6 reasons why a necklace is more than just an accessory

Posted on by Toni Carver

Accessories can feel like a bit of a minefield. Yet, they can simply be the missing piece of the jigsaw when it comes to what you wear.

A necklace can be the perfect accessory and, it’s often underrated.

But, fear not. Here are six reasons to consider including a necklace in your outfits.

  1. It adds visual interest when you wear a solid block of colour. Adding a necklace will ‘break up’ the colour you’re wearing.
  2. You can ‘rescue’ the colour you’re wearing that isn’t one of your best. Let’s say the colour is making you look a little washed out, by choosing a metal or coloured pendant which is flattering on you will instantly lift the ‘wrong’ colour.
  3. Disguise your ‘problem’ areas. Let’s say you want to take attention away from your hips or your tummy. Adding a necklace is a clever trick to lift the eye away from what you don’t want people looking at.
  4. Balance your neck proportions. Wearing a longer chain will elongate a short neck and a shorter one will shorten a longer neck.
  5. Express your personality through the jewellery. What we wear makes a statement, and your accessories and jewellery is all part of this. Embrace this and express it.
  6. Elevate an outfit. This is my favourite and the most effective for anyone who doesn’t wear jewellery. A necklace and other bits and pieces (like a ring or bracelet), can take an ‘ok’ outfit to the next level.

It’s all clever trickery and visual balances.

Find out more during my Style & Shape or Full Transformation Packages

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How to wear pink (breast cancer awareness month special)

Posted on by Toni Carver

October is breast cancer awareness month and each year, Breast Cancer Now hosts an annual Wear It Pink campaign to raise funds for life-changing research and support. Breast Cancer Now has a very ambitious but important goal; to make sure that by 2050, everyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer lives. Over the last 20 years, this event has raised in excess of £41million. Find out more here.

This year, the Wear It Pink campaign took place on Friday 18 October and I attended a black tie fund-raising event in Leeds. Whilst I didn’t wear pink for the ball and dinner, it’s often a popular discussion during my colour analysis consultations.

I’ll be making a donation with your help and support – keep reading for the details.

How to wear pink

The notion that pink is for girls and blue is for boys is somewhat outdated, don’t you think?

Everyone really can wear pink! Just like every colour, it’s simply a matter of establishing what the right shade is for you.

Let’s not forget the psychological and feel-good aspect too. Wearing light pink can provide you with a sense of calmness. Brighter tones can help in providing stimulation. Pink represents warmth and friendliness, which conveys approachability and empathy.

Perhaps the Barbie pink look is not for you, (and that’s ok). But adding a pop of pink through your accessories or makeup is an easy one if you’re not confident in a head-to-toe look.

Don’t be tempted to reserve your pinks for spring or summer, keep wearing them in the autumn too – you’ll still find a few shades this season.

In the tonal colour analysis system, everyone receives at least one shade of pink in the swatches that they take away from their colour analysis consultation.

I’ve covered some combinations and tips below, but, if you don’t know your colouring type, you’ll learn how to wear your most flattering colours in my colour analysis consultations.

How to wear pink if you’re a Light

You’ll look marvellous in the paler and pastel pink shades as they compliment your features.

Wear them on their own or combine them with other lighter colours from your palette for the most flattering effect.

Try light grey, light aqua or mint green. For a smarter, or corporate look, opt for cocoa, light teal, or even petrol.

Keep your overall look light and uplifting by wearing light colours near your face and keep any darker, heavier shades on your bottom half.

Don’t forget to wear the right pink on your face too! You can choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades. For the perfect pink pout, I’d recommend dusty rose or cerise lipstick or pink shell lip gloss if you’re light with cool undertones. If you’re warmer, opt for mango lip gloss instead.

How to wear pink if you’re a Deep

As your look is much stronger, your palette and colours will reflect the same.

Pastel pinks aren’t your best friend when worn on their own, so opt for a stronger shade of pink. Try your blush pink with true red or teal for a bright and summery look.

For the winter months, opt for aubergine or forest green instead.

You can choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades. For the perfect pink pout, I’d recommend mango lip gloss or chiffon lipstick with spice lip pencil if you’re deep with warm undertone. If you’re cooler, berry burst lip gloss or sheer fuchsia lipstick.

How to wear pink if you’re a Warm

Because of the warmth to your hair, you’ll find many shades of pink won’t flatter you that well. Most pinks have a blue-base (cool hue), which will cast shadows under your chin (which might look like a ‘glow’).

Opt for the corals and coral-pinks which have a yellow-base (warm hue) which will be perfect for you.

Use coral to “warm up” your neutrals, like light navy, or to complement other neutrals like bronze or greyed-green. Go bold with aqua or lime instead.

Follow the same ‘rules’ on pinks for your makeup! Choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades. For the perfect pink pout version for you, I’d recommend spiced peach or warm pink lipstick.

How to wear pink if you’re a Cool

Often, you’ll have lost the warmth and colour in your hair which means that there’s plenty of pinks for you to choose from! Baby pink, rose pink, hot pink and cassis to name but a few!

Whether it’s an everyday look or occasion wear, wear your pinks on their own, or with others. Combining with other colours is best achieved by adding some level of contrast to balance your look.

Try out baby pink and sapphire for a flattering look, or cassis with light grey. For a bolder combination, rose pink and pine, or hot pink and bright periwinkle.

Pinks for your lips are plentiful too! Choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades. For the perfect pink pout, I’d recommend soft mauve, dusty rose or cerise lipstick. If you prefer a lip gloss opt for pink shell or berry burst.

How to wear pink if you’re a Clear

With your striking and strong look, your colours will be most suited if they reflect the same level of strength and intensity.

Your pinks will work well with your darker neutral colours the best for a smart or work look.

Alternatively, try combining blush pink with emerald turquoise or true blue.

Don’t forget to choose the right pink on your lips! I’d recommend strawberry lipstick or mango lip gloss if you’re clear with a warm undertone.

If you’re cooler, try pink shell lip gloss or sheer fuchsia and cerise lipstick.

You can choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades.

 

How to wear pink if you’re a Soft

Your most flattering look is achieved when you wear your colours tonally, particularly medium-depth shades and colours.

Shell is an incredibly versatile colour to have in your wardrobe which I often describe as a ‘nude’. It pairs beautifully with many of your neutrals like cocoa and pewter.

If you prefer a stronger tone, blush pink looks great with charcoal blue and claret is a great colour combo too.

For your perfect pink pout, I’d recommend spiced peach or chiffon lipstick if you’re soft with a warm undertone.

If you’re cooler toned, try pink shell lip gloss or dusty rose or soft mauve lipstick.

You can choose your colour type on my shop to ensure you find your most flattering shades.

 

How to wear pink as a bridesmaid

Pink is one of the most popular choices for bridesmaids – specifically, a very soft, pale pink. As you might have guessed, this shade doesn’t flatter everyone the same.

Deeps and Clears may look washed out and might need to add extra blush and lipstick, while Warms can appear tired or grey depending on the exact hue of the pink. Blush pink can be a versatile shade as it is can often be interpreted as neither warm or cool, so could be a good option for bridesmaids depending upon your colour theme.

You could choose one universal colour to suit everyone, or go for the best hue suited to each individual! Advice is available if you need it and a colour party can be a fun way to gather the bridal party too to decide.

For anyone who’s getting married, the Colour Me Beautiful Be a Beautiful Bride book is an absolute must! It’s available to buy from the studio and online.

For all cosmetics purchased online, or from the studio during October 2024, I’ll donate 10% of the sales to Breast Cancer Now. Thank you for your support.

Creating an autumn capsule wardrobe

Posted on by Toni Carver

The leaves are falling which in my mind means that autumn is officially here!

Having recently released my autumn/winter seasonal updates with the colours and styles that suit you this season, I was inspired to create some new looks.

During my colour and trend workshop, I illustrated a number of items I’d found on the high street for each dominant colouring type. Because you’re bound to have things you can re-wear already, I also used items from my own wardrobe too. This is something I’ve been illustrating for a while now as I know how beneficial it can be to help you create new looks from things you already have. It’s likely that you’ll have something which ticks off a new season ‘trend’ already, so it’s simply about re-wearing and restyling it!

There’s some gorgeous colours (yes, for EVERY colour type!), and some returning trends this season.

Using some of the items from my workshop, I’ve put together a collection of autumn outfits. Let’s call it an autumn capsule wardrobe!

From 22 items, I’ve created 12 outfits which I’ve featured in a video on my Youtube channel.

It includes footwear and outerwear, but not jewellery.

Whilst there’s just 12 outfits, there’s many more combinations that could be made. How many can you make?

I’ve detailed the items and combinations below, but do head on over to the video to see all the looks featured: https://youtu.be/OAleEmYO-vs

Outfit 1

  • Pink fluffy jumper – mine and old Laetitia Mae
  • Brown faux leather skirt – new from M&S
  • Wine leather knee boots – mine and old Sergio Rossi

This new M&S skirt has been heavily featured on TV and their website. There’s a matching vest top too, but in true autumn style, I wanted to add warmth and jazz it up for a different style personality. Styled with my fluffy jumper, I’d just need to add a necklace. The jumper was featured on the blogs a few years ago: six ways with one top.

My long boots were good as the skirt falls below the knee. The boots I’ve had for years and coincidentally are in a burgundy tone which is very popular this season.

The skirt is faux leather and it feels soft. It’s a great fit too and comfortable and loose. The style is more of an a-line and it’s not hemmed, but a clean cut line.

 

Outfit 2

  • Animal print sweatshirt – mine and old TU
  • Brown faux leather skirt – new from M&S
  • Animal print brogues – mine and old Clarks

Whilst the first look was definitely more out-out, I wanted to opt for a more casual look.

Dressing down the skirt with a sweatshirt, cosy jumper, or fine knit sweater achieves this look.

I’ve opted for a clash (which isn’t for everyone!) with my animal print brogues, but you could try a pair of trainers to keep the casual vibe or other flat shoes to suit you.

Outfit 3 and 4

  • Burgundy satin skirt– mine and New Look last year
  • Claret Blouse top – mine and old Hobbs
  • Wine leather boots – mine and old Sergio Rossi
  • Pink Tweed Blazer – mine and old Ness

Burgundy is a shade which is everywhere at the minute. It sits in the medium to deep range of colours, so anyone with a lighter look will find it can be too strong for them. There’s more than one shade of burgundy after all! Think winter berries, wines and you’ll have an idea of the different shades and tones of the colour which will suit you.

I already had my versions of burgundy in my wardrobe, so I’ve simply combined them together for these next two outfits.

This skirt was featured in my 2023 autumn/winter seasonal update and I couldn’t resist adding it to my wardrobe! I shared some styling tips last year: here, but this top wasn’t one of them!

 

You’ll still find  some satin skirts this time round, but if you did invest in one previously, dig it out and wear it again this season! Satin can be unforgiving showing lumps and bumps when tucking in, but this can be remedied in styling (care whilst tucking), or choosing the right finishing hemline.

Worn with my leather boots again to achieve an all over colour drench effect. You can easily style it down with trainers or ankle boots and a more casual top or jumper.

For the fourth look, I chose my pink tweed blazer to add another layer.

This would smarten up a more casual top as well. Opt for another style of jacket like a biker or denim if you have one instead.

Both these looks have no new items, just restyling exactly what I have to make it feel more up-to-date.

 

Outfit 5 & 6

  • Mole jumper dress – new M&S
  • Black belt – mine and Michael Kors (came with a dress)
  • Black leather-look leggings – mine and old M&S
  • Black Chelsea ankle boots – mine and old from Germany
  • Pink Shell lip gloss – mine but available from Colour me Beautiful
  • Burgundy Vegan Handbag – new H&M (in store)
  • Claret quilted down coat – mine and old Barbour

This jersey funnel neck jumper dress screams autumn style and isn’t too clingy. Gorgeous shade in mole and most like pewter in your colour swatches. A great staple item which can be worn with tights or leggings.

I paired it with my high waisted leather-look leggings from M&S last year, which I’ve worn on repeat! Available again this season but only in black and bitter chocolate, though I did find some navy ones in an outlet store.

Add ankle boots, a pop of lip colour and this amazing handbag in the trending colour of the season from H&M to finish the look!

For a truly warm layer, simply add a coat. My claret quilted down coat is an old favourite which I’m wearing again this season from Barbour, even though it’s a few years old.

A warm and stylish coat is a must for British weather and this coat is still going strong. Lots of quilted and padded styles currently too if you need an update and do check the charity shops too. If you want to avoid the oversized or Michelin-man look, opt for one with a belt.

I’ve switched the Chelsea boots for my long leather boots (seen in the video) with the same M&S jumper dress but lost the belt for another look.

Swap the leather-look leggings if they’re not your thing for normal leggings or thick tights.

 

Outfit 7 & 8

  • Animal print denim shirt – new Next
  • Black leather-look leggings – mine and old M&S
  • Black Chelsea ankle boots – mine and old from Germany
  • Denim jacket – mine and old M&S.

This shirt is slightly oversized for me but demonstrates a relaxed style which could be dressed up or down.

A different take on denim is to opt for colour, or pattern in this case from Next.

Whilst I’ve paired it with my leather look leggings, you could opt for jeans, trousers or a skirt!

If denim on denim scares you, or you dislike mixing your denim blues, choosing coloured denim is a great alternative and adds layers for an autumn look. Denim jacket featured is mine and old M&S.

Outfit 9 & 10

A shacket (a shirt-jacket) style is a good layering piece, although this is very oversized for me. Shackets have come and gone through various seasons, so if you’ve got one, dig it back out to wear it again.

Kept casual with cosy jeggings from M&S in burgundy, which really do feel super cosy and comfy and worn with a sweatshirt. Swap out the sweatshirt for a jumper, or leggings for jeans and it’s an easy off-duty look.

