Interviews (3)

Premier Colour Consultant Jules Standish Teaches us how to Dress for Success

Following on from our last article in this series, where Jules Standish, top Stylist and Colour Consultant taught us how to find our perfect colours at home. We are now diving deeper into all things colour.  We learn more about the way Jules styles herself as well as finding out how to dress for success. After all, who wouldn't want the colours of their clothes to help them out in a job interview!  Since you are a Colour Analyst and a Stylist, when you get dressed in the morning what is it you focus on, colour, fit, style?  All of these things are important and should work together, not in isolation. Looking our best is about wearing styles that flatter our individual body shape, by highlighting the positives and camouflaging the negatives. The correct colours put health, attractiveness and youth into the face, so the total package is very empowering.  Whether we get up and do the school run, or go into a corporate environment, the image we portray is all about US, our message, so it’s important we can express ourselves in the way we want to be seen. Also creating a wardrobe that works for us, is not only ‘sustainable’ but can also save a fortune by never making expensive mistakes again.  My sense of style is based around my best colours and body shape which is boyish and angular, so I love to wear blazers and skinny jeans and trouser suits, with feminine shirts and waisted items that give me the illusion of shape! Jules wearing Bryony pencil dress Dresses like the gorgeous Diva one in the picture, is not only my most favourite colour, orange but my best dress shape, fitted, pencil with a high neck and for my age, flattering arm length - just perfect!!!  What do you think the best colours for Spring/Summer are?  Spring is a time of renewal, and new beginnings. In nature, spring heralds’ bright green new shoots and leaves and we get to experience a hit of glorious, joyful yellow in the daffodils and a burst of reds that give us the energy to get going again after the winter.  The Lydia pencil dress in one of this season's leading colours As well as our landscape, fashion turns bright too, and there are currently many pantone shades that are influencing our wardrobes, and whilst ‘classic blue’ leads the orchestra this year, there are others that appeared on the catwalk and have an impact on the high street, namely; fiesta orange-red, pink peacock, lemon verbena, and a lime green called Pepper Stem; these are all bright and bold and that’s what spring is all about.  Click here   for the pink dress, here for the orange dress, here for the lime dress and here for the yellow dress  Summer brings out the pastel shades just as the sun fades the landscape, so the colours get softer on the eye. Of course, one should always be mindful of wearing colours that suit our own palette, and not be swayed by what looks fabulous on someone else! Nature however, is a great colour guide for our senses.  Click here  for the pastel green swing dress, here for the coral pencil dress and here for the powder blue pencil dress  Should the colours you wear change seasonally or do their psychological benefits mean that one should stick to their personal palette year-round? Does a colour palette change as a person ages? Addressing the latter question first as it’s one I get asked all the time, and it’s important to understand that whilst its true our skin fades as age, as all our colouring does, it is my experience that our underlying skin tone remains the same because it is genetic. The key is to use different shades of your own colours, perhaps not as strong or bright as you would have done (although case in point Mary Berry a seasonal Spring who rocks bright, bold colours) when you were younger. The mistake often made by older women is matching hair colour that goes naturally grey or white to clothing, thereby sometimes negatively affecting the face, where the skin tone has remained the same just gone paler.  Hair colour is a major issue as we women do like to dye our hair, and this can often have an impact on not only our skin but our overall appearance. If the hair falls into a different category than the skin, take for example cool ash blonde hair on a warm complexion, then I have to look at matching ‘outerwear’ (what I consider secondary, worn away from the face) colours and keep the complexion looking fabulous by ensuring warm colours stay up against the face.  