How to Find Your Colour Palette

STEP 1 - FILM YOURSELF

Since starting my YouTube channel, it has become much clearer to me which colours suit me and which don't. You can read up on David Zyla and David Kibbe but the simplest and fastest way to tell which colours work for you is by using your camera.

Don't use the selfie camera on your phone - it has a softening effect and you won't see a true representation of what you look like in the clothes. You are best using an actual camera if you have one, or using the non-selfie camera on your phone (technical language in this blog post isn't it). You could use a tripod or ask someone to film you.

Then, transfer the files to your laptop so you can see the footage properly. You'll immediately know if what you're wearing brings out your eyes, makes your hair shine and warms up your skin.

In the above screenshot from one of my videos, you can see that the grey marl jumper I'm wearing brings out the grey-blue of my eyes, but also the make-up I'm wearing helps them to stand out, so I know that a smoky eye in neutral colours suits me well.

STEP 2 - REACH FOR COLOURS YOU ALREADY LOVE

One problem I have with the traditional, complicated ways of finding your colour palette is that they are a bit limiting. They suggest that you should only wear the colours that supposedly work for your 'season'. According to online quizzes, I'm a deep winter (I think) and I should wear jewel tones such as bold purples. Not my style at all.

However, I do love a deep burgundy and dark forest greens. Chances are, if you love a colour, it probably does suit you. If you're unsure, pair the item with make-up that you know warms up your skintone. I am naturally very pale and can look washed out if I wear the wrong colours, so I often wear a red lip with those outfits since I know - from filming videos! - that it suits me.

STEP 3: GO WITH YOUR GUT

Sometimes you just know a colour works for you. Sometimes you'll try something on in a changing room and it will immediately brighten your features. When that happens, make a note of the colour and keep an eye out for pieces you love.

I have a hot pink swimsuit that I always felt suited me well, so when I was looking for an interesting new colour to add to my summer wardrobe, I decided to buy some hot pink clothes. I picked up a crossbody bag from TKMaxx and an asymmetric tank top from Karen Millen ( similar linked here).

If you're not sure how to style colours, take a tip from a fellow neutrals-lover and pair the colourful item with white. It brings it out better than black and looks more unexpected.

STEP 4 - LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE

It's not often I advise you to care what other people think, especially when it comes to what you wear. However, it's always helpful when someone says a colour suits you since other people can often see it better than we can ourselves.

I absolutely love wearing green but wasn't sure if it suited me. Then I met up with the lovely Frances, who runs the brand @prettyaffluent over on Instagram, and she told me green was my colour. Now I wear it even more happily than I used to!

Since then, I've considered box dyeing my hair to save money, but two days in a row I had strangers tell me how good my green coat looked against my hair colour. Definitely a sign to keep my lovely friend Katrina as my hairdresser!

Adding a colourful coat to your wardrobe is a great way to add interest to your neutral outfits. Let me know your favourite colours in the comments!