look great, feel confident, be yourself

'Dress shabbily, they notice the dress; dress well, they notice the woman' (Coco Chanel)

It takes 30 seconds to make a first impression that persists for 7 years -
you don't have to be rich, vain or famous to want that impression to be a good one!
Dressing well is not about buying new, expensive or fashionable clothes, or being photo-ready,
but simply understanding the best colours and styles for your colouring, shape, personality and lifestyle.
When you feel confident that you look fabulous, you can express who you are in an instant by what you wear,

'Lovely new experience this morning - looked at myself as I passed a mirror and smiled at what I saw. You've given me so much confidence'   (client 2019)

Buy less, wear more !
Knowing what suits you means you can look good, feel confident, and be yourself
without compromising on style or harming the planet.
You will have more outfits but less clothes, understand how to put together outfits from what you already have,
and buy well (but only once) to update your wardrobe and fill the gaps.
Need help with these dilemmas?
  • you have too many clothes, but still seem to have nothing to wear?
  • you are not confident with how you look?
  • you feel frumpy or stuck in a rut?
  • your colouring or body shape has changed, and you are not sure what works for you?
  • you buy make up but don't know if it suits you
Would you like to?
  • save money by wearing everything you have.
  • save time by being able to quickly put together an outfit.
  • shop faster and without expensive mistakes.
  • look great, because everything you have suits you.
  • feel confident because you look the best version of yourself, always.
Why wait?  Call (07557 439317) or email, and look great,  feel confident, right now.
‘Compliment coming your way! My dad said he saw you and he said how pretty you were and how clever because red really suited you and you looked amazing – totally unprompted. Mr. Charming!!!’    text received by a colour client following her consultation, who also said 'I can honestly say I have had more compliments in the last few days than I have had for years – all thanks to your great advice'   ND
 'thankyou for all you have done...without your skills and knowledge I would still be a dowdy 55 year old.  I now have the confidence to dress quickly and smartly, and I feel alive!'   GG
Add a spring to your step and breathe new life into your wardrobe - make use of this season's colour and style trends to update the clothes and accessories that you already have. You can be budget-conscious and age-appropriate, and reduce your carbon footprint, but still have fun with your clothes, make the most of your wardrobe, and even more importantly, make the most of who you are - look great, feel confident, be yourself.
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Here is the news for May - it's all about you

Have you ever been shopping with a friend and she is drawn to pretty dresses, while you make a beeline for the sharp tailored blazers and jeans? Those are your individual style personalities shining through. Your friend loves touchy-feely fabrics with lots of detail, layers and layers of bangles and jewellery, embellished shoes and I would bet my last dollar (if I had such a thing) that she is wearing pretty matching underwear. She's a Romantic! You on the other hand, love understated elegance, well-cut clothes, in neutral shades, with just a small splash of colour now and then. Your wardrobe is small but made up of well thought out basics of blazers, classic shirts, cashmere jumpers, jeans and tailored trousers. If this is you, chances are you're a City Chic.

Of course these are just two examples of style personalities. There are six in total, and understanding yours lies at the heart of expressing who you are through what you wear.
You are so much more than your appearance, but in our culture, how you look says who you are, so make sure this is the person you want people to see. Read on to find out more about this fascinating subject

six style personality profiles

CREATIVE: A Creative will shop in vintage and second hand shops. She doesn't follow fashion, instead creating her own unique signature look. She isn't afraid of mixing prints and texture. I rarely see Creatives in my studio as these people want to do their own thing, but sometimes someone will have a small but powerful dollop of creative personality that they want to express in a small way, like a quirky bag or necklace.

DRAMATIC: A Dramatic loves fashion and enjoys shopping. She buys into many trends and constantly runs out of space in her wardrobe! She isn't worried about practicality and will often be the one in the highest of heels at a party. 

ROMANTIC: A Romantic loves pretty clothes; ribbons, frills, texture and embellishment. She spends a long time getting ready and always, always wears perfume!
CLASSIC: A Classic always looks neat and tidy. She prefers neutral colours and isn't drawn to print. Her clothes are well pressed and her hair is styled. Her clothes are tailored, classic in design, and she likes her clothes to match.

NATURAL: A Natural prefers a comfortable, functional and unpretentious style. She really doesn't get on with restrictive clothes that dig and pinch, preferring soft denim, fleeces and easy-wear cardigans. She is the one that checks the label to ensure the garment can be machine washed before purchasing!