This pencil dress  is a great choice for those wanting to keep warmer colours close to their face I would like to point out that being unwell can also make the skin appear to have ‘changed’ as can someone who tans and finds they can wear different shades.  Again, it’s about keeping within one’s best palette and going stronger, darker, brighter, paler, depending on how the skin is looking and also how you are feeling.  Which leads us onto the first part of the question. It’s hard not to want to wear clothing that fits in with fashionable/seasonal changes. Some people get excited about moving from one season into another, changing up their wardrobes accordingly. However, you need to be aware that if you fit into a seasonal palette be it warm or cool and it really suits you; makes your skin glow and eyes shine, and that you feel really confident in, maybe you get complimented in your own ‘wow’ colours, its best to try and fit these in and around new fashions and seasonal changes that come and go.  Having your best colours in your wardrobe is one of the most important and ‘sustainable’ things you can do. Think how easy it could be to open the door every morning and instantly see all your best shades, right there, the colours that look the most flattering up against your face, your best neutrals too for outerwear? No anxiety and stress on what to wear, ease, confidence and quick decisions knowing that ANY combination will work, depending on what you are doing that day and how you are feeling. You’ve written a lot on how wearing particular colours can impact those around you, outlining particular colours as conducive for particular successes. We would love to learn more about this, would you be able to tell us which colours to wear for a; first date, a job interview, a wedding, and why?  Colours are wonderful communicators and each colour has a beneficial psychological impact on how we project ourselves and the image we want to portray.  Colour combinations are therefore powerful ways to harness different messages about ourselves in certain situations.   Let’s take the first date: what’s the aim, to express your personality whilst perhaps leaving your date wanting more? For a stunning date night look try the Furlong pencil dress, some red heels and a red bag for an extra romantic flare  My recommendation: choose black as a neutral, it’s mysterious and keeps things hidden, however too much can be intimidating, so team it with fun loving nurturing pink or fiery, attention grabbing red. Dating websites have found that men choose women in red more than other colours, possibly because red is seen as naturally fun loving.  Okay next on the list, a job interview (dependant of course on the industry): the aim is to be the best candidate for the role on offer, so choose blue, the colour of communication, trust and reliability. Plus, it helps to keep you feeling in control in this stressful situation. To view the left-hand dress click here, here for the top right and here for the bottom right However, wearing accents of colour will add balance to this calmer colour, like red, which shows your passion for the job, that you are someone with the drive and energy to get things done. If applying for a supportive role, green is a great choice, and yellow shows your sunny, optimistic nature. Finally, a wedding; if you are mother of the bride, consider your important role in the proceedings, your aim is not to steal the limelight but lead the celebrations and potentially be the mediator. However, it’s important you don’t end up being ‘invisible’ so think about wearing one of the lighter shades in the purple family, i.e. lilac can help with family tensions, then there is mint green, glorious for keeping things harmonious and orange in soft shades of coral, apricot or peach is all about optimism and sociability. View the lilac dress here, the coral swing dress here and the mint dress here. Learn more about mother of the bride dresses here Our last part in which Jules helps us learn how to find our own colours at home coming soon! Keep an eye out for the last article in this series, where we learn the science behind colours. 

