Mariah Carey - radiant

Fashion, of course is considered by many as art. We’re told there is much competition by leading designers to get their dress on the back of a Hollywood actress and down the red carpet and at such an event where there is maxim media exposure and column inches the PR value is worth its weight in Oscar gold.

When writing about the frock show at the recent ‘Oscars’ Daily Mail fashion journalist Liz Jones commented “the colour was a washout: there were so many oysters and nudes I lost count, and began to yearn for someone with the guts to wear emerald or scarlet”. Me too Liz! Whilst quite often I find that fashion journalists can be rather dismissive of the ‘art’ of the colour consultant  I rather think they miss the point as, I feel, have some of this years Oscar stars – or their stylists.

If you’ve looked at the pictures of the dresses you might have wondered what is it that made Mariah look like a goddess, whilst Gabourey Sidibe looked older than her years and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s dress seemed to have the strange effect of making the rest of her fade in to insignificance, and all were wearing the colour blue.

Why was Helen Mirren resplendently regal in lavender when pale and nude tones on the very beautiful Charlize Theron and Anna Kendrick had the unfortunate effect of making them appear just brought out of cold storage in time for the ceremony?

Clothes and the colours that we choose to wear are an expression of our

Anna Kendrick - revived?

personality and our individuality and yes, of course ‘fashion’ is fun to wear and enjoy but just as there can be light, depth, clarity,softness and intensity in the colours of the fabric of a beautiful dress, there is too in our own personal colouring. Knowing and understanding how your own colouring interacts with the colours of fabric and clothing is the difference between looking strained  with your dress taking centre stage, or the secret to looking like a goddess – radiant and alive.

See the photos of the stars on the ABC News and Entertainment Oscar 2010 Red Carpet Report

Other blog posts you might be interested in

Pantone fashion colour report for autumn 2010

The message behind black

Back to black?

Stylists, image consultants and colourists – develop more in depth and accurate colour techniques with our courses in personal colour psychology and help your clients to look great and increase their well-being.

Pantone swatches

Pantone have launched their Fashion colour report for autumn 2010.  Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® describes the palette as an“innovative take on fundamental basics, as well as transporting, lively colours that conjure images of travel and adventure, whether real or aspirational.”

Several leading American designers describe their inspiration for the selected colours that we’ll be seeing in fashion retail later in the year.  I thought I would take a look at the colour chips described and offer my own thoughts on how I think these colours work together.

Oyster Gray and Rose Dust have the ethereal qualities of the attractive and harmonious cool, muted summer palette. The addition of Purple Orchid brings the palette to life adding excitement and depth. These colours are indeed ‘aspirational’ alluding to quality, elegance and timelessness. Soft and light like a summery breeze they are suited to flowing, diaphanous fabrics, cashmere wools and silks.

Endive, Golden Glow, Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Woodbine and Lagoon appear more rich and muted. Fiery and intense these flavorsome earthy autumn shades are more ‘adventurous’ and work well together in a palette suiting perhaps textured, substantial and sumptuous fabrics. The Chocolate Truffle (yummy!) is an excellent wearable choice instead of black; it has the depth and gravitas but yet is warmer and more approachable. Piquant Lipstick Red and Golden Glow add spice and energy to the collection. Endive and Living Coral are both slightly ‘livelier’ colours adding a little sparkle to the group, whilst Lagoon adds a touch of calm to the collection.

I’m encouraged by the way the reports’ designers think about and view colour and as a colourist fully embrace the message of how colour can make you feel. I would be interested to hear your own views and comments too.

“My new fashion colours rule: Try it you might like it. In the last few years there’s been such an influx of colour in fashion, including the new neutrals which range from the iciest pinks to the lightest lavenders. Faced with all these choices, women may revert to black, but I urge them to give colour a try”.

Constance White – ebay Style Director

“It’s never been more important to show who you are and what you believe in and there’s not a more subtle way of doing that than with colour”

Collier Strong Celebrity Make-up Artist

“You’ll be amazed at what a splash of colour can do to both your’look’ and your ‘outlook’”

Cate Adair Costume Designer – Desperate Housewives

Personal colour psychology – find out for yourself how the colours that you wear have an effect on how you feel http://www.incolourconsultancy.com/personal_colour.htm

View the Pantone Fashion Colour Report here:
http://www.pantone.co.uk/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE_Fashion_Color_Report_Fall_2010.pdf

Barely out of the news at the moment is of course John Terry’s recently exposed affair and subsequent demise as England’s (football) captain. Now, I’m no ‘footy’ expert nor particularly a fan, but what interests me as a colourist about the fiasco is the story that’s told in the accompanying photos of the characters involved.

So often when the proverbial hits the fan for  VIPs and celebs and reported in the press we tend to see the protagonists mostly wearing a particular colour – black. Over the last two days we’ve seen many pictures of Vanessa Perroncel wearing black and yesterday Terry’s wife Toni too.

Although always seemingly popular and beloved of the fashion industry black – and indeed any colour, is so much more than a fashion statement. Mostly subconsciously we choose to wear and dress ourselves in a colour that will represent and mirror how we feel at that moment in time. Uncompromising black is a colour that many of us feel ‘safe’ in. For many of course it is a sophisticated and glamorous colour but  there is also an element of power, mystery and even control about black. We can relate it perhaps to darkest night time when much remains unseen by the eye and hidden. The personality can be cloaked and true feelings can be contained within. And so in this time of strife and uncertainty for these two women, wearing black can be almost like a barrier from the outside world and appear to offer protection. It may of course indicate secrets yet unrevealed!

