Many of you will be familiar with the concept that people (mostly) fit into one of four colour palettes* which can be matched to the 4 seasons - two of which are warm in tone (spring and autumn) and two of which are cool (summer and winter). I know it sounds fiendishly complicated so let me introduce you to the founder of Kettlewell, a clothing line which quite brilliantly offers you all of their styles according to your seasonal palette. The founder, Melissa has been running the business for fifteen years with her husband John. Like all good entrepreneurs, Melissa spotted a huge gap in the market when, after a colour consultation with a stylist, she was told that she was a ‘bright spring.’ It was winter at the time and Melissa, armed with her perfect colour swatches, could find nothing in the shops that matched her needs. So, she started a business to do just that.

Like Melissa, I also ‘had my colours done’ many years ago and was happy to discover that my natural attraction to navy, grey and black clothes, maybe with a touch of fuchsia pink, was actually the right choice for someone like me who was a ‘vibrant winter’ and therefore very decidedly cool toned. Therefore, when I launched LFF, I knew that choosing the right colours for your eye, cheek and lip makeup according to whether you are cool or warm-toned could make all the difference to your overall appearance. So, the approach that we take to helping you to choose the perfect makeup colours for your face is the same approach that Kettlewell takes in helping you to find the styles and colours that suit you best. I wholeheartedly endorse what Melissa says: “I’ve always believed that we look our best in clothes (and I’d add makeup) that inspire and uplift us - those magical, colourful pieces in our wardrobe that spark joy the moment we put them on.”

I am all for sparking joy, so in my recent shopping trips for a few new items for my winter wardrobe I have assiduously avoided the racks and racks of black, navy and grey items that create an immediate pull when I am browsing in clothes shops. This has resulted in my purchase of a red coat, a cornflower blue blouse and a pair of bright pink trousers (see below). It has also resulted in an invitation to Melissa and John (acting as cameraman) to come to my house with a range of their clothes in a ‘winter’ palette in order to encourage me to be a bit more adventurous with my colour choices. I had such an inspiring day which I want to share with you in this video below of Melissa and I chatting about the importance of colour, followed by the photographs which John took of each of the Kettlewell items that I tried. We also filmed a video of Melissa having a beautiful makeover using warm toned LFF products, which you can see here.

Kettlewell

My 3 Recent Colourful Purchases

I especially loved the Kettlewell Merino Crossover in sapphire with the white lace camisole, accessorised with the Cashmere Gauze Stole in fuchsia. I was also amazed at how striking that dark emerald green Verity Lace Blouse was and how much it suited me, because I’d never have chosen that for myself in a million years, but it’s now on my ‘wish list’ as a really gorgeous Christmassy look.  

Do share your thoughts below as I really welcome your contributions. Are you also trying to eschew black, navy, grey (and maybe the dreaded beige!) in favour of something brighter and more uplifting?

*Go to Kettlewell’s Colour Quiz to find out if you are Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter.

I have not been paid for my endorsement of Kettlewell.