What to do if a trend doesn't suit you... (colour)

Let’s start with two things… a) you can wear what you damn well like! b) trends, puh!

Ok… so many of us do like to embrace new season trends, especially after a long winter - we want to change it up when the spring sun comes out!

So, if you do feel like you want to embrace this season’s colour or shape or aesthetic for all your own reasons, then let me help you work it for you.

Let’s start with colour.

Anyone can wear any colour. Love it, wear it. That said, it is true that some colours suit different skin types and tones better than others – so, it can take a bit more effort to bring it all together to look your absolute best self. Pictures last week of the red carpet at the Emmy’s had some good examples of this. Catherine Zeta Jones would have been better in charcoal, navy or brown, the black ensemble was very harsh on her and made her skin look grey.

So, if you don’t want to up the ante with lots of lippy etc (you might just not be that kind of guy!) then there is an easy ‘rule’ to follow – it’s what you wear close to your face that matters. Wear a top, tie or scarf, or collar that is ‘your best’ and you can wear whatever you like on the rest of you and you will rock it all the way!

If then, you need a little guidance on what might suit you best, and don’t want to get deeply involved in Colour Analysis – which can be very impactful, but is complicated and potentially limiting– the @australianstyleinstitute thinks about this in a simple way. Do you suit ‘clear’ strong, saturated tones or ‘muted’ watercolour tones?

I help my clients determine which they are (spoiler alert: it’s about the sheen (clear) or not (muted) on your skin), but until we go shopping or you let me at your wardrobe, here is a really good demonstration of the impact of choosing the right one for you.

I suit strong ‘clear’ colours - check out @revealstyling and you will be bombarded with ‘brights’, not a ‘griege’ to be seen.

This is what happened when I tried this season’s powder pink…. and how it compares to a stronger colour from my wardrobe - taken two minutes apart, same light, same fitting room, no make up in either.

It is clear that the softer colour makes my skin grey and the circles under my eyes more noticable. The opposite effect would have happened to someone who suits the muted tones, they would look grey in my hot pink dress.

Now, I am not going to buy this Sportscraft dress, or its Country Road or Zara equivalents, because the need to think about what I do around my face makes outfits harder and the piece less versatile. But, if I really was invested in the dress or this colour then wearing a different colour up near my face - a scarf, bright earrings or necklace, or high neck t-shirt under it, would go a good way to fixing it.

Another good example, in the more ‘classic staple’ space, is the beige trench coat.

When my beige coat eventually dies, I will buy a stronger colour. Meanwhile, now I have this knowledge, I am able to manage the fact that the light tone makes me look like a corpse. When I wear it, I ensure I wear a scarf, bright jewellery, or flick my shirt collar up to bring the right colours near my face – these things make such a difference, no more grey skin.

We are very lucky these days, in the high street there is a whole gamut of colours and tones that will suit everyone, because retailers aren’t stupid. So, with a little research we can probably find the perfect piece. But, if not, there are ways to make it work.

I would also say on this point… there is a whole range of colours in the shops…. So, perhaps the solution to wearing ‘this season’s colour’ is to shop your wardrobe. Believe me, not a single person is going to think, ‘well that dress she’s wearing is soooo last season fuchsia’! I have been really excited to get my favourite pink summer dress out of the wardrobe for its third year… (layering to make season transitions easier is another article I’m working on...).

All these elements are the sort of thing that I help my clients do in their wardrobes to make what they already have worker better and harder, and for them to look and feel their best. And of course, when I’m researching for a personal shop I keep a client’s colouring front of mind, whatever the trend!!

Follow me for more tips and tricks (@revealstyling), or get in touch for my styling services and events www.revealstyling.com.au vanessa@revealstyling.com.au