As this story continues to play out I will be interested to see the colours ‘worn’ and to interpret the feelings that really lay behind the images we see in the news?

For more about the meanings and effects of black

http://www.incolourconsultancy.com/black_white_grey_brown.htm

Back to black? Fashion’s love affair -  http://www.incolourconsultancy.com/blog/category/personal-and-lifestyle-colour/

Learn how to interpret the secrets of colour for yourself new courses for Personal and Lifestyle colourists starting in March – http://www.incolourconsultancy.com/certificate_in_colour.htm

We’ve arrived in to the month of November and dare I mention it, the countdown to Christmas and many of you may be already filling your diaries with upcoming seasonal party dates.

The colour black still seems to feature in many wardrobes this time of year as the colour of choice – be it for dinner suits, party dresses or gowns for all kinds of parties and occasions. But what is our fascination with black all about?

Some of this research may surprise you…..

The fashion industry has a continuing love affair with the colour black. Coco Chanel invented the ‘little black dress’ in the 1920s and British women in particular, apparently still believe black is best. In total their wardrobes contain nearly 550 million different black items from buying 17 new black items of clothing and accessories every year! Despite changing fashions we still consider black the most ‘practical’, ‘timeless’ and ‘flattering’ colour around.

When it comes to clothes, research shows that two in fivewomen say that black still dominates their wardrobe. We believe it’s so timeless that a third of us are still wearing our favourite black clothes over five years on and nearly one in ten are bringing out the old favourites ten years after we first purchased them! *

Popular reasons given for buying or wearing black are that it is reliable and goes with everything; it never goes out of fashion, it’s timeless, sophisticated and classic and particularly popular with women is the belief that the colour is slimming.

For many black is considered a comforting colour, we feel safe and protected, but black can make us also appear mysterious and powerful. It can appear as a barrier behind which we are hidden, therefore not necessarily the best choice of colour to wear at social occasion where we want others to engage and interact with us! Black is flattering for the few whose colouring can adapt to it but for many of us it can be a difficult colour to pull off successfully without over-compensating with make-up or looking quite ‘washed out’.

So – time to be adventurous and try ‘colour’! By wearing more colour – particularly reds, yellow, orange and gold hues – you signal to those around you that you are warm and friendly personality, then watch how people gravitate towards you!

* (Additional research carried out on behalf of &MORE black credit card from M&S Money by YouGov)

Look fabulous – enjoy increased confidence and well being!

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Hello! Have any of your New Year resolutions included the one about watching what you eat? Thought so! However, it seems that no sooner have we got over the excess of Christmas than we are surrounded by the further temptation of the ‘choc-fest’ that is Valentines. This is the day that we celebrate romance and associate with declarations of love and the giving of hearts and flowers.

I thought you might be interested to know a little of the background to this tradition.The origin of the celebration of Valentines Day is said to have had its roots in the times of the Roman Empire and the pagan Feast of Lupercalia. Each year in the month of February the shepherds would gather to praise their god Lupercus, in the hope that he would protect their flocks from the wolves that prowled around Rome.

The fertility goddess Juno was also honoured as part of this ritual. Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses, Juno was associated with the moon and with all aspects and cycles of womanhood. The festival of Matronalia celebrated this goddess of childbirth, motherhood and women in general. Women would participate in rituals at the temple and would receive gifts from their daughters and husbands whom were expected to offer prayers for their wives(!).

In these times the lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. But, on the eve of the festival of Lupercalia a match-making custom took place where the names of young girls would be written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl’s name from the jar and they both would then be partners for the duration of the festival.

However it was the actions of Saint Valentine, a priest in Rome at this time, whose name also became synonymous with this ancient custom when coming to the aid of marrying couples in secret, led to his death at the hands of  Emperor Claudius II in 270AD.

Through the ages many different ‘Valentines’ traditions have continued including the custom of sending our ’sweethearts’ loving messages on this day. The colour that we associate with ‘love’ and it’s qualities of nurture, romance and compassion is the ultimate universal ‘feminine’ colour – pink.

Wearing shades or tones of pink emphasise our approachable, soft and caring qualities and wearing the right pink will make you appear quite ‘alluring’ – even attracting the attention of a possible mate! Lighter pinks seem to us softer and sweeter, perhaps more gentle. Brighter, clearer pinks can be seen as more youthful and fun. Dynamic hot fuchsia or magenta pinks are stronger and more assertive. Deeper pinks or red-pinks can seem more passionate.

More likely than not when we think of romantic thoughts our mood can be described as ‘in the pink’ meaning happy and in the best possible health. Many cosmetic and some skin related healthcare products will be packaged in pink. In colour psychology the colour pink also represents the physical self, reminding us of skin it is physically soothing so it can be a colour to think about using for the bathroom where of course we are in the ‘psychological mode’ of thinking about our bodies. Similarly you might like to consider using shades of pink in your bedroom where you get dressed, apply skincare and make-up. Warmer orangey-pink tones are more ’sensual’ colours to use in the bedroom and can remind us of warm sunsets before the darkness of night-time settles in.

Warm orangey-pink tones are more sensual

Which are your most ‘romantic’ colours?

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