Wondering whether the social media trend is worth the spend? We head to Strathaven to chat all things colour with personal styling service Style Me Flawless. Could this be the ultimate wedding planning tool?
As a winter, Numba's ideal neutral shades include grey and black like the stylish coat and jumper she models here (Photo: Sarah Paterson Photography)
Surprise! This Christmas baby is actually... a summer! Not sure what I’m on about? Let me explain.
Lately, my Instagram algorithm has been filling my feed with reel after reel of people discovering what ‘season’ they are.
What are colour seasons in fashion?
Well, the ‘season’ comes from a type of colour consultation referred to as ‘seasonal colour analysis’, during which a person’s eye colour, skin tone and natural hair colour are examined to determine their most flattering colour palette – from a selection of four options, characterised as spring, summer, autumn and winter.
"Numba spent a solid portion of the session ensuring I knew how to move forward and apply these colour-based principles in my day-to-day life"
So it’s fair to say I’ve been thoroughly influenced – after seeing everyone’s complexions positively glow thanks to their new season-curated wardrobes, curiosity got the better of me.
I mean, colour plays a part in nearly every aspect of our lives, so wouldn’t it be helpful to know more about the logic behind its application?
How do I determine what colour season I am?
That’s where the professionals come in and, luckily, the lovely Numba Pinkerton of Style Me Flawless was more than happy to slot me into her busy schedule.
Speaking of busy schedules, make sure you haven't missed an important wedding-planning step with the help of our timeline – covering everything from the engagement to the big day!
Fully trained to advise clients on all aspects of their image and style, Numba is a qualified personal stylist who provides a range of services including colour consultation, capsule wardrobe personal shopping and even corporate personal branding workshops.
The Style Me Flawless colour service (a two-hour consultation costing £165) aims to increase confidence in your overall appearance and re-energise the ‘chore’ that both dressing and shopping can easily become when we don’t truly love the items we own.
And while the service is a really worthwhile exercise at any time in your life, Numba shares that it can be particularly valuable ahead of major life events. Did someone say wedding?
"The two universal shades that everyone can safely reach for are navy and soft white"
Numba (left) draped in her winter palette shades and me in my summer palette
Alongside the use of drapes (as shown in the image above) to reveal that I am indeed a summer (which means that cool tones and lighter, more muted shades suit me best – yay for all my favourite pastels!), Numba spent a solid portion of the session ensuring I knew how to move forward and apply these principles in my day-to-day life.
What can I learn from a colour consultation?
For example, did you know that black is a cool-toned shade and doesn’t actually do much to flatter warm-toned individuals? It’s much more likely that they’ll really suit a deep brown.
If you are a spring or an autumn, and still love your black staples, wear them on your bottom half – garments worn closest to your face (tops and dresses) are the ones that carry the greatest impact.
The two universal shades that everyone can safely reach for are navy and soft white. So let’s say you have quite a diverse bridal party: navy (as well as certain shades of emerald/turquoise and red-based purples) would be a great choice for dress colours to help everyone look their best.
Soft white is a safe bet for any bride, but why not let a pro like Numba assess whether a cream or a pure white would really make you shine?
Final rating: 10 out of 10 – a definite recommendation ahead of your big day!
Numba shines in vibrant and deep hues like this bold purple and cool green ensemble (Photo: Sarah Paterson Photography)
