How to use your swatches & shop for your colours on Kettlewell Colours

Once you’ve had a colour analysis consultation, you’ll make fewer mistakes by shopping for colours that you know flatter your physical features.

Using your swatches

Armed with your fabric swatches, you’ll be keen to find a colour ‘match’. One thing worth noting is your swatches are made from cotton, so the colour will look different on garments made from different fabrics. What this means in practice is that the colour isn’t ‘wrong’, but it’s unlikely to be an identical ‘match’.

By way of an example, this jacket is pretty much the same as the ‘claret’ in my ‘soft’ dominant swatches. But, it’s not an identical ‘match’ to the cotton swatch, because it’s not cotton – but it’s almost the same! A ‘warm’ client matching her swatches in cotton and cotton blended tops.

The three elements of colour are explained during your colour analysis and you can apply this knowledge to your clothes. If you make your own, it applies to your fabric.

If you’re looking for inspiration on combining your colours together, revisit this video.

Introducing Kettlewell Colours

Kettlewell Colours are in the South West of England and offer a choice of over 300 coloured garments. They’re a great source if you’re shopping for a specific colour. As a registered Colour Stylist, you can shop using my links/discount codes, and I’ll receive a payment from them when you do.

Clothes are categorised by seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter and tonal direction; light, deep, warm, cool, clear and soft.

With a tonal colour analysis, you’ll have a ‘dominant’ colouring type (one of six with 24 possible categories), rather than one of four seasons. Your refined palette of colours include your ‘sub-dominant’ colouring types which compliment your overall physical features (hair colour, eye colour, skin tone).

Whilst I’ve covered how to find your colours previously, they’ve revamped their website which changes how you find your colours.

How to shop for your colours on Kettlewell from August 2024 onwards

In this video, I’m sharing three ways to search for your colours. Watch it on YouTube here.

If you do need more advice, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help

If you’re a new customer, get in touch for a discount code.

How to find the right fit in your shoes

If you’ve ever had difficulty buying shoes then you’ll know how important it is to find the right fit.

Shoes are just like clothes; size alone cannot be relied upon as styles and brands can have a different fit. You’ll still want the right colour and right style just like you do with your clothes and makeup and you wouldn’t buy clothes which don’t fit you…right?

Monday 23 January is ‘national measure your feet day’ – random I know! But, it seemed like the best day to tackle this subject and let you know about a new event – more on that shortly.

The perfect fit

What makes one pair of shoes comfortable to one woman, can be very different to another.

Your shoes like your clothes should fit nice and comfortably. Not too tight nor too loose, not too big or too small. If your heel slips out of the shoe when you walk then they are probably too big and it’s worth dropping down a half size if there is one. Using slips or insoles to fill gaps means they aren’t the perfect fit, so why compromise?

Should you find the skin on your foot sits higher than the shoe, it’s likely they are too small so you’ll need to go up in sizing or try a wider fit. Too tight and there’s more chance they’ll rub and cause blisters.

Most people do have one foot that is slightly bigger, so choose the size for this foot. Do try them on both feet too – I’ve yet to meet anyone who goes out wearing just one shoe! The shoes need to feel comfortable on both feet (hence the trying on) and a walk around will give you an opportunity to see if they pinch, rub, slop or generally feel uncomfortable.

Whilst you may be given one of those little foot socks like a pair of tights to try them on with, if you’re likely to wear socks with them, do bare this in mind. They may feel vastly different with a pair of socks when you get them home.

A general rule of thumb is to shop for shoes in the afternoon as most people’s feet swell as the day goes on. So, if you’ve bought them online, try them on in the afternoon.

Measure your feet

I haven’t had my feet measured since I was at school and perhaps you’re the same? But, knowing this will help you identify the right fit and style for your feet. Just because it’s a size 5 does not mean it’s the right size 5 for you, Cinderella!

Some stores will measure your feet and there are some foot measuring devices online too. But, here’s a guide to follow, remembering to do this in the afternoon of course.

1. Place your foot on a flat surface on a piece of paper. If you’re unsteady, stand with your heel against a straight edge like a wall or sit on a chair.
2. Draw around both feet with a pen or pencil and measure the distance from the back of the heel to the end of the longest toe. (You could also place a ruler beside your foot and measure the distance from the back of your heel to the end of your longest toe. Or, use a tape measure to measure the same distance.)
3. Note the length in millimetres (or inches if you prefer) from the tip of your longest toe to your heel as described above. This is the full length of your foot and one may be larger than the other.
4. Mark the widest points of your feet if using a piece of paper and measure the distance between the points to find your foot width. Again, one could be wider than the other. (You can also use a tape measure all around the widest part of your foot.)