Outfit 11 & 12

  • Warped animal print mesh dress – mine and old Oliver Bonas
  • Wine leather boots – mine and old
  • Purple coat – mine and old M&S
  • Checked fringed scarf – mine and old Hobbs

Animal print doesn’t have to be traditional!

This style of animal print I find much easier to wear and is an old fave from Oliver Bonas. Paired with my long leather boots, I’ve also worn it with ankle boots and trainers and sandals.

For the final look, complete by adding outer layers, my old M&S coat and checked fringed scarf from Hobbs.

 

All these looks feature the trends I’ve highlighted in my seasonal updates which are available here: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/product-category/seasonal-updates/

A new season doesn’t have to mean a new wardrobe – the best place to start is what you already have!

I hope the outfits from my own wardrobe combined with something new this season has inspired you to check your own wardrobe first! Do watch the video on YouTube here: 

Understanding what suits you saves you time and money in the long run as you’ll build a wardrobe of items, capsule or otherwise. It means you can style up or down, filling any gaps you’ve identified each season.

Just see how many new outfits you can make from what you’ve already got – I bet you’ll surprise yourself!

Colour and style consultations are available to book to give you the clarity you need to build a wardrobe that works for you.

 

Autumn / Winter 2024: NEW Recorded On-demand Masterclass

Posted on by Toni Carver

I’m sure you’ve seen the new colours and styles in stores and online.

Take the drama out of shopping with my pointers on what suits you with my latest on-demand, recorded masterclass!

All the hard work is done for you with this 44 minute video. Learn the new colours and trends with examples all at your leisure with this masterclass.

It’s perfect for you if you already know your colouring type, prefer to browse in your own time, or you weren’t able to attend the workshop on 5 October.

Get inspired with what to wear this autumn. Here’s what you’ll find included in the recording:

  • – Seven key trending colours for each dominant colouring type (light, deep, warm, cool, clear, soft) this season
  • – A bonus colour if you know your secondary characteristic
  • – 15 London Fashion Week colours as predicted by Pantone® Color Institute and coded for each dominant colouring type
  • – Examples of where to find the key colours this season
  • – The styles and trends you’ll find and tips on how to wear them
  • – Examples of where to find these trends and what to search for in your wardrobe

Purchase it here:

  •
    Quick View
    Guides Recorded On-demand Masterclass – Colours & Trends: Autumn/Winter 2024 Seasonal Update £17.50

    Has this season got you all excited, yet overwhelmed too? Wondering what to buy?

    This pre-recorded video shows you the autumn and winter colours and trends that you’ll find in the shops and online. Aimed at saving you time scouring the internet and high street, because it’s been done it for you!

    During this 44 minute video, Toni will talk you through the colours and trends, how to wear them and where to get them. Inspiring you to incorporate new colours and trends to your wardrobe, whilst also up styling things you already have.

    You will receive a link to watch the video once your purchase is complete.

    Add to basket

These recorded seasonal masterclasses are part of a range of seasonal updates available to support you.

View the range of resources here: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/product-category/seasonal-updates/

Sustainable September: Breaking the colour rules for sustainable fashion week

Posted on by Toni Carver

Continuing the sustainable September theme with the last one in my series.

Last week, I talked about choosing quality over quantity and how to fill the gaps you have in your wardrobe. Revisit it here.

We often have things in our wardrobe which aren’t quite right and I encourage all my clients to see if you can make them work! It can be a simple tweak, or something more drastic!

Textile waste is a huge environmental contributor. It’s not just clothes that don’t get recycled, but other household textiles too.

Sustainable fashion week upcycle challenge

Having recently learnt how to sew, I was inspired to take part in a campaign run by Thread Republic. Based in Huddersfield, they were a hub for Sustainable Fashion Week. IKEA had donated some recalled duvet covers and they wanted people to transform them into garments to model at their sustainable fashion show on 24th September.

Wanting to test my new sewing skills out and feeling all Great British Sewing Bee, I agreed to take part.

It was simple – transform the duvet cover into a wearable garment!

Breaking my own colour rules for this challenge, as it was a yellow-based, muted green – much warmer than the greens that suit me. Not letting that deter me, I knew I’d be able to work with it by keeping the colour away from my face! Something that’s much easier when you know what suits you and how to make it work!

I decided on a co-ordinating top and trousers. The trousers were inspired by a pair I’d bought in Thailand many years ago. Paired with a simple v-neck top to show off the wrap-around design of the trousers. For the making of the top, I found a pattern online which I adapted to fit my shape. I used my existing trousers as a broad template to make the trousers, again with a few adaptions.

The duvet was made from cotton which is a fabric which doesn’t drape that well. It’s good to sew with as it’s stiffer and doesn’t stretch or move when sewing. One side had a fluffy trim, which falls off when washed, hence it being recalled, so I decided to work with the plain side.

Sustainable fashion show

For the first time ever, I got to strut my stuff and strike a pose ! The Sustainable Fashion Show was a sell-out, with an audience of over 70.

I joined over 30 makers on the runway. It was truly fascinating to see how many different outfits had been made and how people interpreted the brief.

Our styles make us all different and our clothes are simply a method for us to express ourselves.

I’m proud to have taken part and create something from an old duvet cover!

Here’s a link to a little video of me strutting my stuff on the runway: https://www.instagram.com/tlcstyleandcolour/reels/

A few pics from the evening:

Find more information about Thread Republic and get involved here: https://www.threadrepublic.co.uk/

Sustainable September: how to opt for quality, not quantity and fill the gaps

Posted on by Toni Carver

Have you been enjoying the theme in this month’s blogs? I do hope so!

Last week, I shared four things to do to start your autumn wardrobe preparation. Don’t worry – they’re totally easy to do with no skill as most of them are about thinking and looking! Revisit it here..

You’ve probably got the idea by now that ‘shopping’ your own wardrobe will save you money in the long run. Plus, it has a positive impact on the planet too.

Taking time to sort through your clothes will actually save you time too. Just think how long it takes you to get ready! When you’ve got a lot of clothes, you can’t see everything you’ve got. Or, what you do have, you don’t wear because they don’t fit or flatter you either.

How to organise your wardrobe

When I help clients with their wardrobes, I tend to categorise them into types, then colour. To me, this is logical and visual and it’s how my own wardrobe is organised. So, put your shirts together, t-shirts, trousers, jeans, skirts, dresses and so on.

Once in order, I’ll organise by groups of colours – reds together, blues together and so on. Often, you’ll find you have several of the same item. But, how many do you really need?

These are the contents of the average wardrobe for a (middle-class) woman in the 1940s.

I’m pretty sure it is substantially less than the average wardrobe today. It’s certainly less than I have.

Sure, availability and choice has increased, but so has over-consumption.

The trick is to balance what you need with what you have and fill the gaps. Use your personal colour swatches to help you identify any colour gaps as well as the style of clothes for how you spend your time.

If you can’t fill the gaps, you’ll end up buying more of the same things you’ve already got.

How many times have you seen an outfit on a mannequin, or on a model and bought it, only to discover that it doesn’t look the same on you?

Build, height, sizing, colouring and personality are all elements which make you; you. That’s before we even assess the fabric and cut of the clothes! When you understand what suits you, fits you and flatters you, only then will you be able to stop making costly mistakes.

Buying something because it’s the latest trend or in the sale without considering you, your wardrobe and your lifestyle, will often mean they languish in the back of the wardrobe until you donate them, or sell them online, at a loss.

Colour and style advice

Spend time researching what’s current (or attend my seasonal colour and trend workshop) to learn the new colours and trends to help you build a wardrobe of clothes that you love to wear. And, which suit you of course!

Try and recreate these looks from what you already have. During the workshop, I use my own clothes as well as new ones to demonstrate this, so if you need some inspiration, be sure to join us! It takes place on Saturday 5 October online, so you can join from the comfort of your own home. Get your ticket here.

I don’t believe in being a slave to fashion and spending a fortune on clothes. Like many of my clients, I just want to look and feel up -to-date in what I wear. Being able to make informed decisions and shop with intention helps because I understand what suits me and how to make things work.

Clothes in the right colour and style for you, that fit and flatter your shape, will always make better choices in the long run. Book a consultation if you need any help.

Those attending the workshop will receive my essential guidance and a copy of my new seasonal colour guide too. Alongside the live group workshop, I produce a suite of guides on the colours and trends that suit you, aimed at saving you time.

RECORDED VIDEO MASTERCLASS

The live event isn’t recorded, so if you can’t make it, I pre-record a video using the same presentation so you can catch up and watch it in your own time. I’ll share the latest colours and trends to look out for, with examples and some tips on if they flatter you. The video lasts 44 minutes.

AUTUMN/WINTER 2024-25 COLOUR TREND GUIDE

This guide fits inside your colour me beautiful colour swatch wallet to guide you when shopping. It includes seven key colours for the autumn and winter season for each dominant colouring type (using the tonal colour analysis system covered in my colour analysis consultations).

Sustainable September: autumn wardrobe tasks

Posted on by Toni Carver

As September is the month of sustainability, it’s worth remembering that the most sustainable garment is the one that’s already hanging in your wardrobe. Last week, I shared some styling ideas to help you re-wear your clothes more often and you can revisit the blog here.

There’s been a nip in the air here in the UK which is a clear signal that autumn is definitely on the way. With the changing seasons, you may be switching out your summer clothes for winter ones. Your thoughts may also be turning to what else you may need.

So, on the sustainable theme, I’ve got four tasks for you to undertake to your wardrobe before you hit the shops, or start searching online. Plus, I’ve recorded a quick video which you’ll find on my YouTube channel. Keep reading for details.

What’s your most worn items?

The first place to start is what you’ve already got!

If you’re a photo-taker, check your camera roll for the items you’ve been wearing on repeat. Don’t worry if you’ve got no photo evidence as I’m guessing you know your fave, and most lived-in items. Because I turn my hangers round, I can easily identify what I’ve been wearing. (revisit this: Simple way to identify clothes you’re not wearing if you don’t know what I’m talking about!).

These items are useful to know because you’ve got your money’s worth out of them. You’ve had multiple wears and no doubt reduced your £s per wear as you’ve been wearing them lots. Your £s per wear is basically how many times you’ve worn it based upon how much you spent on it. A ‘bargain’ £10 item worn once doesn’t compare to the item you send £50 on and are still wearing after 10 times, year after year.

Layer up!

Items that you can wear through different seasons (also called transitional pieces), can help with any capsule wardrobe goals you have. This will likely mean wearing them with other items in the cooler months. So, a pair of tights with a summer dress. Throw on a fine knit jumper or cardigan over it instead. I prefer to think of these as staple items because you can wear them all year round. For me, these are t-shirts (both long and short sleeved) and vests as I’ll wear these in the warmer months but layer them underneath dresses or jumpers in the cooler months.

Fine, thin layers are always better than thick layers if you want to avoid feeling like the Michelin man. Revisit this: The secret to layering your clothes and still look stylish (without adding bulk)

The ability to layer items of clothing also means that you restyle them and wear them in a different way too.

Do you have the latest trend?

Trends do tend to repeat themselves and you might already have that new cardigan that everyone’s raving about tucked in the back of the wardrobe. Burgundy is the colour of the season, but I already know I have my colour version of burgundy hanging in my wardrobe to wear in the coming months because I’ve bought well over the years and I know what suits me! For reference, it’s claret or damson for me. If you’ve had a colour analysis, check your swatches for your version.

If you’ve spotted something in a magazine, online or in the shops and you’re thinking how much you’d like to add it to your wardrobe, just check whether you’ve already got something similar. You may have and I can give you some ideas to restyle what you already have for the new season at my next seasonal update workshop. It takes place online at 12pm on Saturday 5th October and tickets are available here.

My seasonal updates aren’t about making you fashionable, but I will be sharing what the new colours and trends are for autumn and winter. This year, my aim is to try and avoid the fast-fashion stores as much as I can with the examples I share in the workshop, Recorded Masterclass and the Shop The Look guides.

This coming season, see if you can make better, more informed decisions about what to buy and wear. If you need some inspiration, my autumn/winter guides will be available from 1 October. Join the wait list and you’ll receive discounted access to the guides five days earlier. (Select ‘seasonal updates’ and register here).

Be specific

I know it sounds a bit boring, but making a list concentrates the mind. Specifically focus on what items of clothing you actually need. What are you missing in your wardrobe? What has been worn so much that it’s fallen apart and beyond repair? The more specific you are, the more refined your searches will be. That’s why I always say to start with your wardrobe. After all, if you don’t know what you’ve got (and you can’t see it), how do you know what you need? Don’t discount accessories – these can be a cost effective way to update any outfit.

My wardrobe charts will help you work out where the gaps are in your wardrobe. Download the FREE Wardrobe charts.

Being able to identify the specifics like the colour, the style, shape, fit, fabric and how you want it to make you feel will all help to narrow your search. Clothes in the right colour and style for you that fit and flatter your shape, will always make better choices in the long run. Book a consultation if you need any help.

Watch: 4 wardrobe tasks to do this autumn to help you be more mindful and sustainable this September on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_zNtg6A4ZEE

Sustainable September: Re-wear, re-style and upcycle your clothes

Posted on by Toni Carver

September’s theme is sustainability. This month, I’ll be guiding you on how to be more conscious with your clothing choices.

Revisit last week’s blog here. This week I have some styling ideas to upcycle what you have to help you re-wear your clothes more often.

Your clothes and your wardrobe

The most sustainable garment is the one that’s already hanging in your wardrobe.

You’d be surprised by what you have that you can re-style and upcycle.

After all, when you understand what suits you, (colour, style, shape, fabric to fit and flatter who you are) and how to make them work, you’ll be able to make better, more informed decisions about what you buy and wear.

I consider myself to be more of a slow fashion and conscious shopper. I don’t buy masses of clothes, although I browse and help clients. I intentionally buy clothes which I know work for me and that I’ll wear. I’ve had some garments for many years and wear them time and time again. This includes some less sustainable items, because I re-wear them and take care of them. My wardrobe isn’t minimalistic or creative, but varied and colourful.

