Style wise, it’s been about four months since I discovered a whole new world of colour.

And as I said a few months ago on the blog, regarding what I wear and how I look, it’s been a total game changer. For those of you thinking “what on earth is she waffling on about?!” let me quickly explain. Back in November I went to a studio to undergo colour analysis which determines what kind of colours suit you and vice versa.

Harry from House Of Colour Huddersfield took me through the whole process and in the end it was determined that as colours go, I am a ‘Vibrant Autumn’ which means I look best in rich, earthy colours with depth such as chocolate brown, orange, saffron and geranium red and pretty horrific in black, grey and navy (the three colours I always wore!)

You can read all about my experience here if you fancy learning more about what it entailed and how we came to that conclusion, but in a nutshell, it was one hell of an eye opening experience! (And one I’d recommend to anyone.) Just a few hours after my consultation, fired up with my newfound knowledge, I was back at home sorting through my wardrobe, with my trusty assistant little Elsie (!) who loved rummaging through my possessions and playing dress up as I got tough and ditched around two thirds of my wardrobe. In a flash.

Since having ‘my colours done’ I’ve shared a number of updates on social media (Instagram mainly) which have proven really popular and have also been contacted by so many of you who were eager to know more and experience it for yourself. So I thought it would be a really good idea to tell you how I’ve been getting on with my new colours, over the past four months or so.

I hope it’ll give you some idea how much of a difference it has made to me and the impact it has had. But as always, if you’ve got any questions, just holler or get in touch! I could talk about colour analysis and the impact it’s had on me all day long… *winks*

I HAVEN’T WORN BLACK NEAR MY FACE

I can’t tell you how much of a big deal this is my friends, but if you can imagine for one second, someone who was always drawn to black dresses and black tops and spent around 90 per cent of her life wearing black, hopefully it will give you some idea!

Bar one time (when a black shirt with white stars was the only clean thing I had to wear and I was in a rush to get out of the house to take Elsie to watch Disney On Ice) I have not worn black near my face since having my colours done! Astonishing huh? I’ve worn black tights and black boots and I have kept four black items in my wardrobe that I love and may well wear again ( two black party dresses, a black jumpsuit and a black blazer) but I think it’s safe to say black is no longer a colour I’m drawn to or indeed one that I still love.

Funnily enough on Friday I tried on my black blazer for the first time in months as I realised I needed a lighter coat to wear and as soon as I popped it on, I instantly disliked how it looked and ended up replacing it for a coat that was a bit too warm to wear but looked so much better. So that blazer may well end up in a charity bag soon too.

If you think you can’t ditch the black, do think again. Seriously I reckon if I can do it, anyone can.

BUT I AM STILL WEARING SOME WHITE

I’ve ditched all the cold icy whites which, like the black, look absolutely awful on me, but anything more cream or ivory in colour I’ve kept and still wear from time to time. Admittedly they’re not colours I look amazing in but I feel they’re OK and can actually work pretty well if I team them with accessories in my wow (best) colours.

I’VE CHANGED MY MAKE UP

One of the things I was least impressed with at my colour consultation was being told that I’d have to ditch black mascara and swap it for brown! Haha! Sorry Harry! At the time I remember thinking quite clearly, not a chance in hell, but it turns out I know nothing.

Because four months in, yep you guessed it, during the day I now tend to opt for a chocolate brown mascara over my old beloved black and the same goes for eyeliner too. (I would just like to point out here how hard it is to find a decent brown mascara though, so if anyone has any recommendations for a good one, I’ll love you forever!)  I do still adore black eyeliner and mascara and will never ditch them completely but even I have to admit that when it comes to daylight, brown mascara and eyeliner looks so much softer and lovelier on me.

As for lipstick and blush, well I’ve ditched anything pink in colour or anything with a blue tone and treated myself to a new red lipstick that actually suits me as well as a few other browner / more orangey ones. And when it comes to eyeshadow, I’ve been experimenting with browns, greens and golds and leaving my previously trusty smokey greys alone. I never thought I’d see the day…

SHOPPING IS EASIER

It really is and I got all the proof I needed on Friday when I went shopping with my sister. Both of us have recently had our colours done ( my Sister is a ‘Paintbox Spring’) and armed with that knowledge, found that we shopped like pros on Friday, generally only being drawn to things in our colour. As different seasons, what was also brilliant was that we were also able to help and spot things for each other too.

Walking into a store and finding items to try on was so much easier and faster than previously and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to actually have less choice if that makes sense? (Is it just me or do you find yourself becoming overwhelmed by how much stuff there is too when you hit the shops?) We both went home with new items that we love, after trying everything on and ditching anything that didn’t make us look or feel good.

BUT I’VE BROKEN THE RULES A BIT

It doesn’t surprise me that I’m admitting to this because I’m definitely a rebel at heart! But whilst it’s true that having my colours done has most definitely changed me (for the better) I have to be honest and say that sometimes, personally, I think that if it feels right, sometimes it’s good to break the rules a bit or, to put it another way, do what works for you.

So for instance, on Friday on that successful shopping trip i’ve just been telling you about, I bought a vibrant geranium red jumper (which is one of my wow colours) but…I also bought a black and cream pleated skirt (definitely not one of my colours) because it was just so beautiful AND because it looks killer with the red jumper. Sometimes rules, particularly style rules, are there to be broken. (In my book anyway.)

ONLINE SHOPPING CAN BE TRICKY

I do the vast majority of my shopping online just because it makes me life so much easier and because carting Leo and Elsie around the shops isn’t much fun!

But whilst it’s easy, it certainly can be a little bit tricky when you see something in one of your colours because often you can’t really tell what shade a colour is until it arrives and you see it in the flesh. To be fair I think I’ve done pretty well in ordering some new clothes online but I have had a couple of instances in which something has arrived and it’s been a very different shade and tone than what I was expecting! So it’s always worth bearing that in mind.

IT’S MADE ME MORE ADVENTUROUS

Finally, and I’ve saved the big ‘un for last, having my colours done has most definitely made me more adventurous and thoughtful when it comes to how I dress.

As a mum to two children, one being just 13 months old, I think it’s safe to say that – as is often the way – I’ve kind of lost my style a bit over the past few years, what with pregnancy and breastfeeding and general all round busyness! But having my colours done is beginning to change that and even though I know I haven’t quite got things ‘spot on’ yet, I’m pretty proud to say that it’s already having a big impact and making me feel so much happier about how I dress and what I buy.

If you’re stuck in a clothing rut and can’t find your way out of the fog, colour analysis is – in my opinion – a really good place to start.