myself – my very rosy skin tone. In most circumstances, I get quite red-coloured cheeks and forehead (and I hate it!) and go completely tomato when I exercise!
However, what the coloured drapes highlighted was that it was often the colour of the clothes which made this so much worse. When I had the ‘wrong’ colour on, my cheek would look red, then Victoria would show me a ‘power colour’ and my cheek would look ‘normal human’ colour! Great news!

Luckily, I now know that I don’t wear completely the wrong colour all day every day, but instead I primarily stick to my ‘neutral colour’ (i.e. navy), which suits me, but gets a little repetitive after a while and isn’t quite so ‘enhancing’ or ‘powerful’. When I have bought something bright (or just not blue!), I have chosen items just a little too bold for my colour, which mean “the colour wears you, rather than you wearing the colour”, as Victoria explained. I completely see that now. I admit that some days I would prefer people to look at my bright pink jumper rather than my face! However, after my consultation, I want to feel better and more confident about what I wear and I do want people to notice me, partly because of my clothes, not in spite of them. I feel more confident already knowing I can help ‘tone down’ my rosy cheeks by choosing the right coloured clothing without piles of make up!

Colour combinations and clothing

Victoria took lots of photos, which means I have a full record of not only power colours and neutral colours, but also colour combinations, which would work well together for my Light (and cool) Summer palette. We discussed my body shape and therefore what combinations would also complement this and, furthermore, which styles and shapes of clothes would suit me – I can’t wait to get my Personal Styling Portfolio with all of this information in!

We could have talked for hours, but I felt so happy and motivated by the end…and had to stop asking questions and let Victoria go eventually!

Now I am so excited to see my online portfolio and soak up all of Victoria’s marvellous advice. Then, I really want to get stuck in to sorting through my current clothes, researching new ones and feeling happier in what I wear. 

Bring it on! …I might even go shopping! Eeek!!!

If Kates style journey is inspiring you, CLICK HERE for everything you need to know about booking your Colour Analysis.

Be Forever You, Always.
Victoria x
~ The SHero Stylist