This is about my most recent passion – COLOUR.
Understanding my colour pallette and how to put them together to make me look at my best is the biggest discovery in terms of my style that I have made over the last year or so. Being able to help my clients with that too is the most rewarding thing ever.
I realized some time ago that I used to surround myself with colours (or lack of them) that didn’t always flatter me and my overall image.
A process of discovering my own unique style has been filled with trial and error. I looked online at blogs and vlogs and what I found was often more confusing than helpful. Advise that I found about ‘finding your style’ was to collect images from magazines and articles, anywhere that you can, and make up a board. This is helpful only to some extent. It helps you find a pattern of things that you like so that you can then start copying it. I absolutely hate and disagree with the idea of copying. Most times it means struggling to find the exact outfit and most importantly, rarely looking as amazing as the model/celebrity on the picture. Waste of money, disappointment and still not feeling myself.
Since I work in the fashion industry and spend more time learning and studying it, I realize how subjective it is. Trends are awesome to get inspired by them and choose ones that work for us but we are all ONE AND ONLY and that is the best trend ever. I do believe in inspiration boards and have a giant one myself that I keep updating and changing. It has everything that inspires me in terms of style but also all aspects of my life that I feel are important. It also has pictures of me and those that mean the most to me. Those are pictures of ‘memories’ that make me feel good and inspire me to keep those feeling alive but also to stay grateful as there is so much to appreciate.
In terms of the colours and seasonal pallettes, finding which one I was, was a process. There is a lot of help online but it can also be confusing. I have no idea what I used to base my choices on. I think most of it was the fact that I loved certain looks on other people and I kind of hoped it looked as good on me as it did on them (we often see what we want to). I often felt that the more I tried the worse the result. Then sometimes I’d go for an unexpected choice and ended up with a WOW outfit. It was exhausting though. Not to mention the stress involved with finding outfits for social gatherings where I knew I was going to see people that were so stylish I could never even imagine of being like them… .
It was not until I figured I definitely have a cool skin tone to start changing my clothing choices and getting rid of a lot of pieces that just ‘don’t belong here no more’.
Another part of the discovery was to find out that I am a winter. Oh, how fun it is now to gradually be adapting changes. I love knowing what’s good. Its not just the fact that I have a pallette of colours to choose from. It’s knowing what to avoid that seems just as important. It’s the accessories and it’s power that when chosen accordingly add a sparkle (also to my eyes;). It’s the knowledge of ‘what with what’ that makes me excited for putting outfits together now. It’s also make up. I use less of it that I have for years to find that actually not much is needed when used in line with my skin tone.
I guess what I am trying to say is that nothing seems more important and exciting than doing whats right for you. YOU are timeless and so is your style. Of course it will change with time, just like your life and that is amazing but we really don’t need to be buying a whole new wardrobe every time a new trends come.
I want to share couple of pictures taken by me recently to let you see for yourselves how, just by changing few colours, a face can come to life and even smile more 😉
I hope you can see that the first picture illustrates how the ‘positive’ colours can make me feel and look more radiant, healthier and generally more happy. The second one, I used much more eye make up, the same foundation and blush as on the first one, but different lipstick. I am definitely not happy with the result on that one. I don’t like looking pale, ashy and tired. Choice of jewellery can have a great impact too. Generally speaking whatever is the closest to your face will have an effect on your appearance.
The following pictures proved to me that I really don’t need to be drowning my eyes with heavy make up to make them ‘pop’. It is much more important to make my completion healthy and do nothing to ruin that. So less really is more. I am no make up expert and I often have up to 5 minutes to do make up. That is why lately more than ever I treat myself to my shade of red. Apart from little foundation, bronzer or/and blush and mascara I add nothing else. I’m happy with this 😉
To sum up I NEED to share this. When working with my clients I ask them who their style inspiration is. I am often surprised and it is always interesting to see who and what is it that they like and get inspired by. One of my first clients, an absolutely amazing and inspiring woman, opened my eyes. I love the fact that every client teaches me something and makes me want to do better every time. It is so exciting to be sharing ideas and experiences with them. I always take pictures of clients (not always publish them though). We put outfits together and I want them to keep reference to make getting dressed easier once our time together ends but also for them to see the transformation. This lady picked one photo from our session and messaged me saying “Gosia, on this picture, I am an ICON for myself.” ( and I don’t think she meant a style icon only, she meant a life icon ). I still tear up when I think of it. This was one of the most inspiring and rewarding things to hear ever. I thanked her for it and said I couldn’t be happier to hear it. I realized that this is IT. That’s how I wish every women feels about herself. Has a picture of herself from the past or present close by and gets INSPIRED BY HERSELF. Doesn’t want to look like another Kardashian, the world is full of them already. YOU are the ONE AND ONLY. Please accept yourself, love and have fun just like you deserve to. That is my wish this Christmas for all you ladies. Be empowered by YOU. For me it is colour that gives me the power and fills days with fun. I hope you know or find whatever it is that you need to be happy and inspired, to keep smiling.
“Style is a deeply personal expression of who you are, and every time you dress, you are asserting a part of yourself.” -Nina Garcia
Would love to hear from you. Please share if you liked the post. Let me know if you didn’t too and I would love to hear suggestions for the future.
Love,
Gosia