spring refresh blog

Spring Refresh: How to Add Colour to Your Wardrobe

Posted on by Toni Carver

As much as I love the cosiness of winter, there’s something refreshing about the arrival of spring. The days are getting longer, the sun is shining, and it’s starting to feel like the perfect time to shake things up in your wardrobe. After months of rich berries and browns, we’re now seeing splashes of brighter colours in the shops—and, let’s be honest, it can feel a little daunting to jump into something new.

But don’t worry! A few simple steps can help you ease into the new season and refresh your look with confidence.

Start Small with Accessories

If you’re feeling a bit hesitant about adding bold colours to your outfits, start small. Accessories are an easy way to inject a pop of colour without committing to a whole new wardrobe. Try swapping your usual neutral handbag for something vibrant, or experiment with scarves, belts, or jewellery in colours that make you smile. Footwear is another great way to add that springtime flair—suede trainers, red loafers, and fringed bags are all trending this season. Every spring, I recommend updating your accessories as a simple, instant way to refresh your look.

Embrace New Colours

Lighter colours are always a staple in springtime, and this season is no different. However, we’re also seeing a good mix of richer tones—think browns, beiges, and the Pantone Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse (read more about it here: How to wear Mocha Mousse – Pantone color of the year 2025).

If you’re unsure about wearing a colour that’s outside your usual palette, don’t feel the need to go all in. Keep it away from your face or use it in accessories. If you’re not sure if it’s the best colour for you, check what the impact is against your skin tone and features – flattering and brightening effects are what you’re looking for – not shadows or heaviness that can dull your features. Remember that a colour analysis consultation will give you clarity and certainty over the shades that suit you. No point wearing a colour just because it’s ‘on-trend’ if it makes you look like you need a blood transfusion!!

Pair with Neutrals

If you don’t feel too confident combining your colours, the trick is to balance them with your usual neutrals. A coloured top can look stunning when paired with your favourite jeans or neutral coloured trousers. Keeping it simple ensures you stay comfortable and stylish without feeling overwhelmed by too much colour. Neutral colours can see you through many seasons—think staple items like shoes, bags, coats, blazers, and trousers, which you can wear with pops of colour. Or, you may prefer to swap it round and have neutral coloured tops and bottoms and add colour pops through your shoes, coats and bags.

Spring Trends

Remember to register for my ‘seasonal updates’ to gain exclusive pre-launch offers and join the wait list. Register here

NEW On-demand Seasonal Masterclass – Spring/Summer 2024 recording out now!

Posted on by Toni Carver

The latest on-demand video showcasing the colours and trends you can expect to find this spring and summer 2024 is out now!

Watch this pre-recorded 45 minute video at your leisure and discover the trends and how to wear them.

It’s perfect for you if you missed the live group workshop, or you’d prefer to watch it in your own time.

The video takes you through the same presentation from the live workshop, but lasts 45 minutes. Get inspired with what to wear this spring and don’t forget to check what’s in your wardrobe as trends come and go!

You’ll learn:

  • The key colours for each dominant colouring type this spring/summer. (Light, deep, warm, cool, clear, soft)
  • London Fashion Week colours as predicted by Pantone® Color Institute and coded for the six colouring types
  • Colour combos featuring the Pantone® Color of the Year (Peach Fuzz)
  • The latest trends
  • Examples of where to find the key colours and trends this season

 

These seasonal masterclasses are recorded twice a year to coincide with Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. They’re part of a range of seasonal update material to support you on your image journey. Designed to stop you making the same mistakes, buying more things you don’t wear/don’t suit/don’t need.

Having a colour and style consultant do the hard work for you saves you time scouring the internet and high street as this covers the key colours and trends, who they work for, where to get them and how to wear them. You just need to choose the format which works best for you! Visit the material available here.

The next seasonal update for Autumn/Winter 2024 will be available from 1 October 2024. Register your interest in ‘seasonal updates’ and join the wait list here.

NEW What to wear workshop – Autumn/Winter 2023 Colour & Style Update – Saturday 7 October – 2pm online

Posted on by Toni Carver

Back for Autumn is my ‘what to wear’ workshop where I share tips on navigating the colour and style trends for the coming season.

Whilst my mantra remains the same: just because it‘s in the shops, fashionable or on trend does not mean it will work for YOU and that’s OK!

Instead, I’ve done the hard work for you by searching and sharing what you can expect with tips on how to wear them.

These seasonal updates have been running for years now. Get some inspiration and guidance on updating your wardrobe. A new season is the perfect opportunity to reignite it after all!

THE AUTUMN/WINTER WHAT TO WEAR WORKSHOP

If you’re not familiar with this workshop, it takes place online every year on the first Saturday of October. It’s then repeated six months later for the spring and summer trends on the first Saturday of April. 

