PERSONAL SHOPPER TIPS: TOP COLOUR TRENDS FOR AUTUMN

I love the colours of autumn. With the falling of the leaves and changing of the season come deep oranges, burnt reds, dark purples and more. For those within the seasonal colour palette of autumn, this is your time to shine! Let your skin shine with these colours all around us.

For those of us within different seasonal colour palettes, we can still wear these colours, but need to be mindful of the tones to make them suit us.

To celebrate the changing of the seasons, I’ll share with you my top colour trends for autumn and how to try them depending on your season.

If you don’t yet know your colour palette, I share my tips on finding yours here, or book a colour clinic for a personalised and confidence-boosting session in London or online.

How to wear red this autumn

Seen across an array of catwalks, this show-stopping colour is one I am pleased to welcome to the darker days. Shining brightly as the weather often makes us want to stay in over a hot cup of coco and a movie, the colour may have a great effect on our mindsets.

What tones of red to use based on your season

Depending on your season, the tones of red to use will vary. From deep and rich, to bright and light, knowing the perfect shade will make a huge difference.

How to wear red as an autumn

Autumns need to look for deep, rich and warm reds. Think dark brick red, with an almost purple undertone. You can play with red lipstick, shoes, or all out with a red suit. Of course, starting with some accessories, like a pashmina or red ankle boots can be an easy way into the colour.

How to wear red as a winter

Fuchsia and bright icy pinks are more suited to your skin tone, as well as brighter cooler reds. With your contrasting features, you’ll want to look for deep yet bright undertones. A brighter red scarf could work to take you through to winter, while you may want to opt for some red boots for the rainier season (and to add drama to any outfit!).

How to wear red as a spring

With a warmer undertone than winters, springs look best in bright and strong colours. Think of poppy reds as inspiration. A red bag is always a great go-to accessory no matter the weather, while you can dive in head first into the colour of the. Pair with yellow or rose gold accessories, and you’re ready to paint the town red.

How to wear red as a summer

Summers have cooler undertones with soft features, and will suit more pastel or soft red tones. Pairing your red garments with lighter neutrals will help to soften the red that can be a tricker colour for you. Pinks are more suited to your colours, so this may be a more approachable way to implement this colour into your wardrobe. Why not add some edge with a leather shirt over your wide legged jeans and combat boots?

How to wear grey this autumn

For those of my client who love to wear black, they can be disappointed that this colour doesn’t fit within their season. That’s why charcoal or deep grey can be a solution for them. Grey can be a variety of tones, and it can be used as a neutral under your more unique or statement colours.

While for some, you may be jumping at the thought of a grey colour, the ways in which this tone can be used can be full and perfect for professional looks, should you need to. Make sure you pair it with your statement colours such as pinks, teals, or purples, to really shine.

How to wear charcoal as an autumn

Deep and rich charcoal and deep browns are a go-to neutral for you. You can also move into a lighter charcoal as long as it still provides a deep and rich tone for your skin. An elegant and structured jumper are excellent additions to your wardrobe for this time of year.

How to wear charcoal as a winter

Winters suit black unlike any other season, and you will shine with this rich deep colour, like charcoal. Grey needs to be as close to black as you can find, and will match with icy blues, bright pinks or emerald green. A classic grey suit trouser for work, or for a special occasion or black tie event, a strapless floor length dress in deep charcoal could look beautiful on you with a pair of emerald shoes & jewellery. For a more casual look, pair a charcoal pair of wide legged charcoal jeans with sneakers and turtleneck bodysuit.

How to wear charcoal as a spring

Charcoal is a trickier colour for you wear but paired with bright light colours you can play with this autumnal trend. Lighter grey may be a better solution for you, pair a light grey trench with pastel pinks or bright blues to really make a statement.

How to wear charcoal as a summer

A softer charcoal will look perfect on your skin tone, when matched with pastel yellows or pinks. A pair of soft grey sneakers paired with your favourite jeans and pastel coloured top are great for day to day, or why not try a midi skirt paired with heeled boots and a pink body suit for a unique look.

How to wear pink this autumn

You guessed it – the Barbie movie has been taking over and with that comes the fashion. While pink is a fun, bright, and engaging colour, it seems to be a little bit marmite. Some love it, some hate it! If you want to try out pink this autumn and feel your true Barbie-self, now is a great time to play with it.

How to wear pink as an autumn

Deep, luscious pinks are best for you. Paired with deep tones or going fully monochromatic will brighten up the darker season. When you look outside at this time of year, there isn’t much pink to pick and choose from, so you may be better suited to a peachier or more coral-colour. Try out a coral lipstick or a pink with an orange undertone for best results! These peachy, abstract ankle boots are a fun and unique accessory for your wardrobe to try out the colour of the year.  