Read more
dressing for success writing over an image of a model wearing diva catwalk pencil dresses

Top Stylist and Colour Consultant, Jules Standish, Teaches Us How To Achieve That ‘Wow Effect’

Ever wondered why some days you feel inexplicably drained, stressed or on edge? Or maybe you have noticed that yesterday you felt happier, more energetic and inspired than the day before, although your routine was exactly the same? Well, according to Jules Standish the colours you wear and encounter might just be the reason for this.  Jules Standish is a top Personal Stylist, Colour Consultant, a lecturer at London College of Style and author of the Amazon bestseller How Not To Wear Black. Jules is the authority on all things style, fashion and colour, having appeared on numerous national and international TV programs, radio shows and newspapers. Jules has kindly taken some time out of her packed schedule to talk to us about all thing colour and style and we couldn’t be more excited.  This is the first of a three-part series where we will learn why colour is so important, how it affects us and how to use it. In this article, we learn how we can all find our own colouring at home! But before we get into all that, its time to learn a little more about this colour guru.  Thank you so much for talking to us, we are so excited to learn more about you and about the fascinating practice of colour analysis! How did you get into it?  By default, actually, as I was training to be a stylist and the course I took at that time insisted (very wisely as it turned out for me!) I did the colour analysis bit first.  Once learnt, I had to practice on 20 case studies, and I had my ‘light bulb’ moment around number 5 when I watched in complete amazement at the incredible smile that appeared on this person’s face every time I put one of her ‘wow’ shades up against her complexion. I saw the skin look even and healthy and a youthful glow appear like an instant ‘face-lift’ and from that moment on, I watched as this transformation happened over and over again. I realised that colours had the potential to make someone not only look amazing, but feel fabulous too, and that I could help people have their own ‘light bulb’ moments in their best colours.  I then finished my full training and worked for many years as a stylist, colour consultant and personal shopper, which led me to write my first book in 2011 called How NOT to Wear Black.   Check out Jules' best selling How Not To Wear Black here and her latest The Essential Guide to Mindful Dressing here!  You have some really sophisticated ways of working out the best colours for people to wear, how can people at home work out their particular colours? Do you suggest those old-school ‘what season are you’ tests? Having a personal one-to-one colour analysis with a professional is always advisable. The Colour Analysis system I use is focussed on the skin first, hair and eyes second, where harmony is key.  A warm, yellow golden skin tone will harmonise best with any shade that has these as an underlying base and a cool, pink/blue based skin tone will do the same.  Here are a few quick draping tips to carry out in your own home: Get as much natural light on your face as possible Remove all make up  Pull hair off face Put a white towel around your neck and shoulders Find some different shades of colours in your wardrobe to try out Trial black to see if it suits you  Gold looks best on warm skin tones, silver on cool What you want to see: An even, healthy complexion Reduction of redness or skin blemishes No panda or dark shadows under eyes Lessening of lines and wrinkles Sparkly eyes, where the whites look brighter An all over glow The ‘Wow’ Smile effect  I teach my students that the colour should never shout first and WEAR the person.  Always imagine walking into a room, and on first impressions, is the person looking fabulous in the outfit, or are the clothes dominating the scene? Equally does someone get rendered invisible by the colours they have on, something that women as they age, often raise as a major issue, and colours should harmonise, not detract nor take centre stage. Here is a quick break down of each seasonal skin tone and how to recognise yours: Warm Skin-tone: SPRING Has an underlying yellow or gold skin-tone May blush, have a high cheek colour or broken veins Can either be very pale, freckled, with red/strawberry blonde or brunette Could also be dark skinned that tans well, with golden blonde or very dark hair Black up against your face makes you look tired and older  Best WOW Colours are WARM and BRIGHT: fiery red, turquoise, coral, golden yellow, bright emerald green with neutrals of camel, ivory, warm greys, dark blue, with bright gold jewellery.  Click here for the red dress, here for the coral here for the yellow and here for the emerald  Warm Skin-tone: AUTUMN You won’t have a rosy cheek You will have a golden undertone, and your hair will be golden blonde or chestnut, auburn or red, black with gold highlights The complexion may have a metallic/bronze appearance and tan deeply Black up against your face makes you look tired and older Best WOW Colours are WARM and MUTED: rust, burnt orange, teal, dark apricot, mustard yellow, khaki green with neutrals of warm browns, caramel, chocolate, cream, dark grey, blue with antique gold jewellery. To view the yellow dress click here, for the dark apricot dress here, for the burnt orange coloured dress here and the teal dress here Cool Skin-tone: SUMMER You will have a pink undertone Hair colour is ash blonde, cool light brown but no warmth  The complexion can be light and rather colourless You probably don’t tan well/golden  Black up against your face makes you look tired and older Your Best WOW Colours are COOL and PASTEL: raspberry red, carnation pink, powder blue, mint green, lavender and lilac with neutrals of taupe, pearl white, dove grey, navy and rose gold jewellery. To view the power blue swing dress click here, here for the lilac dress, here for the raspberry dress, here for the mint dress and here for the pink pencil dress Cool Skin-tone: WINTER If the skin is light/pale it will be milky white with no high colour on the cheeks, but blue veins may be present  Or the skin will be very dark or olive Hair will either be white, grey, ash blonde or black with no red or gold tones Your features will be strong and distinctive The key is that black looks fabulous up against your face  Your Best WOW Colours are COOL and DYNAMIC: Fuchsia pink, magenta, burgundy, plum, vibrant cool red, electric blue, forest green, cool emerald, ultraviolet purple with neutrals of brilliant white, black, charcoal grey, navy with silver jewellery. For the blue dress click here, for the magenta click here, for the ultraviolet click here and here for the forest green  DARK Skin-tones: African, West Indian, Asian, Oriental or Latin do not automatically fall into the Winter category, but may be able to wear darker shades of other seasonal colours.  The next article in this series where Jules teaches us how to use colour to dress for success coming soon...

Read more
Three Diva Catwalk Dresses with what's your colour written above