Whether you’ve had your colours or style analysed before or not, these workshops are an opportunity to find out what the latest colours and styles are.

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

There’s no travelling and you’ll join from the comfort of your own home! So, book your ticket, grab a brew and a notepad and log into the live event!

I’ll share what’s in the shops and most importantly, what to look for and if the colours and styles will suit you!

It’s not about buy, buy, buy! It’s encouraging you to understand how can you be more sustainable with your choices whilst also bringing what you already have up to date.

This virtual event lasts around 90 minutes. You’ll learn the key colours, styles and trends this autumn and winter with a presentation I’ve prepared. Don’t worry – it’s not death by powerpoint as I’ll also share some of my top picks from the high street too.

To inspire you to check your own wardrobe, I’ll also share items from my wardrobe which tick off the new ‘trends’ you’ll hear about.

WHEN

The Autumn/Winter 2023 event is on Saturday 7 October at 2pm. For reference, the Spring/Summer workshop takes place on the first Saturday of April (6th April 2024). Advance tickets will be available as soon as this event ends!

COSTS

Tickets are £19.50.

This includes a copy of my AW23 shopping list, AW23 wardrobe checklist and summary of the colours and styles. There are all digital guides which will be emailed to you after the event.

SOLD OUT!

This event has SOLD OUT.

FIND THE NEXT EVENT HERE
10 spring 2023 trends

10 Spring 2023 trends

Posted on by Toni Carver

Time flies doesn’t it? At the start of April, I shared the new colour and style trends for spring / summer 2023 at my ‘what to wear’ workshop.

Having hit the shops the week before, I found a number of items to help me illustrate some of the colour and style trends to the group. During the live workshop, I go through the presentation I’ve prepared all about what you can expect, what suits you and how to make it work for you. I also use the same presentation during the recorded video masterclass (the latest version is available here). The next live group workshop will take place on 7 October and showcase the autumn/winter 2023 colour and style trends.

I’ve showcased some trends I’ve found on the high street in my latest video which you can watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/kAhXbMXh2U8

Here are 10 spring trends featured in the video:

1. Blue midi off the shoulder dress – Next

2. Lime Green Ruffle Sleeve Tie Back Dress – Next

3. Blue/Yellow Striped collared shirt dress – Next

4. Pink Broderie ruffle sleeve Blouse – Love & Roses at Next

5. Khaki Wide Leg Cargo Trousers – New Look

6. Blue button front midi dress – New Look

7. Metallic Silver clutch Bag – New Look

8. Pink animal print tiered dress – New Look

9. Blue Floral hanky hemline dress – Apricot Clothing at New Look 

10. Navy Botanical grecian occasion reversible dress – Apricot Clothing (also available via New Look, Next and Yumi)

Need more help?

Not all these will suit you of course! When you know what suits you, shopping really does become easier. You’ll learn this knowledge when you book a consultation, so do get in touch if the time is right for you.

If you missed the workshop, or you want to watch it again, the recorded version is available here until 30 September.

The Colour & Style guide for spring/summer 2023 is a physical handout you can pop in your handbag and available here. You’ll receive a copy of this if you book a Complete Colour Analysis Consultation between 1 April and 30 September.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer a complete digital kit of resources, my new E-Book is 20 pages and contains everything you need to know to help guide you on the spring and summer colour and style trends.

Please note. The above list contains some affiliate links which may result in a payment of commission.

What to wear workshop

What to wear workshop – Seasonal Update: Spring/Summer 2023 – Saturday 1 April – 2pm

Posted on by Toni Carver

Push through the sale rails and you might start to notice the colours and styles are changing. My mantra remains the same: just because it‘s in the shops, fashionable or on trend does not mean it will work for YOU – and that’s ok.

It’s that time of the year again. When we are longing for nice weather and your inbox starts filling up with ‘what to buy for spring’!

To help reduce the overwhelm, I’m back again with my seasonal updates to help you decipher what you’re going to buy (if anything) and how to work with what you’ve already got. 

INTRODUCING THE SPRING/SUMMER WHAT TO WEAR WORKSHOP

Looking for guidance on what to wear and what to buy (if you need to) so you don’t get sucked into making (more) shopping mistakes this new season? These workshops are for you and take place on the first Saturday of April and October. 

Whether you’ve had your colours or style analysed with me before or not, these seasonal workshops are an opportunity to find out what the latest colours and styles are that suit you, saving you time whilst providing lots of inspiration!

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

You’ll hear about what’s in the shops and most importantly, what to look for so they suit you! It’s not always about buy, buy, buy, but instead understanding how can you be more sustainable with your choices and use what you may already have to bring it up to date.

