The Colour of November
Did you know?
There are not many yellow gemstones in the world of jewels but the month of November can claim two of them as official birthstones.
The birthstone for November is yellow topaz
Pure topaz is transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine or straw-yellow. They may also be white, green, pink, blue, or even a reddish yellow. Some are transparent or translucent. - Yellow topaz is the symbol of friendship, and symbolises sobriety, clemency, faithfulness, and gentleness.
Yellow topaz is sometimes called ‘precious topaz’ to distinguish it from the names ‘gold topaz’ and ‘madeiria topaz’, which are in fact citrine (quartz). Yellow topaz is sometimes heat treated to make it look pink. The term ‘imperial topaz’ is used by ethical jewellers to refer to topaz that is reddish orange of medium tone and higher saturation; this is very rare.
- The Egyptians believed that topaz was a very powerful amulet against harm, because it had the golden glow of the all-seeing sun god Ra
- The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter, who also is their sun god. They believed that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight.
- The ancient Greeks believed that topaz had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible in times of emergency!
Today the most popular choice for a November birthstone is citrine
- Citrine is a variety of quartz
- Citrine is similar in colour to yellow topaz
- It has ferric impurities, and is rarely found naturally. Most commercial citrine is in fact artificially-heated amethyst or smoky quartz.
- Brazil is the leading producer of citrine
- It is nearly impossible to tell cut citrine from yellow topaz visibly
- Citrine costs only ten percent of the price of precious topaz
- Large citrines were extremely popular during the Art Deco period between the two World Wars. In the 1930s massive and elaborate Deco-inspired pieces which included citrine were made for Hollywood stars like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford
- Citrine - from ‘citrus’ (Latin) a citron (a fruit like a lemon)
- Citrine attracts abundance and personal power. It raises self-esteem, and symbolises lightness and joy
- The 13th year wedding anniversary is represented by citrine, and also by lace!
And if your birthday is in November, you might enjoy this:
Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.
(from a Gregorian birthstone poem)
So the colour for November is yellow but can YOU wear it?
Yellow is ostensibly a warm colour, usually glowing with golden, honey tones so beware of plastering yourself in yellow from head to foot until you know how it’s going to make you look:
- healthy, able and efficient? or
- ghastly, pale and liable to keel over?
Yellow gemstones may be the flavour of the current month, but if they make you look as though you’re about to pass out, then give them a miss or wear them in combination with your very best colours. If you’d like to have a bash at wearing yellow - and be prepared for a kindly but overzealous stranger to strap you to a stretcher if it doesn’t work out - then here are some suggestions for you to try:
- SPRING - Golden Yellow, Buff, Saffron, Daffodil Yellow
- SUMMER - Lemon
- AUTUMN - Amber, Gold, Pumpkin, Mustard, Goldenrod
- WINTER - Icy Lemon
Not so easy for Summers or Winters, is it? It is just so darned difficult to find a cool yellow at all, anywhere, especially in the shops.
If you want to find out which season you are, whether you can wear yellow at all, which shade of yellow makes you look gorgeous, then book to see a professional colour consultant - you ARE worth it and, with Christmas looming on the horizon, you could ask for a consultation (or a gift voucher) as a gift from those who love you!
Use what you know
(sub-titled, ‘Yukky in yellow’)
As a typical dark-haired, pale-skinned, bright-eyed Winter, I look ruddy awful in any shade of yellow. Just hold anything yellow within 100 yards of me and I start to turn green. I have nothing whatsoever, remotely yellow in my wardrobe and wouldn’t be caught dead in it.
BUT, once upon a time, hundreds of years ago, when I worked in a job that I hated, in an office that I loathed, for a boss that I thought was an incompetent dipstick (poor darling), I kept one yellow top in my wardrobe, just for emergencies.
And every now and then, when I had had more than enough and couldn’t possibly stand one more day of this smug corporate idiocy, I would wear it, usually on a Thursday. And you could bet your bottom dollar that some kind soul would always become concerned and say, “Oh, Kim. You look absolutely awful. You’re really pale. Shouldn’t you be at home?”
I rest my case!
Would you like a free training day with me?
BONUS TRAINING DAY
This one-day training course is a complimentary bonus worth more than £600 and is only available when you order the self-study DVD-based training course ‘Colour Analysis Training in a Box’ between now and 30th November 2008.
2 dates
6 PLACES on each
first come, first served, and then they’re gone!
Bespoke bonus training - more information
Order your self-study training kit before the end of November, then take a couple of months to work through the course and perhaps practise on friends and family. By then you’ll be ready for this complimentary full day of training and business development:
- Ask me all your burning questions about colour, the course itself, draping, clients, marketing, the tools of the trade, in fact anything at all that I can help with to do with your colour training and any business issues that you may have
- Meet and chat with other trainees who are exactly where you are - each group member will have completed the self-study ‘Colour Analysis in a Box’ course within the previous 2 - 3 months
- lots more training content ideas
I will also have some great ideas for you to take away with you, including:
- Hints and tips on working with your drapes
- How to build your customer base
- Tried and tested marketing methods for your business
For all the training details including choice of dates, the location, content, and how to order your ‘Colour Analysis in a Box’
12 PLACES ONLY
First come, first served, and then they’re gone!
You need to move fast
Order either ‘Colour Analysis in a Box‘ or ‘Complete Colour Analysis Training Kit‘ before 30th November 2008 to qualify for a full day of complimentary bonus training and business development with me, here in sunny Chesterfield.
- Read all about this fabulous training opportunity
- ORDER TODAY
And if you prefer face-to-face training
Colour Analysis
next two-day training course
Monday and Tuesday 2nd / 3rd February 2009
2 places only remaining
Easy payment plan available
All the training details here
Accessories Workshop: Last chance to book
For our one-time only, NEVER TO BE REPEATED
Update your wardrobe without spending a fortune; discover more about Colour and Style through accessories
Satruday 15th November
All the workshop details are on the website
Payment plan available
DON’T MISS THIS or you will kick yourself
- 6 places only
- One date only
- Never to be repeated
Transform your wardrobe immediately with this fabulous, fun workshop - We have no intention of running these workshops ever again so don’t miss out!
BOOK WORKSHOP NOW
You will absolutely love this. I’ll see you there!