How to wear pink as a winter

Bright pinks and fuchsias are beautiful on your skin and you can go all out Barbie! This one-shoulder maxi dress will let you party the night away in all your glory. Pair with silver platform heels and jewellery for a sparkly look. If you want to start small, a headband or a crossover body bag can be your stepping stone into the colour. 

How to wear pink as a spring

As with any season, all of us can wear any colour, as long as we select the right tone. For springs, however, jewellery in rose gold looks the best on you, playing into the pinkier hues that work with your clothing too. Bright and light pinks work well for you, too, so you can layer your pinks with your rose gold accessories. This light pink longline jacket is an essential for the season, while this pink and rose gold daisy ring is a fun and cute accessory.

How to wear pink as a summer

Barbie must be a summer as pinks across a variety of tones look great on you. Colours you see in Mother of Pearl or softer pinks are your go-to. A pastel pink blouse, hairband, or shoes are all fabulous options to add to your wardrobe for the season. This satin single breasted blazer feels “Legally Blonde” meets “Barbie” in one. While this frilly, lace-trimmed maxi dress could be layered over warmer garments to keep the spring in your step. This dusky pink, fit and flare dress is a party dress that could suit work and play!

I hope you enjoy welcoming a new season. If you want to play with new colours to brighten your wardrobe, I’d love to help.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: NEW YEAR, NEW WARDROBE?

As we head into a new year, often we may feel refreshed and invigorated to stick to goals we have set ourselves! If one of your resolutions is to feel more stylish, confident, or even work on making new connections, get a new job, or build your business – one way to start can be understanding your wardrobe and style in a better way.

Where to start with a new personal style

The first step to discovering your new style, is to understand what you want to portray through your fashion. A few questions I always ask my styling clients are:

• What are the first few words you’d like people to think of when they see you?

• Who are your style icons or inspirations?

• Do you feel a certain way in particular colours?

When you know these, it can help you start developing a sort of style mood board, which is what I create with my personal styling clients on Pinterest, to help you see a selection of options in one space that will help you with future purchases.

Remove items for your wardrobe that don’t fit within your style

When you know the type of style you want to portray through your clothes, that you feel confident in and showcases the personality you’d like to convey, you can then start to edit your current wardrobe.

Having a wardrobe detox helps with several things when it comes to developing your personal style:

• It will save you time each day – no more wondering what will go with what!

• Your wardrobe will work smoothly together as full outfits that you can mix and match easily.

• You’ll no longer have any clothes that you don’t feel comfortable in – removing items that don’t fit you is one of the most important parts of this process, as well as the ones you don’t love or feel confident in when you put them on.

Once you have a wardrobe of items you already own, that work within your style you can move onto the next step – finding new items that work with your current ones!

How to find clothes that work with your personal style

Now you have a wardrobe that you can maximise outfits from, that makes you feel your best, and you have a curated mood board for your style inspiration, you can begin your shopping journey!

As a personal shopper myself, I am sure you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that I think making a shopping experience fun, enjoyable and functional is the most important part of your shopping experiences! You’ll want to make sure you do a few things before heading to the shops (whether online or in person).

• Note which items you want to purchase to create outfits from your current pieces in your wardrobe.

• What new items do you want to get to create new outfits?

• What is your budget for this particular shop, or perhaps your quarterly shop? Knowing your finances that you are happy to spend each season for particular items will make sure you know what you can invest in and what you need to save for.

• What colours do you want to add to your wardrobe, if any?

• Which accessories would be a great addition to your collection to help develop fuller more diverse outfits? Whether it’s a belt, a bag, shoes, jewellery, or hair pieces, accessories can transform a look and finish an outfit!

When you have a plan, and an understanding of the style and messages you want to convey through your styling choices, your shopping experiences should be more economical and more useful for you. When we reactively buy because of new year’s sales, a sudden need for something quickly, and without thought, it can cause us to buy items that we ultimately don’t wear. Fast fashion, trends, and garments that don’t last cause us to spend our valuable money on pieces that don’t suit our style for the long term. Taking time to consider what you want your style to showcase, why you want to create that style for yourself – perhaps for your work wardrobe, your confidence, journeying into a new age bracket, or merely to feel great – can truly make a huge difference to how you feel.

Clothes and fashion should work for you – not against you. I hope you will walk into the new year with more confidence and joy each day, and if you’d love help to do this using fashion as one of the tools to manage this, please get in touch.