Taking place online and lasting around 90 minutes, I’ll be sharing the key colours, styles and trends this spring and summer with a presentation and some of my top picks from the shops. You’ll hear about the key trends and if they’ll suit you so you can avoid making any costly shopping mistakes!

It’s always worth checking what you’ve got lurking in the back of your wardrobe as I’ll share my own finds from my wardrobe which tick off the new ‘trends’.

WHEN

The Spring/Summer 2023 workshop will be held virtually on Saturday 1 April at 2pm. For reference, the Autumn/Winter workshop will be held on Saturday 7 October.

There’s one last chance to bag an EARLY BIRD bonus! Purchase a ticket before 1st February and you’ll be entered into a free prize draw to win a 30-minute styling call with me which is the perfect opportunity to get advice on any specific items, dressing challenges or some styling advice.

COSTS

£17.50 (includes Colour and Style update guide, shopping list and wardrobe checklist, Who Can Wear What summary guide and discount voucher)

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets are to be bought in advance and are available to buy NOW!

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

spring colour trends

Spring colour trends and how to wear them

Posted on by Toni Carver

Something I get asked a lot about is how to shop for ‘your’ colours in the shops. When you know the shades of colours which suit you best, it makes it far easier to shop as you can pick out the colour trends that do work for you. Plus, this knowledge takes you through each and every season! It’s one of the many benefits to having a colour analysis consultation and you can wear colour all year round after all!

If you don’t know the shades of colours which suit you best, then this task is a little harder and could be where you make some costly mistakes.

The time of year influences the colours we tend to see. Think about the weather and the seasons, especially in the UK. For example, if you have lighter features then you’re more likely to find the shades of colour which suit you better in spring and summer. Whereas, if your features are much richer and darker, then you’re more likely to find shades in winter.

Not every brand is the same though. Some retailers do tend to favour certain shades over others irrelevant of the time of year. Plus, there’s specialist brands like Kettlewell who focus on colours for those who’ve had their colours analysed previously. (Get in touch if you’d like more details).

Colour trends

Woman & Home recently contacted Colour me Beautiful MD Cliff Bashforth. They were writing a piece about fashion colour trends and how to wear them. Read the article here.

I’ll focus on some of the colour trends highlighted in the article below. But, if you want to wear a colour which you feel doesn’t look right or isn’t in your swatches; here’s a tip. Keep it away from your face! Instead choose something like a bag, shoes or trousers/skirt. What you wear closer to your face should be a shade which compliments you and lightens and brightens your features. Something which doesn’t will cast dark shadows, make you look unwell or age you unnecessarily.

Orange

I’ve discussed this in my last blog which you can revisit here. What you’ll notice is how bright and bold the clothes are in the shops and vastly different from the oranges we tend to see in the autumn. This will be great for you if you have red hair or toned down a little for warmer skin tones.

Same rule I mentioned before – keep it away from your face or choose accessories if it’s not that great for you.

Green

The article focuses again on the bolder greens out there but I’ve actually seen lots of shades of green this spring.

So, if you’re a fan of green and looking for some additions to your wardrobe then now’s a good time to look. Remember, green can have a yellow hue to it which makes it warmer so if you’re cooler don’t got to yellow based. If you’ve got white hair, you’ll want to avoid the yellow-y greens and go for icy shades.

Pink

The bolder pinks are better suited for those with more contrasting and brighter features. For others, you’ll need to tone it down or keep it away from your face.

If you’re following me on social media, I’ve shared a pink pleated skirt which doesn’t feature in my colour swatches (it’s too bright for me) but because it’s on my bottom half, it would have worked. Unfortunately, the fabric and the weight just wasn’t right and was too heavy for me so it didn’t suit my shape and frame. Colour might be the most visual reason for biting something, but if the style, shape or fit doesn’t work for you then it still won’t work. I go through all this and more during my style and image consultations.

White

An unusual ‘trending’ colour highlighted by Woman & Home and there was a few white pieces evidenced in the shops. I’d always recommend a soft white shade (think off-white) for most people pure white is too harsh for their features. We’re too early for Wimbledon, but how to wear white is something I’ve covered before! Read it here.

Seasonal guides

Still looking for a bit more help?

My spring / summer 2022 style guide is available which is an A5 double sided guide which features the colours and trends to shop for. I’m including an additional Pantone colour guide this time round too. Get it here.

For a little more guided detail, my presentation on the spring and summer trends is available as a pre-recorded masterclass. It’s a 30 minute recording which you can watch at a time to suit you. It’s available at a special introductory price here.

I hope this has helped to inspire you but if you need more help and guidance, do get in touch: Toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk