Improvability Blog

You could know everything on the planet that there is to know about colour, fashion, style, etc. but if you can’t get what you know across to your client in a way that SHE understands it, then your knowledge is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

If you train with me, we will look at how NOT bore to death or confuse your client (or yourself) with:

• irrelevant image-speak
• interminable draping
• unnecessary information

You’ll learn first about YOUR learning style and then how to work with clients who learn in a completely different way from you.

Most women (I hate to generalise but it’s true) are predominantly visual learners so will love the bit in the chair with the drapes, imagining how to put colours together, etc. but you can’t always rely on that.

For instance, if I was your client you’d probably have major problems.  I just don’t ’see’ colour naturally.  Sitting me in front of a mirror and draping me to within an inch of my life will not endear me to you, I’m afraid, because I will not ’see’ what you see.  My dominant learning style is auditory (digital, if you prefer the NLP approach) so until you write it down or tell me a story about it, I wouldn’t have a clue what you’re on about.

In May 2009 I had my colours re-done because I’d gone blonde after a lifetime of being a brunette.  I whined to the consultant, “This draping business is going to be an utter waste of my time,” but as she has known me for years she was able to tell me in no uncertain terms, “Yes, but I need to see it even if you don’t!”

For Natalia, she needed to ’see’ the colours.  For me, the draping session WAS a waste of time.  I couldn’t tell you a thing about it even 5 minutes later as it had all gone over my head.  But when Natalia wrote down on a blank piece of paper ‘Kim’s fab new colours’ and listed a dozen colours that SHE had seen looked great on me, I absolutely got it!

Just remember, this isn’t about just you. 

You have to work WITH your client if she’s to stand any chance of understanding what you’re on about!

Did you know your colouring and your personality are linked?

Beware of what others advise you about what to wear!

Hundreds of years ago, when I was young and had no idea that colour and style advice even existed, I was looking for a dress for a bit of a ‘do’ when my then-boyfriend said, “If you buy another black dress, you’ll be going on your own.” Stupidly, I took this to mean that I didn’t look good in black and didn’t wear it again for quite some time. What a twit I was, and how much time I wasted. Much later, after I’d had my colours ‘done’, I discovered my Winter colouring and learned that black is one of my best colours.

The problem was that this chap was an Autumn and he didn’t personally like black and would have preferred to see olive green or autumn gold, colours in which a true Autumn would look stunning but both of which make me look absolutely ghastly!

If you understand your own colouring, you won’t need to listen to mis-information like this ever again. You will know exactly what suits you, and why. And you will be able to educate those who insist they know better than you do about what suits you!

Most people base their opinions on their own likes and dislikes - and some of them just won’t let up. I have a friend who, every time I see her, used to tell me I should have my hair cut. As you can probably imagine, this irritated me beyond all comprehension and, over the years, I cut down to the bare minimum the times that I saw her. The trials of remembering to be a lady at all times, smiling sweetly, thanking her for her advice, and saying that I’ll bear it in mind just became too much and I finally had to tell her that I have absolutely no intention of ever having it cut and not to mention it ever again if she wishes to remain friends! The problem here is that she is a Classic and wants to see me with a neat, ordered, classically-acceptable hairstyle like her own. I explained that I am a Dramatic and a neat, ordered, classically-acceptable hairstyle like hers is not my style and does not reflect my personality - and I will wear it as long as I want to!

If there’s someone in YOUR life who is offering such self-opinionated and uninformed advice, might it not be time to set the record straight?

I suggest that you learn once and for all which colours are the best ones for you, find out which styles suit your body shape and personality (and which ones don’t), and then you will know personally what makes you look absolutely fabulous. And then you can confidently ignore these people or even educate them as to what really suits you!

Colour Personality is a subject I want to explore more fully in the future but I couldn’t restrain myself any longer and wanted to include this now, even in a small way, as I’m sure you’ll realise that colour, style, etc. is all about confidence and, if I can help you understand what goes on psychologically, you’ll soon be taking care of your physiology much more confidently. It’s positively fascinating stuff, an extra dimension to how you and your colours are intrinsically linked.