Colour me happy

Hi,

Ah, hello Long Weekend! Well, for we part-timing part-timers, every weekend is a long one. It may sting in the wallet, but it feels good in the soul 🙏 Ah, there’s a nice dose of Posiblogging! 🥰

Today’s post will be very much What Happened At Chams.

I mean, we could talk about a lying liar who lies, and why a certain result didn’t matter to them. But who wants to hear about liars? Well, except when they’re caught out 😉 Let’s move on!

Cue big queues

I was a little later setting off that usual on Thursday night. Not by any great amount, but – like the school run and the rush hour – the wrong fifteen minutes seems to make all the difference.

I was slightly later as I thought I’d pop my hip-pads in at home, rather than struggle in the changing room at Chams. That part of the plan did work. What was a not-so-ideal surprise, was the upper part of Nottingham being in a traffic jam. Being a local, I had a shortcut in mind which helped.

Like most traffic snarl-ups once you got on the other side of the queue, there was nothing stopping the traffic. I guess just the volume of vehicles back on the road. That or some poor soul was pulled over, have been a victim to one of the many potholes that pepper the roads around here. Indeed, Mrs J saw half a dozen vehicles on the kerb, as each one had a burst tire due to the poor state of the roads.

I guess like the loss of certain high streets, youth clubs, and libraries; the state of the roads is something that a lot of us see. Indeed, it’s become quite the slalom with cars on the wrong side of the road, trying to dodge the larger holes.

Well, I guess all that time on the Amiga & Lotus Esprit Turbo was time well spent 😉

Sadly, my reflexes are not what they were, so glasses on, go slow, and take it steady!

Consultation

Thanks to a recommendation from Val and a bit of organisation from Yours Truly, we had a visit booked for the group with an image consultant, Suzanne Suthers. Suzanne had braved both traffic & weather, while Val looked after her, just as I was finishing the last layer of facial cement.

In truth, I was a little nervous about the event. I mean, I had a worry I was doing it wrong. You know, not wearing the right colours, styles, etc. However, that – as per – was just noise in my head. Yeah, thanks Anxiety Goblin! Off you pop, you green menace. Shoo!

Suzanne introduced what she did for a living and her career over the years. She was kind enough to give up her time for the evening – yes, I did bring chocolates as a thank you 🤗 – and give the group some Colour Analysis and answer a few of our style questions.

When it came to volunteering, because I tend to do the organising, it tends to be me in the proverbial hot seat. I guess there’s an element of not wanting to have the visiting expert stood wanting, and also I’m mindful of the adage of “don’t ask someone something you’d not prepared to do yourself.” Actually, that doesn’t work – I am pants with numbers & fine detail 😁 Comedy aside there’s balancing not hogging the limelight. With that in mind, I said: “I can if you need someone, and if anyone else would like to go, please do speak up.” With that, Stevie did, and I was – in a kind way – pleased they felt okay to do so, it wasn’t me centre stage. I mean, it’s our group, not my group. The group were very much ‘on form’ in terms of good natured teasing, so there was a lot of kind laughter.

Theory

Suzanne took all this in her stride and kept us all focused on what the right colours might do for us. I had heard of colour theory, but just the words, not the aims or benefits. She ran through the different types of colouration most of us have.

In Suzanne’s approach, that’s pretty much Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. There are also your skin undertone, so you can be cool or warm. With my blue Celtic veins I am very much in the cool camp. First time for everything eh? 😉 Oh, and if that’s not the proper lingo, that is very much my mistake.

Cue a graphic and an explanation of in general which celebs might fall into certain bands. Of course, like all things in life, people are rich & diverse, so you can find yourself a bit of a mix. I guess it’s not about fitting in a bucket, but finding which categories are more you, and what you can learn from them.

Suzanne was kind enough to let me take a snap of one of the image charts – see insert. Now truth be told, I have run this through AI as old Ham Hand here managed to get a massive glare across the Winter colours.

With Stevie, as Suzanne put different colour swatches across Stevie’s chest, you could see how the reflection of those altered their skin tone. Some enhanced and brought out the warmth in their complexion, while others might make them look too flushed or even washed out.

