A Colour Analysis Session with Stylist Laura Fawcett

My best friend Rachael was the catalyst to me reaching out to stylist Laura Fawcett for a colour analysis session. Rachael had wanted to experience colour analysis for years and I too had been intrigued to see if I was dressing in the palette which suited me best, especially as I’m often on camera filming for my social channels, and for TV under bright lights!

I’d kindly been offered colour analysis when I’d lived down south but didn’t know of anyone providing this service in Yorkshire. After meeting Laura at the opening of Phase Eight in Victoria Gate, Leeds, last June, however, I was in luck as she’s a trained colour analyst as well as a stylist, and lovely to boot! Meeting up at my parents’ house, as mine is still undergoing renovations, Laura gave Rachael and I an in-depth look at which colours and tones suited us best spanning hair colour, jewellery and of course clothes, and we had an absolute blast!

Let’s start from the start.

What is colour analysis?

Colour analysis is a way to assess which colours which suit you. Examining skin colour, eye colour, the ‘temperature of your skin’ so how warm or cold you might be, and the contrast of your features results in you assigned to one of twelve colour seasons. Each season comes with its own colour palette and whilst it’s fairly prescriptive, it feels deeply personal when you discover which palette is best suited to you. It’s like a light bulb goes off, especially as Laura places different coloured material by your face and you can see with your own eyes in the mirror, exactly how transformative ‘your colours’ are!

Now colours are deemed warm, cool or neutral. Yellow, orange and red are usually associated with warmth, whereas purple, blue, and green appear cooler. This doesn’t mean all red tones are warm and all purples are cool. There’s a scale.

People with a more yellow undertone to their skin tend to look better with warmer colours and those with cooler undertones are suited to colder colours.

When it came to the colours which suited me, unsuprisingly, they were warm. I’m a Deep Autumn which encompasses warm and dark shades of late autumn and winter. I was born in November which is late autumn although I’m sure that’s purely coincidental and has no bearing on colour analysis. The palette for me, spans from mustard and orange to burgendy and browns. Berry, plum, turquoise and emerald work well too.

I was surprised how much earthy tones suit me. I rarely wear brown for example but will do more now!  Bright white and grey definitely don’t suit me. Ivory and warmer tones of blue like turquoise are my colours. I was shocked that pastels don’t suit me as I used to wear a lot of pale pink growing up and particularly on my book tour! My local charity has received several bags of clothes since this session! I’ve in turn bought new items from them and also Vinted as well as some high street stores.

Both gold and silver jewellery suited me thankfully, but gold more so, which was a relief when it came to both my platinum and gold pieces and ditto with my hair colour as both brown and gold hair colours suit me which is exactly what I have: brown hair with golden highlights (to hide my greys)!

This session has revolutioned the way I shop, the colours I use for make up now, with more peachy tones for my lips and cheeks, and golds and browns for eye shadow.

I even swapped my black liquid liner for brown liner which is softer and suits me more.

I feel more confident knowing which colours illuminate my face and suit me, something so useful postpartum as I’m rediscovering myself.

Laura placed different materials next to my face and it was incredible how some literally lit me up when others dulled my complexion. Black was fine but there were colours which popped more on me such as khaki and aubergine.

When it came to Rachael, she discoverd she is a Winter and suited cooler shades as her skin is cooler and her eyes are green.

The session is going to help her transform her work wardrobe as well as her more relaxed weekend wear, and we both agreed it was not only incredibly insightful but also fun. Laura is a magnetic, bubbly character who really knows her stuff. She puts you are ease and arms you with all the info you need to feel your best.

Her purpose is to help women feel their most confident and this colour analysis, really does just that.

I’ve been living in black clothes since having my third child, Florence, and this session has prompted me to wear and buy more colour in my Deep Autumn palette.

It was the kickstart I needed and will help save me money in the long-run as I will only purchase exactly what suits me best. I stocked up on some make up too which has been a further confidence-boost.

You can see how more brown and golds look when I had professional make up done last week at ITV, and whilst my dress is black it has peachy flowers, which work well for me.

Thanks so much Laura!

Do check out Laura’s website here and get in touch with her if you would like a colour analysis or styling session. She runs parties, corporate events and well as 1:1 sessions.

Laura is based in York but can also work on Zoom.

This was a gifted experience but as always my words are honest and my own.