How functional your own wardrobe is will largely depend upon your style. Everyone has a different style, and this can help, or hinder your wardrobe and buying habits. With a little guidance and knowledge, you can make your wardrobe work well for you. Clothes in the right colour and style for you that fit and flatter your shape, will always make better choices.

When you have been to see me for a colour or style consultation, I encourage you to assess your clothes. Do the garments that you have fit and flatter you? Do they represent who you are and how you want to show up to the world? Are they representative of your lifestyle and how you spend your time?

You’re likely to find that certain garments just don’t work for you. You’ve not been wearing them after all, you just didn’t know why!

Don’t just wear your clothes, style them

Before deciding whether to keep them or get rid of them, how about if you can actually change them. Doing so may mean that something does then work for you. With a couple of tweaks, you can go from wearing your clothes, to styling them.

Let me show you a couple of examples. In first picture, I am wearing a merino wool jumper. It’s a little long and a block colour. Break it up and styled with a clever tuck, a necklace and colour to my lips it looks so much neater and flattering.

 

In my second example, the cotton top left loose over a satin skirt hides my shape and proportions. It makes my legs look short and adds length to my upper body. Neither are flattering or required, but a few tweaks and hey presto! Simply adding a necklace, bracelet and a twist and tuck to the top was all the changes I made which transformed the silhouette and style of what I was wearing.

Tweaks to try yourself

Some changes require skills, whereas others do not. For anything you can’t do yourself, is there anyone you know who can? Or, can you join a crafting group to get guidance and help you?

A bit of needle and thread can transform the buttons on a jacket or cardigan. Switching up an old fave to modernise or simply add a velvet or lace trim detail.

When garments are too long, they can swamp a frame. A seamstress or guided sewing group can help, if it’s not something you can tackle alone.

Got a dress that doesn’t fit your proportions? Cut it in half to transform it into a skirt and top! This will take more skills, but if you’re good with a sewing machine, why not give it a go!

Sleeves all wrong or too long? Take them off or cut them down!

The tricks above require very little skill as adding jewellery is an easy way to elevate an outfit. You could add embellishments, buttons or some embroidery detail to a plain top, jeans or jacket instead. Why not wear it back to front instead to change the look of the top – trust me, it’s worth a go.

Changing the colour of your clothes requires some effort, but not a lot of skills! So, if something is the wrong shade of colour for you, you could simply change the colour. It’s exceptionally easy to do with a clothing dye. Dylon do some fabulous ones which you pop in the washing machine. Rit do dyes for synthetic based fabric, like polyester. You could also experiment with vegetable-based dyes too! I’ve used the Dylon dyes to change the colour of a few garments over the years.

Get more use out of your summer dresses by wearing with a jumper in the cooler months. Try a long-sleeved top or blouse underneath to add layers for autumn. Pull on some woolly tights and boots for winter or wet weather.

By extending the life of your clothes and wearing them for longer or throughout the year, you’ll get more joy from what you wear! Sometimes we lack inspiration or confidence to try something different. But, what’s the harm in giving it a go? You could create yourself a brand new outfit, without spending a penny!

Gaining the knowledge can take time if you’re not sure what to look for and it can be costly if you keep making mistakes.

My consultations are designed to guide you so you understand what works for you, and why. Get in touch to book your session.

Sustainable September: How to make more conscious clothing choices

Posted on by Toni Carver

As September is the month of sustainability, this theme will run throughout the month helping to guide you on being more conscious with your clothing choices.

The subject of sustainability can feel like a lecture when often, you may not realise that alternative options are available.

Everyone has the capacity to make a change. Even a small one can have a positive effect. Because I understand what suits me (colour, style, shape, fabric to fit and flatter) and how to make things work, I can make informed decisions and be intentional with the choices I make.

What does sustainable even mean?

According to Google in the Oxford Dictionary; the word ‘sustainable’ is an adjective involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment.

Greenpeace state sustainability is a way of using resources that could continue forever. A sustain-able activity is able to be sustained without running out of resources or causing harm.

Clothing (over) production

Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined. Too much clothing is made and this overproduction has become the norm. Given how many people agree that they’ve got too many clothes, it seems unnecessary.

As a consumer, having more choice sounds good, doesn’t it? But, there’s now a constant stream of new collections and trends, leading to more clothes. Of course, this results in much lower costs for that t-shirt or dress, with price becoming the only differentiator. Yet, this overproduction must come at a cost.

Fast Fashion produces more carbon emissions per minute than driving a car around the world six times. This mass-production uses cheap fabric, not made to last, in poor working conditions and low wages for them to make a profit.

Research states that the average person now buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago. Yet, around 300,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in household bins every year. Less than 1% of textiles and clothes are genuinely recycled into new textiles and clothes.

Yet, there are 100 billion pieces of new clothing produced every year. Having done the numbers; this means each person alive in the world buying one garment every month, every year. (There was 7.888 billion people in the world in 2021 according to google).

Fabric choices

Most people don’t consider what their clothes are made from. The only way to know, is to check the label.

Polyester, acrylic, nylon, polyurethane and viscose are likely to be hanging in your wardrobe because they account for almost 70% of all material used in clothing production today. What’s more; they’re cheap. But, as synthetic plastic materials, their production often uses highly toxic chemicals (including oil), and not all manufacturers ensure the waste chemicals and bi-products are safely captured and reprocessed. This puts workers health at risk and pollutes air and water systems adding further environmental damage.

Because polyester is basically plastic, it takes years to break down. When you washing these plastic-based synthetic garments, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles each year end up in the ocean. There’s often blended fabric too which makes them hard to separate and recycle.

Natural fibres like cotton, linen and wool don’t have the same environmental impact that synthetic fibres do. Whilst cotton grows naturally, it uses large amounts of pesticides and water which also have environmental impacts. But, there are modern, sustainable, organic and regenerative farming practices which limit the harm to the planet. This comes at a price.

What can you do?

This is all very sobering. But, you can make a conscious and informed decision about who and where you buy your clothes, and how many.

Check the label of your garments to find out where they are made, and what they are made from. If you’re not happy with the quality, ethics, or how it’s made, don’t buy it! As a consumer, it’s your choice and you should ask questions to the retailer if you feel they aren’t being transparent.

Be more mindful about the choices you make and consider each new purchase. Does it fill a gap you have in your wardrobe? Check if you have something similar hanging in your wardrobe before buying something new. If you’re not wearing something, do you know why?

Having understood the environmental impact, you may decide to only buy natural fibres. But, if you’re in need of some outdoor clothes, you’ll find them made of polyester to create warmth and durability.

That’s why I say be intentional with your purchases.

Beware of bargains! Clothes are cheaper than ever due to this overproduction. There’s a never-ending sale notification hitting your inbox daily, making them cheaper, fueling more guilty feelings if you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes. Use my £s per wear motto and consider how many times you’re going to wear it. Getting something cheap for under a tenner may seem a bargain, but if you only wear it once, (or not at all) then it’s £10 per wear. Spend £50 on something which you wear 10 times, then it’s just £5 per wear.

The pre-loved and rental market is bigger than ever. In 2020, eBay reported the equivalent weight of 900 double decker buses had been saved from landfill. Buying, wearing and donating second hand clothes reduces the demand for new clothing production, and the impact to the planet. If you’re looking for better quality pieces or designers, but can’t afford the price tag, this could be a great solution for you.

Be more mindful

Slow fashion, fast fashion, sustainable or conscious are all decisions you make which have an impact.

If you buy well, you buy once! Good quality material and well-made clothes last longer than any fast fashion or cheap garment made poorly in low quality material. Even with a lower budget, you can still buy well. Spend as much as you can on key pieces to make your wardrobe functional and which you’ll wear for longer. Clothes in the right colour and style for you which fit and flatter your shape will always be the best choices because you’ll wear them more and get your money’s worth!

In my experience, if you know something doesn’t suit you, you won’t wear it!

Your options are to 1) cut your losses and add it to the charity shop bag. 2) sell it for a fraction of what you paid. 3) change it so that it does work for you. for example, switch up the buttons, change the length, add embellishments, or dye it. By extending the life of your clothes and wearing them for longer is thought to reduce the environmental impact by 20%.

Take care of your clothes, wash them less at a lower temperature, and they’ll last much longer.

September events and activities

There’s no time like the present to become more sustainable or conscious, with your clothing choices.

Oxfam’s Second Hand September will encourage you to take a stance against fast fashion by shopping pre-loved for 30 days: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/

Support your preferred charity or community and donate those unworn items this month! Next week, I’m attending an event alongside Tracy Fletcher, chair of the charity Smart Works Leeds. We’re both guest speakers at this event.

Save your clothing by repairing and re-wearing. Sustainable fashion week takes place between 20th and 29th of September. Their theme this year is the power of repair and they have a whole programme of activities around the country between 12 September and 12 October. Find full details here.

In the Yorkshire region, there are two hubs – one in Leeds (SCRAP – Sunny Bank Mills, Leeds LS28 5UJ) and the other in Huddersfield (Thread Republic – The Piazza Centre, Huddersfield HD1 2RS). Events take place between 21st and 28th September. I’ll be strutting down the runway at Thread Republic on Tuesday 24th September showcasing my upcycled garment made from a donated Ikea duvet cover (as you do).  Tickets are available here. The full list of the events in Huddersfield for Thread Republic can be found here and in Leeds for SCRAP, visit this.

I hope this encourages you to make a small change and join one of the many events taking place this month. Look out for next week’s blog for tips on re-wearing and styling your clothes.

In the meantime, here’s a note of the sources and references used to produce this blog:

Sources:

Oxford dictionary: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/sustainable#:~:text=sustainable-,adjective,does%20not%20harm%20the%20environment

Greenpeace: https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/fast-fashion-climate-change-pollution-violence/

2019 Government Fashion report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/report-summary.html

Community Clothing: https://communityclothing.co.uk/pages/the-materials-we-use

Sustainable Fashion week: https://www.sustainablefashionweek.uk/sfw-2024

Oxfam: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/, https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/7-facts-about-sustainable-fashion/, https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/oxfam-blog/what-is-slow-fashion/

Fashion United: https://fashionunited.uk/news/background/how-not-sustainable-is-the-fashion-industry/2023121173061#

Ebay: https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/press-room/uk/second-hand-sales-skyrocket-in-2020-as-fashionistas-shift-to-thrift/

New colour and style events and workshops taking place this autumn

Posted on by Toni Carver

Group sessions are available alongside individual colour analysis and style and shape consultations. Here’s a list of the events and workshops planned over the next couple of months. Why not come along and join me?

Ladies Networking event – Guest speaker – 11 September

Alongside the chair of Leeds’ Smart Works Charity, I’m delighted to be one of their speakers at ‘This Girl’s’ event in Leeds.

This event is an opportunity to meet some amazing female business leaders and tickets include a buffet lunch.

Get your ticket and join us here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leeds-meet-greet-graze-quarterly-event-with-a-raffle-buffet-speakers-tickets-951450202167

Express Colour Analysis – 21 September

Fancy getting your colours done in 30 minutes??

Following the success of the event in April, I’m back at the Stitch Make Create sewing studio in Horbury.

Whether you’re a keen sewist, or just starting out, knowing the colours which suit you best will help you make better choices.

Creating a coordinated wardrobe becomes a breeze once you attend this 30 minute session!

You’ll learn your dominant colour type and 10 colours from your colour palette. Tickets cost £45 per person and include a pocket guide with your colours and tips on how to wear them. One person per time slot available.

Book your place between 10am and 2pm here: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/product/express-colour-analysis-for-sewists-21-september-2024/

Sustainable Fashion week – Upcycled Fashion Show – 24 September

Having gone all Great British Sewing Bee and taken on my first transformational challenge, I’m hitting the runway as part of Sustainable Fashion Week.

Run by Thread Republic in Huddersfield, I took on their ‘Upcycle Challenge’ to transform donated Ikea duvet covers into a new outfit!

Come along to the Sustainable Fashion Show and see the upcycled garments on the evening of 24th September. Tickets cost £5 and available to purchase here: https://www.threadrepublic.co.uk/event-details/upcycled-fashion-show

Autumn/Winter Seasonal Update – Colour & Trend Workshop – 5 October

Autumn is heading our way which means my next seasonal update workshop takes place on Saturday 5th October.

This workshop isn’t about making you fashionable, but aimed at inspiring you to adapt the new colours and trends to create up-to-date and stylish outfits.

Helping you to make informed decisions about what to wear, I’ll share the latest colours, trends and where to find them during this live 90 minute workshop. There will be examples from the high street and my own wardrobe as I show you ways to style up and wear what you’ve got, so you only buy what you need.

You’ll receive a copy of my colour and trend summary, shopping guide, wardrobe checklist and discount voucher for attending. Join the workshop from the comfort of your own home. Tickets cost £19.50 and available to purchase here: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/product/latest-colours-trends-2024-seasonal-update-workshops/

The autumn/winter colour and trend guides are available from 1 October. If you’re registered on the wait list, you’ll receive discounted access to the guides 5 days earlier. (Select ‘seasonal updates’ and register here)

Mini Colour Analysis Taster Workshop – 12 October

On Saturday 12 October, I’m returning to Rivers Meet Cafe, Methley for another colour workshop and the last one for 2024.

These ‘taster’ sessions are a great way to experience the magic of colour analysis in a small group, with cake!

You’ll be guided through a fun and interactive session and gain an insight into the impact of colour and how to wear colours that flatter your features, making you shine.

A choice of cake and refreshments are included with your ticket, and you’ll take away a card containing eight colours plus a discount voucher.