I was interested to see how silver and gold played out, as I was curious to know which might work best on different folk. I think Stevie was a ‘gold’ person and their favourite outfits already included a lot of the colours that worked for her. I would take that as a win.

Yours Truly

I was next in the chair and we’d moved a mirror to the opposite side of the room to make it easier to see the results. Both for Suzanne and the person in the chair, while the group looked on. I did not have my glasses on – I tend to wear them only for driving, gaming, or watching a film – so things were a little blurry.

Suzanne looked at my eye colour and ran through the same process as with Stevie. I do remember two key things. Firstly, silver is definitely my colour when it comes to jewellery. This is quite the relief because apart from my wedding ring, all my items are silver – be that in masc mode or femme.

I think I mentioned the cool undertone already – see your inner wrist for that – and I wondered if I might be an Autumn person. I look in my wardrobe – and possibly this site too – shows a love of earthy tones.

However, I am apparently more a Winter colouration. I guess that may explain why I lean towards darker hair colours, even though my natural colour would be more mid brown – more hazelnut than chestnut. If I’m understanding things right, the Colour Wheel is to help you find the tones that bring the most from your complexion.

Looking at the three o’clock point on that wheel, that was my lippy for the evening, which Suzanne pointed out as a good shade for me. Likewise, the dress I had on, that had a number of the shades from the range too. The number of blues, reds, and flurry of pinks on that wheel also feature heavily in my nail varnish collection.

It also explained why I could not get on with certain shades of yellow. Seems the vendors I prefer often produce more of a mustard colour, and I know that from dresses & tops I’ve sent back, they are not me. I guess now I know why! I also know that what would work is a brighter yellow – I guess more acid or lemon, even. As Suzanne said: “there’s a yellow for everyone, you just have to find it.” 💖

Outcomes

There was time to run through a consultation for everyone who wanted one. It is not everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s absolutely fine. We don’t force folk to do things at Chams. That’s not how we roll 🙂

What I found interesting is that a lot of the group were wearing colours that suited them already. I guess we’ve all had enough time around the block to sort of gravitate – or trial & error – towards what works for us and what we like. If I had to summarise the consultation, I would say it’s a great way to get a shortcut to good, if you’re not sure what’s really working for you.

The event ran until around 10PM and Suzanne went through a few further questions. Shoe choices, why people come to see her, that she’s had a trans* clients visit, and what else she does. While there’s no such thing as a typical customer, a frequent pattern are women changing between career and finishing work. It seems that old ‘corporate armour’ of conservative colours and workwear means we don’t really have to think too hard. Once we are out of that, I guess it’s a little unsettling when you’re faced with so much choice.

I can get behind that, as in my early days at Chams – or even dressing at home – the workwear options were easy to pull off. Muted colours, standard cuts, etc. Sure, not pretty or personal maybe, but easy. Once you start heading out of that comfort zone – into patterns, trousers, leggings, separates, etc – things get quite complex, quite quickly! Wait, that shoe works with this dress but not those trousers? or Which pattern goes with this? Is clashing in or are we back to one bold, one plain?

I felt the evening went very well, and I learned a lot. I did get an answer around where the waistband on my skirt should be – apparently it’s all on the curve of your body – and not making certain parts of your body too short. Oh, and talking of body types, Suzanne also ran through examples – I think it’s a French system? – of Romantic, Dramatic, Natural, Classic, Gamine, and Ingenue. True apparently for men, women, and those of us who are gender fabulous.

With the skirt thing, I guess that explains why the calf length dresses and ankle boot look doesn’t work on me. The dress cuts off at the widest part of my lower leg, and the height of the boot shortens that further. Ah, lessons learned! I knew it didn’t work, but knowing the theory helps. Likewise with the classic question of top in or top out. Depends on the top, the skirt, and the person! Those body types aren’t – IMO – supposed to define you, but help you find what may look good on you. Of course, like all good art, once you know the rules, you know how to break them 😉

Closing up

After all the chatter, insight, and discussion, it was time to pack away and say our goodbyes. While the night still felt very wintery – with all the wind & the rain – as Val & I chatted as we closed up, I felt really pleased on how the evening had gone, and I was looking forward to Spring making an appearance. After all, I’ve a wardrobe full of stuff that needs wearing 😉

L x