Colour Magic

This is a labour of love pulling together my ideas on various colour types and their characteristics. I hope you will have some fun looking through and enjoy discovering the magic of colour!

 

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A Soggy Blog...embrace your macs and wellies!

Oh dear, why do the Brits always talk about the weather...well apart from the fact that it is literally in your face, it really can wreak havoc with our wardrobe choices! One minute sun, the next torrential rain...I think the concept of a summer and winter wardrobe will no longer suffice!

So my thoughts are that we should make the most of what we have and dress accordingly! While my flip flops have hardly seen the light of day I have decided that worthy investments in my current wardrobe should be colourful and cosy wellies and a pretty rainmac, with a cheerful umbrella thrown into the mix. The bonus with these investments is that we know that they will get a lot of use, we will feel dry and smug that at least we don't have to water the garden, face a hosepipe ban or hide indoors from the 40o sun! 

http://cambridgeraincoats.co.uk/

 

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Neon, Get it On!

If Neon colours are featuring big time on the fashion rails, I hear you ask..what about my make-up? Well, colour is definitely "in" for your face, but I know that this is a scary prospect for many of you! As with so many things it is best to gradually build your confidence levels, but you've got to make a start somewhere...so here goes and that means you too!


Cast your eyes in the direction of that wonderful violet or bright green and leave the brown for another day! Now the trick is always to apply the strong colour first then neutralise it if you need to, otherwise you will not be able to build up any level of impact.


Personally, I prefer going with the eye pencil first as this is wax based and therefore the eyeshadow will set it. If you try to colour the pencil over shadow you tend to tug the skin a bit more; liquid liner is a different consistency and is best applied over powder.


If you opt for a bright pencil/liner then you possibly don't need the bright shadow too, but then again, it could be fab, give it a whirl! Remember you have a back-up plan. This is not to wash it off and start all over again, that is tedious and rubs your skin. Simply grab one of your blender brushes and with a melon or opal, pinky/peachy tone you can wash this over the top. Or, even a light mint or soft gold can do the trick, although matte is naturally more subtle than frosted versions.


Here is a look created by Mel Arter for MAC, this stand-out spring/summer look is all about a playful hint of colour on the inside lower lash-line.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

My all time favourite combination from the "Colour Me Beautiful" cosmetics range is Amethyst pencil with Tangerine eye shadow, but other options could be Teal with Purple or Amethyst with Peppermint. I don't often mix the same shade of pencil with shadow as the colours tend to lose themselves, variety in this case really is the essence of life.


If your prefer to add zest to your lips then now really is the time to experiment with your reds oranges, bright pinks or corals. Choosing from your colour palette you will have decided whether you are going for oranges or corals to look best on your yellow toned skin or cerise and fuchsia to look amazing with your pinkier tones. As always, very pale skin tends to ere more towards suiting pinks, while very dark skins can be more ambitious.


Again, if you really think you have gone over the top, don't rub it off all over your cheeks, either add a dab of gloss or pearlescent over the top or even a touch of highlighter! You can also soften the look by first applying either a lip base or a more subtle neutral pencil, such as Natural from the Colour Me Beautiful range.

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Here is The Look: Created by Andrew Gallimore for MAC, this look is all about soft and sultry sex appeal: pure romanticism as seen in Glamour magazine.

Shrug it on!

One of my favourite wardrobe pieces has to be the "Shrug"! If you call this a cardi that's fine, I tend to think if cardigans as being a bit more formal but less than a jacket. Then again, we find some very relaxed cardigans so I leave it to you to decide when the shrug which drapes and covers your shoulders and some of your body, takes on the mantle of being a cardigan!

But, whether you choose a cardigan or shrug, remember you need at least one neutral and one colour to start building your wardrobe in a mix 'n'match way. I have gone for pink and off-white this season as it supposedly summer!

Now that I have my shrug, I can wear it with a short or longer skirt as long as there is some fullness and, of course, this can be plain or patterned...I personally enjoy patterned skirts for a really girly look, but a plain one with a petticoat under looks fab with this look!

You can now use this same cardi over various tunic tops  or dresses, whether plain or patterned. Obviously  if you choose a patterned tunic you would be more likely to wear plain trousers!

If you are brave enough to wear the fab new patterned trousers I would suggest a plain top!

http://images-ff.asos-media.com

http://images-ff.asos-media.com

The same cardi will work with a day dress or have some fun with your wardrobe by choosing from the fab maxis which can be dressed up with heels or worn in a relxed style with some flirty sandals.

http://images.kaleidoscope.co.uk

Looking forward to summer...

With most of us now eagerly awaiting the summer sun after England's recent spell of great weather, most of you will have shared the same thoughts with me - as the climate improves, how do we dress to keep cool and still look 'cool'?

Having lived in Spain for the past year, this has been a real issue for me as the temperatures soar to almost 40 degrees during the summer months! I find myself rummaging through my wardrobe longing to layer my clothes to suit my body shape, as I would usually, but disavowing every outfit possibility and instead gravitating towards the lightest, and probably least flattering, item of clothing possible.

So as we approach spring, or begin to head off on our Easter and summer holidays, how do we dress appropriately without sacrificing style? It tends to be that as the temperatures rise, so do the hemlines. If you'd rather keep your legs under cover and are looking for something that offers 'breathability', a maxi skirt or dress is a great way to cover up but still stay chic. Their versatility makes them a great option for when the weather warms up and best of all, they are designed to suit almost all shapes and sizes. Pair up a maxi skirt with a simple white top to reflect the heat and add a thin belt for extra shape. Next has a fantastic range of both skirts and dresses in varying colours and patterns.

Pretty pastels are a perfect way to refresh your wardrobe this season! Spring and summer collections are awash with a palette of powder blue, soft pink, spearmint and yellow, from dresses and blazers to accessories. Pastel shades help to deflect the sun's rays and pale hues such as mint green and lavender are a great alternative to white. Check out the pastel collection on the ASOS page using the keyword 'pastel' in the search bar.

As we all know, finding something comfortable to wear in the hotter season depends largely on fabric choice. Opting for cotton allows body heat to escape and is soft and breathable. Linen is ideal for absorbing perspiration and is durable, yet cool and comfortable. A lightweight denim is also a popular choice for the slightly more bearable, balmy evenings! Again, Next has a large range of stylish items in these materials, including these tapered cotton/linen blend trousers.

And finally... the arduousness of accessorizing in the summer season! A hat is the key way to keep the sun off your face and head-wear is the hottest accessory trend for summer, adding an extra touch of style to any outfit. Straw stetsons, woven trilbys and floppy brimmed sun hats teamed with a simple dress is a great look and Accessorize and New Look have a wide online selection at excellent prices. A low, open toe wedge or embellished flat sandal also enables you to stay cool and feel comfortable but still adds impact to your outfit. I love these Zara Jute wedges, although they are a little high for everyday wear!

And one last tip: If, like me, wearing make-up in the sun can sometimes feel like an extra layer of clothing, remember to opt for a tinted moisturiser instead of foundation! 

Signing off for today from guest blogger...Freya Jane, I'll be back!

A Splash of Colour for Spring

Every season, designers find colours which evoke a range of emotions and style options that we enjoy adding to our wardrobes. This Spring offers us the wonderful zesty shades turquoise, bright coral and citron which will brighten our mood and lift our spirits!

You can use as much or as little as you choose! Along with citron, lime is also featuring and the coral stretches as far as bright orange! And even the shades of blue will make you feel far from down!

Warmer colour types will struggle to know what to choose as there is so much out there but softer colour types will still find the gorgeous mellow pinks, beiges and some subtle lilacs.....look to Xile, Sahara and Sandwich and Bohemia.

Brighter, warmer types will find some choice is Sandwich and Sahara and shops like Wallis always like to be playful with colour. Topshop, River Island and New Look have a vast range of colour options, so there really is no excuse not to play!

And not to forget the most powerful colour of all, Red is making a huge impact this season. Whether it's shoes,accessories or crimson lips you really have got to give this a whirl!

Jenny Packham’s classy and chic gown is stunning in vibrancy, strength and femininity.

If loads of colour still scares you the start with the accessories and go from there!

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