Here’s some size chart guide from Clarks, Nike and M&S. You’ll notice even these differ in sizes! This demonstrates why it’s important to know the actual size of your own feet so you can get the right fit from the store you’re shopping at.

Heels

How comfortable you find heels is down to fit, shape, style and your foot arch. If you’ve struggled in the past, it could be the style or height which isn’t right for you and doesn’t mean you’re banished to flats. These might not be right for you either! If you feel unsteady, a block heel, wedge or platform sole will offer much more support and comfort versus a thin, narrow or very high heel.

To find the perfect height for you, you’ll need your measurement of your foot from above.

Convert it into centimetres and divide by 7. This is your healthiest heel height. Let me know if you agree.

Shopping for shoes

Now you know how to work out your specific foot measurements, it might explain why you’ve struggled with specific brands or styles and help you shop with your specific foot in mind.

Some people shop on colour (especially if they’ve had a colour analysis consultation!) or you’re looking for a specific colour to go with an outfit for a wedding or special occasion. Sometimes, you’ll be looking for a pair of new shoes or boots for the new season. If you’ve had a style and image consultation, you might even be shopping for your personality or to fill a gap in your wardrobe.

Personally, I find nothing beats touching, trying them and even a little sniff (if that’s your thing)!

Shoe shopping exclusive event – 30 March

With this in mind, I am delighted that at the end of March I’ve got a shoe specialist coming along to the studio. Having known Helen for a few years (and bought her Noe sneakers), she trained as a colour and style consultant who now has her own shoe shop. Based in Belfast, she’ll be travelling over to Yorkshire to visit my studio in Wakefield to showcase her range.

Helen will bring a range of shoes, boots and sandals in different sizes, colours and styles. Due to her training, her shoes are like no other you’ll find on the high street. Specifically sourced from a limited range of suppliers with specific colours and styles in mind to help women find shoes that compliment their colouring, style and their wardrobes. It will be well worth you coming along to browse the range. If you’ve got a specific event coming up, or outfit which you’ve been struggling with (or putting off buying), bring it along. With advance notice, Helen can also bring along some specific options based upon your needs.

Browse the range here.

Helen will return in 2024. Be sure to register your interest to be kept informed (select ‘shopping events’)

This is an exclusive event. You're welcome to bring a guest but you must reserve your place

To reserve your place or request specific advice, send an email to: toni.carver@tlcstyleandcolour.co.uk

How to shop for your colours

When you know the shades of colours which make you look fabulous, you’ll make fewer shopping mistakes. It’s the top thing I’m told when people come to me to ‘get their colours done’!

Learning your colouring type and how to wear colour makes it so much easier to identify what suits you. You’ll find you’re able to create more outfits from what you have. Over time, your wardrobe becomes more coordinated – it just takes a little practice.

Armed with your fabric swatches from your colour consultation, you’ll be keen to shop for your colours.

How to shop for your colours

If you’re on the hunt for a specific colour, take a look at Kettlewell Colours. They’re a great clothing source with good staple items in a variety of colours, aimed at people who’ve had a colour analysis. Browse the range here: https://www.kettlewellcolours.co.uk. (There’s also a link on my ‘shop‘ page.)

Their clothes are primarily designed and organised by seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter, as Melissa (the owner) was seasonally analysed and struggled finding her colours all year round.

If you’ve had a colour analysis by a colour me beautiful consultant in the last 15 years, you’ll have been TONALLY analysed but you can still shop on Kettlewell.

With a tonal analysis. you’ll learn your “dominant’ and ‘sub-dominant’ colouring type, based upon the colour of your hair (as it is now), your skin tone and your eye colour. Your dominant colouring type will be one of six , rather than one of four seasons – light, warm, deep, clear, cool or soft. The tonal system of analysis is what I use in my colour analysis consultations. (find out more here).

I’ve created a video to demonstrate how you can search for your colours on their website. It makes searching online for pieces much easier!

Kettlewell update their collection regularly and they have a much wider selection of colours than you’re likely to find on the high street.

Watch the video on shopping for your colours here (updated August 2024): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EetQqPc5C4g

The latest colour and style trends is available through my seasonal updates which are updated twice per year. You’ll find more details here.

If you do get stuck or need some advice, get in touch and I’ll be happy to help.

Register your interest in ‘seasonal updates‘ and you’ll be eligible for a pre-launch offer each October and April.