Why Colour Analysis & Body Shape Analysis are good for your self-esteem
I have a lot of female clients who say really really unkind things about themselves when they’re sitting in my colour stylist’s chair. The kind of unkind things they would never say to anyone else. Really brutally unkind things about their own bodies, faces, and selves. They’ll dismiss their pale skin as hideous, or their ‘thin’ lips as horrific. Their bodies as lumpen or ugly. I think I used to be the same as this too. Sometimes I still catch myself being critical and put myself straight.
It’s a trap I think we all fall into early in our lives, as we learn - through other women, our mothers, and yes, men in our lives and surrounds - to be critical about our bodies from a very early age.
One of the reasons I love colour (and body shape) analysis so much is because it’s just that, analysis, no judgement. In my online and in-person colour and shape analysis sessions, we’re only looking at what colours and clothing do to your shape and face, we’re not judging your shape or complexion. If a colour looks amazing on you, I’m going to point it out! But equally I’m going to point out when a colour is doing you no favours at all. It’s not (too) emotional.
Fundamentally, we all know different clothing shapes and colours make us look really great, or not so great, but we blame it on ourselves, rather than on the (wrong) clothes and colours for our amazing bodies.
I know myself that being a warm Spring season, with a larger upper frame than lower (I.e. I’m slightly out of proportion) that I do not feel my best in oversized clothing that overwhelms my petite body (I’m also 5ft 2), and I need things cut on the shoulder to hang right on me. Plus I like a bit of movement and fluidity in my fabrics so that my clothes don’t look blocky or square.
Wearing one of my favourite colours, a peachy coral, and fabric with movement.
I also know I look really sick in dark colours and in particular black. So, I don’t wear them. I know I glow in corals, and peach and warm lights and brights, so I stick to that.
Colour (and body shape) analysis gives you the tools to know what not to wear, as much as what to wear. But I also think understanding your body shape and which colours suit you best, cuts through a lot of the self-criticism, and is a good starting point for a better relationship with your body and face. We shouldn’t be living in bodies we hate or criticise on a regular basis - this will cause unnecessary stress and illness over time, and you will NEVER FEEL ALIGNED. It’s never you or your body that’s wrong, you’ve just been using the wrong tools.
Colourfully,
Jenny