CITY CHIC: A City Chic follows trends rather than fashion. She buys the best that she can afford and invests in good quality basics (a blazer is her go-to jacket). She doesn't 'do' detail and prefers neutral colours. Her look is well thought out and uncomplicated, which enables her to look effortlessly stylish.

is style personality important?

In a word, yes! Style Personality really is important, so much so that when I meet a new client, regardless of the session that she is attending, I like to establish her style personality before we get very far - she is a person, not a photograph.

For example, someone may come to see me for a Colour Analysis. Let's suppose she is a Soft dominant colouring type which means that she has a muted, blended look with little contrast between her hair colour, eye colour and skin tone. Her colours are mainly medium depth which will look best when worn tonally. She also looks wonderful in her neutrals such as charcoal grey, light navy, pewter and taupe, to name but a few.

However, this client has a Dramatic style personality, and although she looks great in her colours, they don't express who she is. This is where style personality, my expert knowledge and a flexible system come into play. I can show her how to make the most of her best colours, and use them to express some drama, in combinations that she'll enjoy wearing.
 Picture
In a
Consultant Marie Cramp, New Zealand
Style personality and lifestyle are important when I determine someone's colour palette. The colour me beautiful system allows a non-restrictive approach when I am personalising my clients' colours, so that a particular colour palette is not tied to a personal style.

men have personal style too

Of course style personality isn't exclusive to women, men have one too and it is just as important.  Now more than ever, a great deal of attention is paid to a man's look. He has a  wider selection of clothing to choose from, and understanding his own personal style will save him time and money in the long run, as well as enabling him to feel comfortable and confident in the clothes that he wears. 

During our time together, I identify the style personality of my male clients and show them how to dress to achieve their best look. I also give them tips on where to shop and what to look for. Stay tuned for a more detailed look at men's style personality in the next issue. 

the benefit of understanding

Knowledge is power! How you wear your clothes tells people a lot about you, so make sure you are giving them the right information.

When you understand your style personality, it is so much easier to build a cohesive wardrobe of clothes that you will enjoy wearing. You will find it easier to edit what you have, and are less likely to make mistakes in future purchases, and so in the long run, will save money. Making informed choices means that you won't fall fashion victim.

The frequently used phrase, "I have a wardrobe full of clothes, but nothing to wear," is often a result of not understanding your individual style, easily addressed when you have identified it.

split personality

who am I?
Sometimes I may identify two or three style personalities for a client, although one is likely to be more dominant. For example, someone could be a Natural with Creative tendencies. That's ok, it's not about putting someone in a box with a label, and it can be fun for a client to find out how she can fulfil her instinctive tastes.
Over time we encounter different life stages. A young professional may move into motherhood, back into her career, or a different career, juggle different family and work roles, adjust to an empty nest, and finally a new life in retirement.

Of course all of these different stages and roles may require different styles of dressing, and your style personality may not align with them.

For example if you are a Dramatic, it is very easy to fulfil your personal brand in the office, but running after a toddler in heels and a crisp white shirt probably won't work.

I recognise this, and can provide you with guidance and advice, so that you can express who you are within your current lifestyle. 

I love a challenge!

style your specs

If you need glasses, you probably wear them every day, so they deserve some thought as to what they say about you.

Style Personality is an important aspect of my NEW (!) eyewear consultation. It's so new, it isn't on the website yet, but is available to book, once it has had its final test this week.
Most of us wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. That's a lot of clothing doing nothing. Meanwhile, the UK is the most wasteful nation, buying more clothes than anyone else, and throwing away more as well. It is estimated that 11 million garments go into landfill every week, and while we are recycling more, the places that receive our recycling are getting so much stuff, that they are now putting it in landfill.  Yes, we should also shop ethically, ensuring we are not supporting exploitation, and giving thought to sustainable fabrics. But perhaps we should also buy less in the first place. Fast fashion is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and it won't do you any lasting favours either - just furnish a wardrobe of clothes you don't wear.
Buy well, buy once, buy less
- your bank balance will be happier, as will the planet.

I will help you translate this season's key trends into your wardrobe in a way that makes you look and feel fabulous. One or two pieces will update your wardrobe, and if you get colour and style right, will give you value for money in years to come.

Get in touch today to book your appointment, whether you need a review of your colouring, a complete start from scratch, help with sorting your wardrobe, a gift for someone else, or a FREE make up or skincare refresh.
for more information, or to book, contact PAULINE BISHOP
telephone 07557 439317       email pauline@mytruecolours.co.uk

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