Tickets cost £35 and almost sold out. Be quick and get yours: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/product/mini-colour-analysis-taster-workshop-at-rivers-meet-2024/

2025 events

Over the next few months, I’ll be working on next year’s events. So, if there’s something specific you’d like to see next year, do let me know.

If you would prefer to arrange your own event, simply get in touch.

Seasons and Tonal Colour Analysis – what’s the difference?

Posted on by Toni Carver

When I first had my own colour analysis consultation, it was using a seasonal colour analysis system which I’ve spoken of previously. At the time, I was a ‘summer’, but I didn’t feel like it completely ‘fit’ me. It was only years later when I decided to train in colour analysis, that I discovered there were other methods of analysis. This introduced me to Tonal Colour Analysis through Colour me Beautiful, and I decided to train with them back in 2011. During my training, I felt like I finally understood why my seasonal analysis didn’t feel quite right for me.

Not everyone ‘fits’ in just one box, and as such both seasonal and tonal colour analysis remain popular today.

Last week I shared how to find clothes in your colours from a brand called Kettlewell. Revisit it here if you missed it.

It brought up a popular subject:

what’s the difference in the two systems?

Whilst this isn’t an exhaustive and detailed guide, I hope it serves as a simple explanation.

What’s worth remembering is that the aim under both colour analysis systems is the same – to identify the colours that will make you look your best. However, whichever method you choose, be sure to do your research to find an experienced professional Colour Analysis Consultant that you feel happy and comfortable with.

The difference between the two main systems is how the analysis is carried out.

seasonal system

Your skin tone and eye colour will determine if you are warm or cool. When you’re warm, you’ll either be a spring or autumn. If you’re a cool then you’ll be either a summer or winter.

Each of the four seasons has a quadrant on the colour wheel. This is usually what you find online with the spinning wheels and filters. Some seasonal colour consultations include a sub-set based upon your individual clarity and depth to determine your ‘wow’ colours.

tonal system

Under this system, your overall features are assessed together – your skin tone, eye colour and your hair colour. (I’ve talked about the importance of your hair colour previously here.) By assessing your overall features, a colour consultant will determine your most dominant characteristics (because it’s not always your skin tone) to determine your ‘dominant’ or ‘core’ colouring type. This tonal method of analysis is more descriptive and based upon the Munsell Colour theory (covered previously).

Your ‘dominant’ colouring type is one of six (light, deep, warm, cool, clear, soft), rather than one of four seasons. It is refined further with 24 possible categories to incorporate your ‘sub-dominant’ features and your secondary and tertiary traits.

I still meet people who struggle with colour analysis. Often it’s because none of the seasons feel quite right for them. They find that when they wear the colours for that season, they don’t always flatter them so they don’t look their best. Like me, they don’t ‘fit’ neatly in the seasonal box.

Examples of seasons vs tonal

This is Lisa.

Under the seasonal system, she is an autumn and she’s got many corresponding features which ‘fit’ the autumn quadrant.

However, some shades within the autumn palette, really are too intense and rich for her.

Under the tonal system of analysis, Lisa is a warm, soft and light colouring type.

Her hair is her dominant feature which has warmth to it, making her dominant colouring type warm. With Lisa’s skin and eye colour, the softer and mid-depth variations of the warmer colours compliment her better.  Soft and light are her sub-dominant features making up her colouring type.

 

 

 

This is Josey.

She is a winter in the seasonal system.

Josey found that many of the very vibrant colours of the winter palette to be too overwhelming and the icy colours much too draining when worn on their own.

Under the tonal analysis system, Josey is a cool, soft and deep.

Her salt-and-pepper coloured hair has lost the warmth and depth this coupled with the rosy-ness to her skin makes her dominant colouring type cool.

As her features are less defined, lowering the intensity of some of her colours means they flatter her overall features. Soft and deep are her sub-dominant features making up her colouring type.

 

 

A tonal analysis is a different approach to the seasonal system, but it’s more refined. There are no wow colours, because the colours are fine-tuned to match your features. You’re shown how to wear your shades of colours rather than what colour to wear.

Once you’ve experienced the magic of a colour analysis, you won’t look back!

Want to get started? Get in touch to book your session!

How to use your swatches & shop for your colours on Kettlewell Colours

Posted on by Toni Carver

Once you’ve had a colour analysis consultation, you’ll make fewer mistakes by shopping for colours that you know flatter your physical features.

Using your swatches

Armed with your fabric swatches, you’ll be keen to find a colour ‘match’. One thing worth noting is your swatches are made from cotton, so the colour will look different on garments made from different fabrics. What this means in practice is that the colour isn’t ‘wrong’, but it’s unlikely to be an identical ‘match’.

By way of an example, this jacket is pretty much the same as the ‘claret’ in my ‘soft’ dominant swatches. But, it’s not an identical ‘match’ to the cotton swatch, because it’s not cotton – but it’s almost the same! A ‘warm’ client matching her swatches in cotton and cotton blended tops.

The three elements of colour are explained during your colour analysis and you can apply this knowledge to your clothes. If you make your own, it applies to your fabric.

If you’re looking for inspiration on combining your colours together, revisit this video.

Introducing Kettlewell Colours

Kettlewell Colours are in the South West of England and offer a choice of over 300 coloured garments. They’re a great source if you’re shopping for a specific colour. As a registered Colour Stylist, you can shop using my links/discount codes, and I’ll receive a payment from them when you do.

Clothes are categorised by seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter and tonal direction; light, deep, warm, cool, clear and soft.

With a tonal colour analysis, you’ll have a ‘dominant’ colouring type (one of six with 24 possible categories), rather than one of four seasons. Your refined palette of colours include your ‘sub-dominant’ colouring types which compliment your overall physical features (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone).

Whilst I’ve covered how to find your colours previously, they’ve revamped their website which changes how you find your colours.

How to shop for your colours on Kettlewell from August 2024 onwards

In this video, I’m sharing three ways to search for your colours. Watch it on YouTube here.

If you do need more advice, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help

If you’re a new customer, get in touch for a discount code.

What my clients say after their colour analysis experience

Posted on by Toni Carver

It never ceases to delight and amaze me how people say their colour analysis consultation has been “transformational“.

If it’s not something you’ve had done before, it all sounds rather dramatic! And yet, people who had a colour analysis decades ago, say the same. Which means, there must be something in this ‘getting your colours done’ lark!!

Once you’ve booked a Colour Analysis Consultation with me, you’ll receive a booking confirmation so you know what to expect and where to come for your appointment. You can also find out what you can expect here.

The session lasts up to 2 hours and is focussed on you, so you can learn all about colour (or Style if you prefer), and how to apply what you learn when you leave.

You’ll get a follow up email from me summarising what we went through during your session. I’m told it’s a great reminder, but it means I can provide more advice to support and inspire you on your journey.

I’m genuinely delighted to read your comments, emails and feedback! The reviews speak for themselves and you can read them here. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for more.

Some clients ask for photos to be taken during their session, although most prefer me not to, which is why you won’t see lots of before and after photos. Whatever your choice, I fully respect it – it’s your consultation after all!

Thank you to all my clients for letting me introduce them to a colourful new world!

A special mention to those who share their experience online:

Ruan; The Yorkshire Sew Girl has a vlog on Youtube and she shared her thoughts about how her session will help her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1oZ2Cr1yk0

More recently, Safia; The Curly Sewista shares her experience in her vlog: https://youtu.be/2A_3ITAiJLM?si=CXbRK5eR7wm_lLeq

Vic made a behind the scenes reel on Instagram here: https://youtube.com/shorts/MpiCxE__Y7M

Get in touch to experience your own transformation!

Tips on choosing the perfect lipstick for you

Posted on by Toni Carver

The great thing about lipstick is that no matter who you are, you’ll be able to find a shade you love, that’s right for you. Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to transform your look too. Even in times of high living costs and war, lipstick tends to be the item that you’ll still treat yourself to!

Here’s my tips to help you choose the right shade of lipstick, every time.

1. Know your skin-tone

The undertone to your skin will generally be warm or cool. Some people have a neutral base, which is neither warm or cool.

This is relevant because lipsticks will also have cool, warm, or neutral undertones to them. Once you know the undertone of your skin, you can choose a lipstick with a similar undertone to create a flattering look.

If you’re warm, your skin will have a more golden colour to it naturally, while cool skin has more of a pink, red or blue tinge to it. Lipsticks with a warm undertones will have a more yellow/orange base to them such as peachy-tones and coral-reds. The cooler ones will be pinky-toned and berry-reds instead.

You can learn your full colouring type, including your undertone during my Complete Colour Analysis Consultation. What’s more, you’ll receive a makeup application personalised to your skin tone during the session and take away a lipstick too! Find out more here: Colour Analysis Consultations

2. The finishing look

What kind of look are you going for, as this will help you decide on the product to use.

Is it a light, tinted and subtle finish which can be achieved with a tint, balm or cream. A sleek and shiny look where a sheer or lipgloss finish might be needed instead? If you prefer a matte look, this could be achieved with just a lip pencil, or with a different lipstick.

Just like your clothes, makeup is all about balance, so if you’ve dialled up the focus on your eyes, go more subtle on the lips. If you’ve had your colours done, use your swatches as a guide. As a broad rule, if you can wear it in clothes, you can wear it on your face!

3. Matching lip liner

Lipstick and lip liner are a match made in heaven!  Choose a lip pencil shade that is similar to your lipstick. One which is slightly darker will work just as well if it’s not a perfect match. A lip liner can be useful for creating definition, shape and adding depth.

4. Tried and tested combinations

In my experience, lipstick can look completely different on different skin tones! There’s rarely a shade that will suit every skin tone. The only way to accurately test it, is to try it out for yourself. This is why you can sample the lipsticks I have in the studio before committing to buy them. There are over 20 to choose from in the studio, and I’m happy to recommend any based upon your colouring type, if you know it.

As a general rule, if you are very tanned, or have dark skin tones, be aware that much like the colours you wear, paler lipstick shades can often look to wash you out. Opt for a deeper, richer or bolder lipstick colour instead, or try a darker shade of lip liner beneath  your lighter lipstick to add a little depth.

Those with much fairer or lighter skin tone will find that a bold lipstick can overpower them, so a lighter or softer shade will be more flattering.

Here’s some tried and tested combinations from the Colour me Beautiful cosmetic range if you already know your colouring type. This range has been exclusively designed for each colouring type and you can view the full range online.

 

You can learn your full colouring type, including your undertone during my Complete Colour Analysis Consultation which includes a lipstick! Find out more here: Colour Analysis Consultations

My sewing learns from a 10 week course (and how it can help you)

Posted on by Toni Carver

If you’re a member of my monthly newsletter, you’ll know that I enrolled myself in an Adult Education Course. In January 2024, I began a 10 week sewing course learning how to sew!

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of helping hundreds of women with their colours, style and shape. Some of my clients make their own clothes, whilst others don’t. But, getting the right fit in your clothes is something I strongly believe is beneficial to feeling good in what you wear.

I’ve been both jealous and curious of those who can make their own clothes. Having never used a sewing machine before, it was also a daunting prospect!

The course I attended was run through Manygates in Wakefield (https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/schools-and-education/education/adult-education-service/adult-education-courses/) but if you’re not local, check with your own council or local groups. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. For me, it wasn’t just learning a new skill, but having the ability to do something just for me. I found that having the time allocated also meant I made time for myself, every week.

During my course, there were two projects, along with the basics of using a sewing machine. Making weights (which are used to weigh down your fabric when cutting to keep it in place), a hobby bag and a third of your choosing. Most people decided they wanted to make a garment – myself included!

So, what did I learn during 10 weeks of sewing?

Fabric choice is important.

Beach bag on holiday

I chose stripes for the beach bag as I thought having straight lines may be easier to sew. They are not. Turns out it’s rather adventurous for a newbie… So, if you’re using patterned fabric for a garment, consider how easy it is to work with, or if you need to ‘match’ the pattern along any seams.

Most people choose fabric based upon the colour or the pattern, so do consider what you’ll use it for. The weight of the fabric, the feel of it, the colour and size of the pattern are all elements worth considering for garment making but may not be as relevant for interiors for example.

The first is to make a toile!

A toile is a bit like making a prototype which you can tweak and it makes for good practice and learning. Unless you’re a seasoned professional of course. I was not! Making mistakes on this is much easier to rectify than if you shoot straight to making the actual thing.

Cut once and measure twice.

Sewing basics. Oh, and “cut on fold” does not actually mean to cut on the fold!

Take your time.

Rushing will not finish it any quicker and you’re likely to make mistakes. It’s a very patient, frustrating and rewarding hobby! There’s also more ironing involved than I ever realised!

Don’t be afraid to alter the pattern.

I decided to adapt the hobby bag brief to make a beach bag instead! The fabric reminded me of the beach and seaside. Without the teacher (Nicky), I wouldn’t have been able to do this, but Nicky helped me adapt the pattern. Patterns are guides after all and you’ll be amazed at what’s available online for additional guidance. I had no pattern for one of the (additional) projects I decided to make, but I used the skills from the hobby bag with a broad idea in my mind!

Sewing your clothes is not always cheaper than buying them.

Fabric can be expensive and I can see why people end up with a stash of fabric when they can get a bargain! Whilst I can’t use my £s per wear motto on fabric like I do with clothes, the principles are the same. It’s only ever a bargain if you actually use it!

I delayed making my garment because I hadn’t had time to shop for fabric and I hadn’t decided on the colour. Better to have delayed the process and get the right colours than buy something because it’s cheap that I don’t wear.

Rescue fabric!

The old reuse, recycle motto comes in useful here as material is material! Old pillow cases are perfect for toile making. I had an old tablecloth which I used some to whip up a cushion cover one afternoon!

With the left-over fabric from my beach bag, I also made a water bottle carrier and a clutch style handbag.

Knowing what suits me makes decisions easier.

It goes without saying that I could choose the right colours to suit me for a garment. But, I naturally gravitated towards similar colours for the beach bag project too.

There seems to be more patterned fabric than plain, but for my style and scale, patterned wasn’t for me with the garment I had in mind. Having learned my lesson with stripes, I chose a colour block top and dress pattern. Adapting the pattern to suit my shape and size is all in the toile making meaning I could also tweak it before making the real thing.

I’ve found that most people who sew create garments that reflect who they are and which are treasured too.

There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into sewing so if you’re aiming to create a capsule wardrobe, or patterned clothes are not your thing, follow the same principles with sewing.

The fabric for the beach bag was too thick and heavy to make a garment so it wouldn’t have been any good for the top I was making. Don’t get caught out buying patterned fabric you won’t wear or it can be a costly mistake. It’s just the same as holding on to something you bought with the tags still on you which you haven’t worn in your wardrobe!

Stores and supplies

I’ve discovered places I never knew existed during this time and here’s a few I’ve used for fabric, thread, tools and haberdashery bits:

Fabworks Mill Shop in Dewsbury – amazing range of fabric, very helpful staff and tools: https://fabworks.co.uk/

The Recycle Yard in Ossett – a treasure trove of reclaimed arts and crafts and bits and bobs: https://www.facebook.com/therecycleyard

Singer Sewing Centre in Wakefield – a bit like Arkwrights but you’ll get thread and tools and bits at good prices: http://www.yorkshiresewingcentre.co.uk/

Rainbow fabric – deadstock fabric online: https://www.rainbowfabrics.co.uk/

Thread Republic in Huddersfield – Textiles scrap store and sewing and craft workshops: https://www.threadrepublic.co.uk/

Stitch Make Create in Horbury – Sewing workshops (including my Express Colour Sessions!): https://frugalisama.com/

Size: Me sewing – Sewing patterns and sewing retreats in France: https://sizemesewing.co.uk/

Rivers MEET Craft Cafe in Methley – homemade food and great coffee plus craft and sewing workshops (including my mini colour analysis workshops!): https://www.riversmeetcraftcafe.co.uk/

My first me-made garment!

Well, I completed my colour-block top and I’ve worn it! It’s definitely been a challenge, but I’ve loved learning and testing myself. I’ve got even more appreciation and understanding about how garments are made too.

The pattern I used was a Simple Sew (https://www.simplesewpatterns.com/) multi-use pattern – four in one tunic and top. I found the darts didn’t sit right on the toile so altered the angle. Whilst I made a dress, I wasn’t keen so decided to switch to a top.

With the sleeve facing, I used the second colour instead and in hindsight, would have top-stitched the sleeve. Admittedly, I used the second colour choice because I didn’t have enough fabric as it was an off-cut piece, but it complimented the design perfectly! (and, if I’d not told you, you wouldn’t have known!)

Next, I’ve got my first transformational challenge! I’m taking part in the Thread Republic Upcycle Challenge. Ikea have donated some duvet covers which they recalled due to a fault which means that they cannot be used as duvet covers. The challenge is to upcycle the duvet into a garment or outfit. All creations can be handed back to Thread Republic (before 23 August) to be included in the Sustainable Fashion Week Fashion Show on 24 September 2024. I’ve got my not-a-duvet and need to decide what to make! More details can be found on their Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8peBVeRGcC/?img_index=1

Tickets to the Sustainable Fashion Show can be found here (if you’re not taking part): https://www.threadrepublic.co.uk/event-details/upcycled-fashion-show

Learn what suits you

If you’re a keen sewist, or just starting out on your sewing journey like me, understanding the colours which suit you will help you make better choices for your me-made clothes.

When it comes to choosing fabric, when you know your colours, you can shop much smarter.

You’re welcome to join me in the studio for your own Colour Analysis Consultation. But, if you’d rather have a ‘taster’ experience, I’ll be back at Stitch Make Create in Horbury in September.

Sam has kindly offered a room at her sewing studio again for me to run my Express Colour Analysis sessions. During which, you can book yourself onto a Top & Sleeve Pattern drafting workshop here : https://www.beforeyoustitch.com/service-page/top-and-sleeve-pattern-making-workshop-1?referral=service_list_widget

During a 30 minute session, you’ll learn your core colour type and 10 colours from your colour palette. The cost is £45 per person which includes a pocket guide with 10 colours and tips on how to wear them. You’ll also receive a money off voucher to be used against a full colour analysis session too.

Tickets are available here:

Will a colour analysis restrict what I wear?

Posted on by Toni Carver

Intrigued about colour analysis, but worry it’s not for you because you’ll feel restricted in what to wear?

Over the years, I’ve seen people who’ve only been wearing a handful of colours before they came for a colour analysis consultation.

Confused about what suits them, sticking to ‘safe’ colours, or something they were once told they looked good in.

Sometimes, they’ve felt something was missing and they’re stuck, not knowing what ‘it’ is.

They decide to book a session because they want to know what to look for. They want to stop wasting money on things they don’t wear.

It’s clarity they’re seeking.

A colour analysis is an in-depth consultation during which you’ll learn the colours that flatter your features.

Using basic colour theory, your dominant and sub-dominant colouring type is determined by your physical features – your hair colour, eye colour and skin tone. You can learn your best makeup shades too, whilst picking up tips on how to apply them. What you wear on your face is just as important as what you wear on your body!

Most people are surprised by the range and variety of colours within their palette. They work together in harmony, so combining them is easy.

There’s often colours you’ve never worn, yet you can’t wait to wear them! From the 48 colours within your palette, there’s a mixture of both neutral, and accent colours. During your analysis, you’ll learn how to wear and combine these colours together.

Knowing what suits you can help reduce the overwhelm often associated with shopping, because you can pick them out much quicker!

Looking and feeling your best every day is a breeze, even if it’s a t-shirt and jeans!

A colour analysis isn’t about restricting you, it’s quite the opposite. Over time, you’re more likely to build a cohesive wardrobe, creating more outfits from less items.

You’ll look and feel fabulous. Like a new version of you.

 

Find out more about Colour Analysis Consultations here and get in touch to book your appointment.

 

How to shop like a pro!

Posted on by Toni Carver

Do you love the thrill of finding a bargain? Whether that’s pre-loved or in the sales, it’s worth remembering that something is only ever a bargain if you actually wear it!

The key thing is to shop with intention.

Whilst shopping in the sales can be a great time to buy, if you end up buying more things you don’t need and don’t wear, the guilt will settle in quickly. Do remember that everything in the sale is because no one wanted to buy it at full price! Harsh, but true.

There’s often so many items available, especially online, that it can feel overwhelming so these tips are aimed at helping to save you time and money. You’ll also find me sharing tips in a 7 minute video on my YouTube channel – watch it here.

First, check your wardrobe

Before any shopping spree, the first thing I recommend you do is to check your own wardrobe. You may find things in there which you’ve forgotten about and haven’t worn since you bought them. You may also have things in colours that aren’t your best, so it’s worth remembering that they can be rescued. This is something I cover during your colour analysis consultation.

Essentially, you need to know what you have, where your gaps are and what you need. Have a plan and be clear on exactly what items you’re shopping for so you can actually save yourself time and money.

Here’s some questions to ask yourself before buying anything new:

  1. Is it the right colour for me?
  2. Does the style work for me?
  3. What occasions am I likely to wear it to?
  4. Does it flatter my body shape and fit my proportions?
  5. Is it comfortable to wear?
  6. What else can I wear it with?

As I always say, trends come and go and fashion isn’t quite so ‘new’. So, if there was something from the previous season which caught your eye, but you didn’t want to pay for price for it, then now is the time you may be lucky to pick it up in the sales. It’s also worth checking the pre-loved sites too.

What’s a ‘good buy’?

This will vary person to person, but something which you end up wearing time and time again. Broadly speaking, transitional items will take you through the different seasons meaning you get more £s per wear. Often they can be more classic, less ‘high trend’ and more timeless in the style or colour, so that it will also last through many seasons.

Accessories are the easiest and most cost-effective way to update any outfit, whether it’s a necklace or a pair of boots.

Neutral colours (grey, navy, black, brown, white) can be good to buy in the sales as they can make good investment pieces, such as a blazer or trousers. A neutral colour will always ‘go’ with any colour. Just remember the advice given in your colour analysis consultation.

Once you’ve had a colour analysis, shopping for colours which suit you becomes far easier. You really can wear your colours all year round and you’ll find that having a new colour this or next season can often fill a gap in your wardrobe for future seasons to come. I never struggle to find things for all colouring types, all year round.

The colours and trends which come through each season are therefore great opportunities to restyle things you already have, as well as update an existing outfit. I share the trending colours and styles twice a year, just take a look at the latest guides available here.

Shopping online and pre-loved

This can feel more challenging but the principles are just the same as a store!

You need to work a bit harder to find what you’re looking for, but it’s much easier than death by scrolling. The key is to use as many filters as you can to search. Select the size, category and colour and this will reduce the number of items. If you’re shopping pre-loved and you want to make sure it’s in tip top condition, simply search for those with the tags still on (BNWT – brand new with tags).

Help is at hand

If you would prefer someone to do the hard work for you, that’s where my seasonal updates and shopping trips come in. 

Twice a year I run my seasonal updates where you can join a workshop, watch my video, and get my shopping guides.

So, if you fancy a mini-me in your pocket, do check out my ‘shop the look’ guides as there’s one for each dominant colouring type. My recorded video masterclass takes you through the colours and trends in a 45 minute presentation and the latest colour trend guide fits inside your swatches which you can take out with you when you do go shopping.

These spring/summer updates are available until 30 September, then the autumn/winter updates will launch on 1 October. The live group workshop takes place virtually at 12pm on Saturday 5 October and tickets are available here.

 

Register your interest in ‘seasonal updates’ and join the wait list for an exclusive offer here and visit the current guides here.

How to look good and feel confident in a bikini

Posted on by Toni Carver

The modern bikini as we know it today, is thought to have been introduced on 5 July 1946 by Louis Réard, making it 78 years old this week.

Feeling your best in a bikini is about understanding what suits you. It’s easy to feel anxious, but do bare in mind that generally, people are more concerned with how they look and feel, rather than what you’re wearing!

Don’t let the fear of wearing swimwear stop you from wearing something you’ll look good in. Because, like any garment of clothing, understanding what fits and flatters is key to feeling confident.

There’s three things to consider when choosing a bikini. If you prefer a swimsuit, the same applies.

Colour

Anyone who feel subconscious in a bikini, may well opt for black. Unsurprisingly as a colour analysis consultant; black may not be the most flattering shade for you.

Dark colours (including black), are thought to be slimming, but it’s a visual trick. Dark colours absorb light, reducing their appearance and making them appear further away. This is why black is thought to be a slimming colour!

Due to this absorption of light (ie. sunlight), you’re much likely to feel hotter wearing dark colours. Opt for a complimentary colour which will improve your mood and your confidence instead!

Style

Are you a cut-out detail kinda gal, or more frills and flounces? If you’re a lover of print (I’ve talked about patterns here) or not, be sure to choose something that feels like you! Prints can add balance to your proportions, or draw attention to or from an area.

Wearing your style is key to feeling good in what you wear. Check what you’ve already got and how it makes you feel when you wear it. No point going for a neon, cut-out, brazilian cut bikini if you’re more of a polka dot one-piece kinda gal – you won’t feel comfortable or happy.

A beach cover-up like a kaftan, sarong or playsuit is an easy throw on to take you from beach to bar. Plus, it can ‘hide’ any bits you feel conscious of and accentuate your style.

Shape

There’s guides online to help you find the right swimwear for your shape, plus you can revisit my blogs here and here. Consider what fits you well. So, if you’re conscious of your tummy area, opt for shape-wear options, like tummy control or ruching. High cuts will add length to your leg area. Wired cups are better if you need more support.

Try not to feel daunted about shopping for a bikini and make sure you give yourself enough time to try them on. Bring them home if you prefer, but do keep the sticker on the briefs and return any which aren’t right for you before the return period expires.

Buy the right colour, right style and right shape for you which fits and flatters and you’ll feel much more confident in your choice.

Get in touch to book a colour analysis or style & shape consultation.

 

3 tips for choosing sunglasses

Posted on by Toni Carver

Could it be that summertime has finally arrived?? I do hope so, and just in time for national sunglasses day on 27 June.

Summer is not complete without a pair of sunglasses!

Here’s my top tips for choosing summer eyewear that really suits you!

My purple toned sunglasses

1. choice of colour

Opt for a frame colour which compliments your physical features. A frame colour which is the same colour as your eyes or hair will often be a good option if you’re not sure or you’ve never had a colour analysis consultation.

For those who are dark brown to black hair, go for a bolder or stronger colour choice, including black. Blondes would be better in a light to mid-depth shade (depending how blonde you are) or rimless ones. If you’re mousey-brown or dark blonde, a tortoiseshell style or blended frame colour will look good; as long as they aren’t too dark for your features!

Red-heads and strawberry blondes would look fab in browns and terracotta style of tortoiseshell frames. Finally, if you’re ash, silver or grey, you’ll find similar colours will be fab for your frames or go bold with a striking pop of colour!

If you already know your colours, use your swatches and opt for one of your colours (dominant or sub-dominant) or, pick one of your neutral colours. Your neutrals are marked with an ‘n’ in your swatches and will always ‘go’ with other colours.   Worried about matching or clashing your eyewear to your outfits? Go for a metallic tone – silver if you’re cool and if you’re warm, choose gold. A rose-gold tends to work for both warm and cool skin tones.

2. reflect your personality

I find sunglasses (and glasses) are either functional or express your style personality! So, if you really want to express your personality, let your eye-wear do the talking. Make a statement, go for a bolder colour choice or a more dramatic stand-out shape. If you sit in this camp, you really won’t be worrying about whether they match or clash with what you’re wearing!

Frames are made from all sorts now. So if you’re into reducing your use of plastic, there are plenty of options to choose.

3. shape and fit

Broadly speaking, the opposite shape to your face shape will be the most flattering. So, if you’re more angular, with straighter and longer length, a rounded frame will be flattering. If you’re not having your personality do the talking, opt for sunnies which look to fit your overall face rather than be too big for it. I refer to it as ‘scale’ and is more to do with balancing out accessories with your overall height and bone structure. A pair of Jackie-o type large frames when you’re small and petite and 5ft, are likely to wear you and stand out.

Check that they sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose and they don’t rest on your cheeks either. Both of these are indicators that they’re too big for you!

Finally, do remember that there are thousands of sunglasses to suit all budgets, but do opt for those with UV protection to protect your eyes. Take photos whilst you’re trying them on as, a bit like your clothes and outfits, you tend to see yourself differently in a photo than the mirror!

Have fun! If you need any help, do get in touch.

How to choose pattern

Posted on by Toni Carver

Patterns can be really tricky to get right. Often, when I see clients they either love wearing patterns, or they stick to block colours instead.

When it comes to shopping patterns, it can be difficult to choose the one that’s going to suit you. Do you go heavily patterned? Stripes or floral? Bold and bright? Or more subtle and toned down?

Ultimately, there’s no law that exists which tells you that you must (or must not) wear something! But, if you are looking for a few pointers on how to choose the right pattern for you, read on for some tips.

Colour

First up is the colour as this is the most visual element. Broadly speaking, assess what the most dominant colour is that you see. If you already know what colours suit you (because you’ve had a colour analysis consultation), this should be easy as you can use your colour swatches. If you don’t know what colours suit you, check your reflection and see if the colour appears to be wearing you and making you look washed out, or if it’s brightening your features. (Here’s some tell-tale signs that the colour isn’t right for you here).

My advice to clients is to check the background colour or the main colour of the pattern that stands out the most. If this flatters your own colouring, then it’s good for you. If it doesn’t look quite right, consider whether it’s too warm or too cool for you, or too pale or too dark. Or, if it’s a bold colour, the strength could overwhelm you and you may need to opt for a softer rather than brighter shade of colour.

With a multicoloured print, it can feel trickier to get right. Again, go back to my broad rule above – what’s the most dominant colour and does this work for you? Life’s too short to ponder over the petal or leaf colour in a floral pattern being the wrong colour for you, especially if you can barely see it!

Shape

The shape of the pattern should flatter your body shape and line. Those with a curvy body will be better suited to curvy lines and patterns rather than straight lines like stripes. For those with more angles and straighter lines and shapes, stripes will flatter you much more than a floral print.

Patterns can be a clever trick to draw people’s attention either to your best bit, or away from an area you don’ want attention. By way of an example, if you’re a triangle (pear) or inverted triangle body shape, you can use pattern to give the appearance of more balance to your body shape.

Size

During my style and shape consultations, I talk to my clients about their scale. This isn’t to be confused with what dress size you are, because it’s your overall height and bone structure.

Petites will tend to suit a smaller size of print, because their scale (your height and bone structure), is smaller. Wearing a large scale pattern will simply overwhelm your delicate frame and features. Those with a large bone structure will find that a small or ditsy print will get lost on your frame.

Should you be neither small or large, go for an average size of print that’s neither too big or too dainty.

Personality

The type of print will tend to appeal to certain personality types. Take a look inside your own wardrobe and check out the array or patterns or block colours and the ratio. If you find you have a lot of patterns, but you don’t wear them, it may be that you’ve not quite nailed your style personality.

Your Style Personality is the real you, at your most comfortable. It will be the reason you naturally reach for a certain print, or not at all! Plus, why you feel like you struggle with certain designs. The more ‘romance’ you have in your style personality, the more you will reach for pretty, feminine and floral styles and designs. Someone who prefers to make an entrance, will prefer a bolder or abstract print which they can stand out in and be noticed!

What suits you?

These broad tips should give you a steer without going into the specifics of what actually suits you. So, when it comes to choosing clothes, understanding what actually suits you, flatters you and makes you look and feel good when you wear it. When your clothes flatter your colouring, your shape, and personality, they’ll be right for you!

Get in touch to book a colour analysis or a style and shape consultation. Alternatively, combine both sessions and receive a discount!

Who suits high rise skirts and trousers?

Posted on by Toni Carver

High rise garments are everywhere and it was one of the ‘trends’ I covered in my last seasonal update, with tips on how to wear them.

Not all high rises are the same! There can be fit issues depending upon your body shape and proportions because, a high-rise garment won’t fit everyone the same. It’s important to note this because it’s easy to feel disheartened when something doesn’t fit and to feel there’s something wrong with you. There isn’t. The clothes just don’t fit you. It’s them, not you remember!

As I’ve said a million times; there is no universal sizing. The only way to get the right fit, it to have it fit to YOUR body.

I had a conversation with a lady recently. She was frustrated at how hard it was finding trousers which fit her correctly. Often, she felt they didn’t look good when she wore them.

It’s a common problem. But, it was clear to me why she’d have challenges. With a curvy hourglass shape and a narrow waist compared to her hips, fit and fabric is key. From what she was wearing, I could also see that her upper body was proportionately shorter than her lower body.

With just a few tweaks and clever choices, these fit challenges are easily overcome. Understand how to dress your shape and proportions and the style, cut and fabric to flatter and fit you.

Having explained these aspects, her face lit up. She told me that understanding these tips and tricks has helped her to accept herself more, realising it isn’t her that’s ‘wrong’, but the clothing isn’t ‘right’.

I’ve summarised some challenges here to guide you and have some examples I tried out for myself (with a video if you keep reading).

Shorter legs

Anyone who has short legs will benefit from creating the illusion of a higher waistline. However, raising the waistline alone won’t always lengthen the leg. Where your top finishes, the rise and your footwear should be taken into account too, along with the length of your upper body. Get these wrong, and you could end up making yourself look out of proportion or appear shorter!

Shorter in the body

If you’re shorter in your upper body area, you run the risk of enhancing this further by wearing a high waisted skirt or trousers. Tucking in your top can also create an imbalance, depending upon the length of your legs. Clever tricks to lengthen your upper body are needed rather than enhancing how short it is.

Larger bust

If you’re busty, it’s not just the colour, style or fit of your tops which have an impact. The rise and waistline of your bottom half clothes can highlight this area further too and create a ‘shelf’ for your chest.

Shorter or longer rise

If your own rise doesn’t for the rise of the garment, the fit will be off; you’ll either feel that something is cutting you in half, or you’ll end up with a saggy bum!

Longer body

Anyone with a long upper body will find it much easier to wear a higher rise, as it can provide more ‘balance’ and visually raise the waist area. Check the impact on your lower body, depending upon the length of your legs.

Tummy concerns

A little suction around the tummy area, can be very welcome from a high waisted trouser or jeans! But, it’s important to assess the rest of your body and shape for fit too.

Petite in height or scale

Petites can gain valuable inches in height, particularly if they take the hemline to floor-skimming proportions. However, it’s worth understanding the impact on your proportions. Not all petites are short in the leg! You may be short in the body with a regular leg length. I’ve had petite clients who are short in the leg, with a long body. Each have their fit challenges, which makes shopping only in the petite section a mistake.

Fabric choice

Whatever size or shape you are, attention really should be given to the fabric of the garment. Whether you have any of the fit challenges mentioned above, or not, your choice of fabric is key to achieving a flattering silhouette. Plus, your choice of fabric plays to your style personality in more ways than you realise.

By way of an example; satin will be far more fluid than a taffeta type material and linen will behave differently to denim.

Along with knowing your colours and style, understand your rise, choose the right fabric and, know your proportions! It’s all covered during a style and shape consultation.

Examples

Here are three high waisted garments – one pair of trousers and two skirts to illustrate challenges with fit. Head over to YouTube to watch my video here.

Plain full skirt

The elasticated waistband fits at my waist correctly and it has pockets which is great for my style personality. Whilst the colour isn’t great for me (slightly too much warmth), because it’s worn on my bottom half, so much more forgiving. I prefer block colours generally speaking, especially in separates but, the material isn’t working for me. It’s a much heavier weight and with the amount of fabric, there’s barely any movement or fluidity. When it does move, it’s rather noisy and I feel like one of those toilet roll lady dolls from the 80s!

My upper body appears to look a lot shorter than it actually is making me look bottom-heavy, which appears to imbalance my frame and it enhances my chest further, making me look very busty!

Whilst the colour not being great for me was a pro, the reality is that I don’t have anything to wear it with so it will make outfit creation too difficult for me to make work. Coupled with the fabric and the fact that it doesn’t flatter or enhance my shape, it wouldn’t be something I would keep and wear as I’d feel I was making too many compromises.

Patterned full skirt

The material is a much lighter weight with lots of fluidity meaning it drapes well and doesn’t swamp my frame at all.

It’s a good neutral shade for me and the pattern to the bottom half appears to draw attention away from my chest. Whilst this isn’t the correct size for me, the waistband width is too wide, so it doesn’t sit on my waist as it should and my upper body appears shorter than it is. The skirt looks to sit underneath my bust, enhancing it further.

The pattern in reality is a bit too bold for me and doesn’t suit my style personality. Arguably, it’s also too large for my scale and frame.

Whilst the fabric and colour is better than the first, it’s not creating a flattering look as the fit is slightly off and the style not very me. Too many compromises again, so not a purchase I would make.

Super high waisted trousers

The material was a linen mix so they had less weight to them and weren’t as stiff as 100% linen. The trouser waistband was neat and uncluttered which didn’t add bulk to my tummy and hip area which is nice in a more tailored fit of trouser. I loved the colour which wasn’t a million miles away from geranium! The wide leg was a decent size and they didn’t make me appear too bottom heavy or busty, and they didn’t drag too much on the floor in terms of length when I had trainers on.

These were super high rise and they were a little too super on me. With my waist and shape, they felt that they needed to sit higher on my body so the fit wasn’t as good as it could have been. I felt that they had to’ rest’ on my hips making the crotch seem really low and baggy in the middle.

I was very tempted with these. The tailored fit worked for me as did the colour. The resting on the hip, created a more relaxed fit which I could have got behind, but I did feel that the fit wasn’t quite right due to the super high rise. If it had been less super, they’d have been a much better fit for me.

 

The garments featured are from Next and were featured during my spring/summer 2024 workshop in April 2024. The Autumn/Winter workshop takes place on 5 October. All seasonal update material is available here and updated twice each year.

Check out the Youtube video here

Mini Colour Analysis Taster Workshops at Rivers Meet

Posted on by Toni Carver

The next group colour analysis workshop is taking place at Rivers MEET Cafe in Methley on 8 June.

They are the perfect way to discover the power of colour and how it can enhance your personal style and confidence. If you keep putting things on and taking them off again because they don’t look right, this workshop is for you!

Gain an insight into the impact of colour on your overall appearance and how to wear colours that flatter your natural features. You’ll learn what your core colour type is and take away your own guide with eight colours and a discount voucher too! Like all my workshops at Rivers Meet, cake and refreshments are included with your ticket.

Tickets are £35 per person which includes admission to the venue, drink, cake, colour card and discount voucher. All workshops start at 1pm and last 2 hours.

Places are available on Saturday 12 October. Book here.

More about Rivers Meet

Rivers MEET is a traditional craft cafe run by Jo and her team. They serve delicious home-made food, refreshments and cakes. They hold regular craft events, WI meetings and sewing classes in the function room downstairs. The lighting is great in this craft room and perfect for these mini colour sessions. The venue is around 7 miles from the studio in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

102 Leeds Road
Methley
Leeds
LS26 9EP

How to avoid over-packing for your holiday

Posted on by Toni Carver

Are your thoughts turning towards your next holiday?

Something I frequently hear is how challenging packing can be. Especially if you’ve got a city or UK break planned as you’ll need to pack different things to a beach holiday. When travelling in the UK, the weather is unpredictable, so it feels much harder to pack!

If you typically pack more than what you need and only wear a handful of the clothes you packed, here’s some tips from me.

Planning

Like most things in life, an element of planning will ensure you feel prepared for your travels. Without a plan, you run the risk that you’ll leave something behind.

Your suitcase is simply a capsule wardrobe for holiday, and you can follow the same steps each time you go away.

Searching for a ‘list of items to pack’ is easy to do, if that’s what you need. But, if you’re anything like me, having some practical steps to follow to help you pack successfully will make life a little less stressful!

What to pack

Knowing what to pack for your holiday is dependent upon the type of trip you’re going on. Often, you’ll pack different clothes for a beach holiday compared to a city break, a cruise or a skiing holiday.

Check the weather report so you’ve got an idea about whether you’ll need a raincoat, umbrella or just your sunglasses.

Do you know what activities you’ll be undertaking whilst you’re away? When you know how you’ll be spending your time, it’s easier to pack what you need to wear. Sightseeing, laying on the beach, visiting ruins or climbing a mountain will generally speaking, require different clothes.

Get them out

Once you’ve identified what you’ll be doing and roughly, what you need to wear, get them out. I find laying them out on the bed, or on a rail makes it easier to see. Often you can spot any gaps and what accessories and underwear you’ll need need to pack too.

You’ll also be able to see how easily garments combine together. Creating more outfits from less items means a lighter suitcase. Packing that one top ‘just in case’ when you’ve got nothing to wear it with, will often come back unworn.

Once you’ve had a colour analysis, you’ll find that your clothes will naturally combine together easier. So, when it comes to your travels, limiting how many colour options you take will help too.

Whilst it may feel time-consuming, trying on your clothes is well worth doing, especially if it’s been some time since you last wore them. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable and unhappy whilst you’re away.

Whilst tempting, it’s often not the best time to experiment with a brand new look or shoes that you’ve never worn! At the very least, remember to pack the plasters!

If you have found a gap, a carefully planned shopping trip is next. Panic buying and impulse shopping rarely ends well. Shop with purpose.

Packing tips

Are you a roller or a folder?? I’m more of a folder, but either way, it’s about being savvy.

Use all available space! Put underwear or chargers in your shoes, jewellery in your handbag. I roll up anything which doesn’t crease and fold the rest.

Packing bags and cubes can help to organise your items, but keep one for your dirty laundry.

Magnetic compact

I prefer to use travel sized toiletries and decant any shampoos, conditioners and creams into reusable bottles as they take up far less room and weight in your case.

Do consider a capsule cosmetic collection for your travels too!

These magnetic compacts are ideal because you can personalise them to suit you, and fill them with all the eyeshadows and a blush/highlighters you’ll need whilst you’re away.

Summary

Planning your outfits and what you’ll wear means you’ll be less tempted to overpack and when you get into the habit, it becomes less of a chore!

All these tips and more, are included in my Holiday Capsule Wardrobe Workbook. It’s an 18 page guide which I created as a practical way of helping you to create a capsule wardrobe for your holiday. It includes Itinerary pages, outfit planners and checklists to keep you on track!

It isn’t a list of items you need to pack, but it will help you pack successfully for your next, and future trips. Get the guide and follow the stages laid out here.

If you’ve been lusting after a capsule wardrobe, it’s also available as part of the Capsule Wardrobe Masterclass as well as a stand-alone guide.

Get it here:

  •
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    Guides Holiday Capsule Wardrobe Workbook £10.00

    Knowing what to pack and why you need to leave those ‘just-in’case’ pieces behind when you go on holiday is all in the planning.

    Using this workbook, you can follow the stages involved to help you create a travel wardrobe that works for you.

    This workbook is a digital guide which you will work through on your own.

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What happens during a style and shape consultation and what can you expect?

Posted on by Toni Carver

Whilst most people start with a colour analysis consultation, a style and shape consultation is often the missing piece of the jigsaw when it comes to clothes fitting and suiting you.

If you read last week’s blog or watched the video on Youtube this month, you might be wondering what to expect when you book a style & shape consultation at the studio. Here’s the low-down.

Arrival

You’ll have received details about where to come and what to expect in your email booking confirmation. No need to worry about what to wear, it’s covered here.

When you arrive for your appointment, I’ll greet you and invite you into the studio. As you get settled on the sofa and fill in a record card, I’ll put the kettle on.

Drink in hand, we’ll have a brief chat about your wardrobe, your clothes and any challenges or expectations you’ve got.

Introduction to style personalities

How many times have you tried to copy the look of a celeb only to feel…well, let’s say flat? Quite simply, it’s because you’re not the same! But, that doesn’t mean you can’t take some inspiration, and still be you.

What you wear tells a story. Your clothes are a way of expressing who you are, your likes and dislikes. Even if you don’t feel that you have a style, everyone does. There’s a little quiz I get you to do with 10 questions. There’s no right or wrong answers as this is about you and how you dress and feel.

Understanding your style personality is the real you. It’s about the clothes you reach for and how they make you feel. Everyone has style, it’s just learning what it is and how to use it to represent who you are so that you can feel like you in what you wear. We’ll also discuss how you might want to push your style boundaries, because nobody has to sit in a box!

I’ll show you some examples to bring things to life. When you nail your personality type it can help you to create a wardrobe that works for you. It’ll help you avoid further shopping disasters and frustrations too and stop buying things which don’t make you feel good.

Your body line, shape and proportions

Now you know more about what works for your personality (fabric, styles, fit etc), we’ll take a look at your body shape. Size doesn’t matter, but shape certainly does.

There are no tape measures used and you can happily stay fully clothed too!

A lot of women tell me that they don’t know their body shape, or that clothes don’t fit them properly. Sometimes, it’s not your body shape which you have challenges with, but your proportions. (I’ve talked about this previously in this video).

For example, if you struggle with the fit of jeans, trousers or skirts, it may not be the size of the garment which isn’t right for you, or even your shape. Instead, the rise of the garment may not be right for your proportions.

Take a jumpsuit. It’s the perfect example for when you know your shape, it can still mean the garment doesn’t fit you correctly. This isn’t about your body being wrong, but that the garment proportions might not be the right fit for you. Body length, leg length and rise length; they all matter! The wrong rise and it could be too long giving the appearance of a saggy bum, or indeed it could be too short so it digs uncomfortably in.

Understand your body shape and proportions so you can refine your clothing choices and make sure they work for you, and not the other way round. Clever techniques exist, it’s just learning more about it, which is what we discuss in detail.

During this section, I’ll also talk about fabric – specifically the cut and weight. These factors have an impact on whether something fits and flatters you. Rise, seams, darts, necklines and sleeves are all elements to take into account when dressing to flatter YOUR shape. Your fabric choice can be a friend or a foe! I’ll show you some examples of weight, texture, cut and feel too.

To give you an idea of what’s discussed, you can watch this video too. During this, I’ll be showing you examples and talking you through how best to wear clothes which fit and flatter you. Learning clever tips and tricks to create different outfits which fit and flatter you.

Clothing review

If you’ve brought along some of your own clothes, we’ll revisit the ones which you felt didn’t work for you. Now you’ve learnt all about what suits you and flatters you, you’ll be able to see why you’ve not been able to make them work for you. This is an opportunity to get ideas on how you may be able to re-work it, or wear it differently, if you decide that you can or you want to of course!

Summary and end of session

Having reached the end of your consultation, you’ll take away the colour me beautiful book which we’ll have used during your session. This works as a reminder and contains some helpful advice to revisit at home.

After you leave

Most clients head straight home to their wardrobe to review what they’ve got and the rest hit the shops! A style and shape consultation can last up to 2.5 hours so you’re unlikely to remember everything we’ll have discussed! So, I always follow up afterwards to help keep you on track. To inspire you further, I’ll also send you over my own brand/retailer list too using the email address you provided on the record card when you arrived. You can opt-out any time.

Should you have any further queries, or you’d like to book your appointment, get in touch: toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk.

When you understand why certain styles, the fit and fabric work for you and why things don’t, then it helps you to create outfits and a wardrobe that works for you. It rarely happens overnight, but trust me, it will.

I hope this answers any questions you have about what to expect during a style and shape consultation, but do let me know if you have any other questions.

What’s covered in a style & shape consultation?

Posted on by Toni Carver

In this video, you’ll learn what is covered during a style and shape consultation. Watch it on my Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/PVUSE5EyoFo

The details are summarised here:

Style personality

Your style personality is the real you. There’s more to this than you realise. It’s about the clothes you reach for and how they make you feel. Your lifestyle and how you dress to still feel like you!

Having clothes which don’t work for your style personality, means you’ll feel uncomfortable when you wear them. You won’t feel like you, and you won’t be happy. Clothes you don’t reach for are likely to languish in the back of the wardrobe, unworn and unloved because ultimately, they’re not you. I can help you identify what to look for and what works fo you.

Body shape

No tape measures are involved and you can happily stay fully clothed too!

I meet a lot of women who tell me that they don’t know their body shape, or clothes don’t fit them properly. Often, it’s not your underlying body shape which you have challenges with, but your proportions. For example, if you struggle with the fit of jeans, trousers or skirts, the rise you choose is important.

Whilst I’m new to sewing, I’ve always understood the importance of how a garment is constructed and made. I just wasn’t able to do it myself! Seams, darts, necklines and sleeves are all elements to take into account when dressing to flatter your shape.

Your fabric choice can be a friend or a foe! Weight, texture, cut and feel are all elements many people don’t consider, yet it can often be the reason that the fit, shape or style is wrong for you and your body.

Understanding the elements of your body shape, body proportions and body lines helps you identify the cuts, styles and shapes to choose to flatter your shape.

Your clothes

Whilst you’re under no obligation, it can be beneficial to bring along some of your own clothes which you’ve found aren’t working for you. Especially if you can’t put your finger on the reasons why. If you keep putting things on and taking them off again, because there’s something not right with it and you’re convinced it’s not the colour, it’s probably a style and shape session, which you’d benefit from. Especially if you know your colours and nothing has changed!

There are some items I use to demonstrate some of the points I’m making, but your clothes are often the best way to demonstrate the effect and impact.

For more information, visit this page.

These consultations take place in the studio in Wakefield, West Yorkshire and generally last between two to two and a half hours.

You can combine it with a colour analysis and we’ll cover colours, makeup, style, shape, and personality. You’ll need to allow around four to four and a half hours for this combined package.

 

Get in touch to make your appointment

Wardrobe DIY Guides

Posted on by Toni Carver

How many times do you keep opening your wardrobe doors feeling like you have nothing to wear?

Not everyone feels comfortable inviting a stranger into their homes to help them declutter and organise their wardrobe. Women especially, have an emotional attachment to their clothes. Especially where their is weight loss and weight gain concerned. (Which I’ve talked about before here)

If you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, then how about some expert guidance to help you tackle the bulging wardrobe instead?

You’ll find a number of guides here on my website aimed at helping you create a wardrobe that works for you, plus others.

I’ve created them based upon my expertise as an award-winning colour and style consultant after years of working with clients.

Wardrobe charts

These are simple charts, designed to help you identify what you have in your wardrobe and what gaps you have.

I encourage my clients to assess how they spend their time, because when you have clothes which you feel work for these scenarios, you’ll feel more at ease with what to wear.

Some clients need to visually see and think about what they do, which is where these charts help.

Next, it’s about assessing which categories the clothes you have fit how you spend your time. This helps you see that you have gaps to fill, or that you’re over-subscribed in an area (and therefore, don’t need to buy any more clothes!)

The Wardrobe charts are free to download here.

Declutter Guide

My ‘How to spring clean your wardrobe in five easy steps’ was one of the first guides I created. Inspired by the simple fact that sometimes, you just need a little guidance to follow.

In this guide, I’m sharing the five simple steps I use with clients on their wardrobes so that you can review and declutter your own wardrobe with ease.

Instead, learn how to build a wardrobe of clothes that you DO wear with these simple tips.

Download this guide for free here.

Capsule Wardrobe Workbook

Capsule Wardrobe WorkbookEveryone needs a Breton top, camel trench coat, wide leg trousers and a white shirt right? WRONG!

Unlike the magazine articles you read, a capsule wardrobe isn’t the same for everyone. At least, that’s what I believe! It’s a limited collection of clothes which suit you to help you create more outfits from less items. (They suit your colouring, your shape, your lifestyle, your proportions and your style!)

So, if you’ve been lusting after a capsule wardrobe but get stuck because you don’t know where to start or how to create one – this workbook is for you.

Simply follow the stages I’ve laid out. Design the wardrobe that works for you!

This is a digital workbook which costs £15 which you can work through on your own. Get it here.

Holiday Capsule Wardrobe Workbook

Knowing what to pack and why you need to leave those ‘just-in’case’ pieces behind when you go on holiday is all in the planning.

It isn’t a list of items you need to pack (as that’s the sort of thing you can get online -you don’t need a colour and style expert for that!).

But, it will help you pack successfully for your next and future trips.

So, if you frequently overpack or get stuck because you don’t know where to start, this workbook will help you create your own travel capsule wardrobe!

This is a digital workbook which costs £10 which you can work through on your own. Get it here.

Capsule Wardrobe Masterclass

This is a suite of material I’ve designed to support and guide you through the stages involved in creating a capsule wardrobe.

It includes:
– A 44 minute pre-recorded video to guide you as I talk you through each stage involved.
– A 32 page Capsule Wardrobe Workbook (mentioned above) to complete which includes tasks and checklists to support and guide you through the process involved. You can download, print or save this and work through it alongside the video or on it’s own.
– A Bonus 18 page Holiday Capsule Wardrobe (mentioned above) digital Workbook to complete with tasks and checklists to guide you on packing successfully for your next and future trips.
– A series of prompts and tips to help keep you on track so you don’t give up on your dream. These will be delivered via email which you can save and revisit whenever you need.

This is an ‘on-demand’ masterclass, which means you can work through it at your own pace as it’s yours to keep.

It means you can pick it up, stop and start as many times as you like. The video is yours to watch and listen to it as frequently as you prefer and there’s no timescale on completing the masterclass or the workbooks. Get yours here.

All wardrobe guides are available for you to do-it-yourself, with my expert guidance. But, if a more hands-on approach is needed, do get in touch!

Why get a colour analysis consultation?

Posted on by Toni Carver

Have you ever wondered what colours you look your best in?

Perhaps you’ve seen loads of videos lately about #colouranalysis and you’re curious about what ‘having your colours done’ actually means! (I’ve covered why the resurgence  in popularity here and also the Tok Tok craze explained here.)

Everyone can wear every colour, but not every shade of every colour will suit you the same. If you’ve been experimenting with colour, or found that certain colours did look good on you, and now no longer do, colour analysis could be a worthwhile investment.

Wearing colour successfully is about understanding the different characteristics of colour and their association with your features. Essentially; what’s the impact of the colour against your features?

As a Colour me Beautiful consultant, I’ve been offering colour analysis consultations at my studio in Wakefield since 2011. Rather than the four ‘seasons’, a ‘tonal’ approach is used. Having been first analysed as a season 20 years ago, I’ve found it much easier to explain to clients and for them to understand.

If you want your wardrobe to work harder and waste less money on clothes that don’t suit you, a colour analysis is the solution.

What happens during a colour analysis consultation?

When you join me in the studio, I have a table with 145 precision-dyed coloured fabric sheets called ‘drapes’. The drapes don’t lie! They show you (and me) the impact that the colour has against your features. When you understand this, you can then learn how to wear it successfully, and with ease.

To the untrained eye, mistakes can often be made choosing colours, which is something I’ve covered in more detail here. Should the colour wash you out, make your skin muddy-looking, sallow or blotchy, or your look tired, then it isn’t right for you. When you compare it to a shade which balances out your complexion, harmonising with your features, make your eyes sparkle and your skin glow, it should be no contest! Having to work hard to make it look right, is a tell-tale sign that it’s not right for you and is something I’ve covered here.

Flattering tones in clothes and makeup

Because there are so many shades of a colour, seeing the impact that the colour has against your features is the best way of assessing if the colour is right for you.

During a Complete Colour Analysis Consultation, I’ll use the fabric to ‘test’ for your full colour type. This way you get a personalised palette of colours which are refined to compliment you the most. Your colour type is made up of three elements – depth, undertone and clarity.

‘Getting your colours done’ can be transformational. Check out my client testimonials: https://www.tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk/reviews-page/

Wearing your colours is more than just what colours to wear, but how to wear them. Plus, it’s not just your clothes, but your accessories and your makeup too. That’s why an application of makeup is applied during my Complete Colour Analysis Consultation too, so you get to sample the cosmetic shades which compliment you too. The range used has been designed by Colour Me Beautiful to specifically suit your colouring. You can try as much or as little as you like! Browse the range here.

How to waste less money on clothes that don’t suit you

It all starts with learning what your best colours are, and how to wear them. All this is covered during your colour analysis consultation.

You’ll take away your colour swatches which contain fabric samples of your palette of colours most suited to you.

These colour swatches will help to guide you on your best shades. Use them to review what you’ve already got in your wardrobe and when buying anything new or pre-loved. During the session, I’ll explain how to use them but you can also watch my video on YouTube for more guidance here.

Your swatches represent the colours most suited to your from your colouring type. Using these to guide you, will mean you waste less money on clothes that don’t suit you!

A more coordinated wardrobe

As you embrace your colours, your wardrobe will become more cohesive too. You’ll find it much easier to mix, match and coordinate outfits together. As your confidence grows, you’ll begin to feel as fabulous as you look.

Knowing your colours will mean far less wardrobe disasters too. No more items languishing unworn and unloved in the back of your wardrobe!

Book your colour analysis consultation now!

How to find clothes that are the right fit for you

Posted on by Toni Carver

If you find it a challenge getting clothes to fit you, it’s tempting to blame yourself. Often, it’s that they aren’t quite right for YOU.

Unless you make your own clothes, or have them made specifically for your body, there might be certain aspects of a garment that don’t quite work. Rest assured, there’s tips and tricks to ‘correct’ many elements, it’s simply understanding and learning what to look for.

This quote sums it up perfectly for me:

The dress must follow the body of the woman, not the body following the shape of the dress. (Hubert de Givenchy)

Identify what’s right for you and work with your body shape, not against it. So, if you’ve got a curvy figure then a boxy shape to a garment will add pounds to your frame because it hides your frame and shape. Nobody wants that!

I meet a lot of ladies who feel that things don’t work for them and they dislike shopping as a result. This is totally understandable, especially if you don’t know what to look for. What’s more, you’ll spend lot of time and money trying to find out.

Right colour, right style, right fit and lifestyle-appropriate. Nail these, and you’ll be grinning like the cat that got the cream. Let me go through these in more detail.

Colour

Have you ever put something on and noticed that the colour drains from your face? Or that suddenly your skin has gone a funny colour?

That need to add a brighter lipstick or slap more blusher on, is because the colour you’re wearing isn’t quite right for you.

The transformation to your overall appearance when you’re wearing the right colours for you, cannot be ignored! It’s a subject I cover frequently here on the blogs as well as on social media.

Colour analysis consultations are by far my most popular service and I never tire of seeing the transformation with clients. I work with a tonal colour analysis system, which assess the colour of your hair, eyes and skin tone to determine the three elements of your colouring type and colours which flatter you the most. My colouring type is soft, cool and deep which means that my core colouring type is soft (low clarity to my features overall, muted and mid-tone colours), with a cool undertone to my skin (blue toned shades rather than yellow) and with some depth (my tertiary as the light pale colours really do wash me out).

Wearing the right colour will visibly lift your appearance but unless it fits like a glove (or vice versa), it will never be perfect for you, so you’ll need to factor these next elements in as well.

Style

Your style is really what feels most like you. Sometimes, it can be hard to describe what your style is, or you may feel like you don’t have one! But, I can assure you that everyone does. Just think – what feels most like you when you wear it?

When you put something on that doesn’t feel like you, you’ll immediately protest as much and take it off! But, wear something which you feel happy, comfortable and more like you when you wear it, and you’ll be much happier. No point dressing like Paloma Faith if you’re really more a Jennifer Aniston type.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t dress differently, or try something new. Try to push your style boundaries, but in a way that feels authentic and still like you. Sometimes it can be the choice of fabric, but more on that shortly.

Patterns can be a real deal-breaker in the style department. For me, I’m not a fan of fussy patterns or stripes. They just don’t work for my style personality, so I don’t tend to buy them as I know I won’t get my £’s per wear or be happy in them.

Fit

We all know when something doesn’t fit right, but often associate this with the number on the label. It’s more likely not fitting your body shape, body line and proportions. Understanding these aspects will help you identify the right style, fit and fabric to choose. Let’s say that you’re petite in height, with a long upper body and short legs – of course it will be harder to get the right fit! But, understand how to dress your features and you’ll make better choices with styles and cuts.

Don’t forget the finer details like sleeves and necklines. A high neckline when you’ve a large bust will enhance the area. You’ll find a lower neckline (like a v-neck), will break up the colour and be more flattering. Sleeve lengths and shoulder seams can be corrective; like a ruffle sleeve when you’ve got small and narrow shoulders. On the other hand, they can enhance the area if you’re broader with wider shoulders by merely extending the shoulder line out, visually speaking.

Most people who come to me for a style and shape session don’t consider the fabric of a garment. Yet, it plays a crucial role in the fit of a garment. Different fabrics have different weights and feels, not to mention how it drapes. Whilst both light in weight, cotton and jersey have a different feel and structure to them. The same garment made from both will look and feel different when worn, depending upon the body wearing it.

In this example, the cotton top left loose over a satin skirt hides my underlying shape and proportions. A few tweaks and hey presto! Learn much more during a 2.5 hour style and shape consultation.

These are just tweaks. Tailoring can be a game-changer in achieving the perfect fit and I often recommend clients have a good seamstress on hand, if they need one. Transformed into bespoke pieces that fit YOU and make them a perfect fit! Which is a huge benefit when you do make your own clothes, because you can create the garment to take into account your own body measurements and adjust the pattern accordingly.

Not knowing what fits and flatters you means you can still end up making costly mistakes so it pays to understand these elements of your body.

Lifestyle-appropriate

Being able to tick all boxes with your clothes, or altering them accordingly, will make it so much easier to dress in clothes that make you look and feel good.

I’m a big believer in having clothes which work for how you spend your time. If you’re the outdoorsy-type and love nothing more, those knee-high, stiletto, velvet boots aren’t going to fare very well…

When your clothes suit the occasion you’re dressing for, you’ll feel appropriate and comfortable, especially when you know they tick all the boxes: right colour, right style, right fit and lifestyle-appropriate.

Get to know what works for you!

Gaining the knowledge can take time if you’re not sure what to look for and it can be costly if you keep making mistakes. My consultations are designed to guide you so that you understand what works for you, and why.

Discover the colours which enhance your natural features and how to wear your colours during a Colour Analysis Consultation. During a Style & Shape session, you’ll learn how to find clothes that tick all the boxes for you as we identify your style personality, shape and proportions.

Get in touch to book your session with me now!

The impact of hair colour in colour analysis consultations

Posted on by Toni Carver

Your hair, and specifically the colour of it, is often a huge topic of discussion during my colour analysis consultations!

I believe it plays an important part of your overall appearance, which is why I assess it during your colour analysis.

Over the years, I’ve seen many clients and heard lots of stories of how hair colour changes have an impact on what you wear. Whether it’s a choice of colouring your hair, ageing, or medical reasons like hair loss and cancer. They all have an impact.

Once you begin to notice that certain colours don’t look quite as good as they did, it’s worth determining if the reason is due to hair changes. If so, how permanent is it likely to be? You may be able to ‘weather the storm’ so to speak!

Skin tone

Worthy of note is that there’s a common misconception that the undertone of your skin doesn’t change as your age. Certainly, under the seasonal colour analysis system, you remain the same palette. However, I’ve seen plenty of examples where this isn’t the case.

The Colour Me Beautiful tonal colour analysis system which I use in my consultations, is more flexible as it recognises that as we get older, hair loses pigmentation, eyes become more muted, and skin becomes more transparent. These aspects will affect the impact of colour when you wear it.

The Colour Me Beautiful MD; Cliff Bashforth is a great example of this. Over the years, he has transitioned between palettes. Back in the early years of colour analysis, Cliff was an autumn. As the seasonal system was developed with CMB, he was a soft autumn Certainly, under the seasonal system, he would still be classified as someone with a warm skin tone, which he actually isn’t anymore. His overall features have changed.

Going grey

Along with Cliff, I have seen many clients over the years who have decided to embrace the grey! Revisit this blog here and take a look at Carol.

By way of another example, if you had dark brown hair in your younger years you’re likely to find that stronger, richer or bolder colours are now feeling and looking ‘too much’. They may be overwhelming your more delicate or softer appearance because the harmony between your hair, skin and eyes has changed.

Not all greys are the same either. There are ash tones, whites, silvers and salt and pepper. But, a colour analysis consultation can help to determine your best shades of colour and how to wear them.

Colouring your hair

Let’s say you were mousey and now have a more vibrant and striking red colour to your hair. The muted colours you will have looked amazing in previously are unlikely to have enough ‘bite’ or drama for you now. No doubt that if you’d been analysed previously, you’re likely to have stopped using your swatches some time ago! The key now is to match the intensity level of your hair with the colours you wear. Do be aware that red tones in the hair can be bold and bright or red and auburn and this difference can have an impact on the underlying hue of the colours which suit you best.

Medical reasons

This can be a very sensitive topic for people. Having worked with some cancer patients over the years, a result can often be hair loss. Many find that their hair grows back very differently! Resulting in a change to your appearance and therefore the colours which once loved you, might not love you the same now.

Deciding to embrace the no-hair look can be a brave move and I remember a client who had alopecia with the most remarkable pattern and design tattooed to her head for the summer. She found the heat was too unpleasant to wear her hair pieces.

Equally, hair pieces can transform your overall look in the same way. Choosing to go blonde, brunette, red or blue will all require an adaption if you want what you wear to harmonise with your features.

Wardrobe impact

If you have found that your hair colour changes are having an impact on your choice of colours and how they look, a wardrobe assessment might be in order.

Should the change be temporary, or you plan on frequently changing your hair colour, you may find yourself altering and updating your wardrobe frequently.

A more permanent change means it’s a good time to reassess your wardrobe and if what you have still works for you, or if you need to adapt it.

Be certain that it’s definitely the colour that’s not working for you, or if it could be the pattern/design/style/fit or material? These factors can also affect how ‘good’ something looks and how you feel.

Can you ‘rescue’ the colour by wearing it with another colour? Perhaps try a scarf or jewellery to break up the colour near to your face.

A piece of advice I give all my clients is to keep the ‘wrong’ colour away from your face and wear it on the bottom half. The impact of the colour will be far less severe when worn this way and you still get to wear and enjoy it.

Dyeing your clothes could be another option, especially if the fabric is not man-made. Synthetics don’t dye well at home (without major effort), but mixes still will (like polycotton).

For those that can’t be rescued and you decide to let them go, be clear about what colour you need to replace it with, if at all.

The impact of different shades of a colour

I always say that you can wear every colour. However, there is more than one shade, tint or tone of a colour!

I’ve recorded a video in which I show you examples of different tones of pink and greens against my features. I wanted to try and demonstrate the subtle difference in colours and how they would look different if my hair was different. You’ll find it on YouTube here.

A colour analysis consultation will help you with all the aspects discussed in this blog and shown in the video.

Get in touch to book your colour analysis consultation.

Appointments are available Monday to Saturday. To enquire about availability, just get in touch! Toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk

WOW Rotherham 2024 Festival

Posted on by Toni Carver

I am delighted to have been invited to join the WOW Rotherham Festival on 11 May 2024 offering mini colour analysis taster sessions.

The WOW Rotherham festival is a vibrant, colourful, bold, fun, and fearless festival celebration of women, girls, trans and non-binary communities. Connecting Rotherham to other women and girls across the globe as part of the WOW – Women of the World family. Their theme this year is around fashion and sustainability and overall body-confidence, so I was delighted to be asked to get involved.

There is so much going on! All activities take place in the town centre of Rotherham. Take a look at the festival programme here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/6c75646560.html#page/1

What’s on

You’ll find full details about the event on their website: https://wow.fluxrotherham.org.uk/festival-programme/

Use the hashtag #wowrotherham to find out more on social media.

Colour Analysis Taster Sessions with me!

Between 11am and 3pm, I’ll be providing 10 minute Colour Analysis Taster sessions. If you weren’t lucky enough to bag one of the bookable time slots, you’ll need to put your name down when you arrive.

Learn how wearing colour can make you look younger and healthier and gain an insight into my colour analysis consultations to see how impactful it can be when you wear the right colours!

Clothes Swap

After attending your colour analysis taster slot,  you might want to swap some of your clothes!

Simply bring along 10 items to the Rotherham Central Community Hub (Formerly Burtons/Topman) between 11am and 3.30pm to take part. This event is run by Thread Republic.

Workshops

There’s lots to choose from, but here’s a sample of what you’ll find available:

  • Jewellery design and creation by Kabuki Jewellery
  • Poetry by Eleanor May Blackburn
  • How to DIY by Brightbox
  • Zine making by Georgia Osborn
  • Textile workshop by Karen Hall
  • Zumba by Shahina

All the workshops are free to join, including my colour analysis taster sessions!

Need more information?

The WOW Rotherham team will be happy to help. Visit their website: https://wow.fluxrotherham.org.uk/festival-programme/ or drop them an email: wowrotherham@gmail.com