Pilar runs Confidence in Colour, a personal colour analysis & styling studio in Ilkley. She helps women find the colours and styles that make them look and feel their best, so they can shop with confidence and love what’s in their wardrobe. Pilar offers one-to-one colour analysis, personal shopping, wardrobe edits, and colour parties for hen dos, birthdays and work events, which she brings to venues across Ilkley, Skipton, Leeds, Harrogate and Bradford. Find out more at confidenceincolour.com or on Instagram @confidenceincolour.
Here she shares with us why our Christmas jumper is making us look tired!
In a couple of weeks, will you be hauling the Christmas jumper out of the loft — that bright red one with the reindeer that’s been waiting since last January — and pulling it on again?
Remember last year, when you caught yourself in the mirror in it and suddenly looked as though you hadn’t slept since Bonfire Night?
Before you blame the mince pies or the late nights, here’s something I see all the time with clients: it’s often not you. It’s the colour.
Classic Christmas red and green are bright, bold and high-contrast. On some people they look wonderful. If you’ve got strong contrast between your hair, eyes and skin — dark hair with fair skin, or deeper skin with bright eyes — those shades can make you look glowing and full of festive energy.
For everyone else, the same colours can do the opposite. They pull attention away from your face, cast shadows under the eyes and drain the colour from your cheeks. The jumper looks brilliant. You look tired.
The good news is we can all wear every colour! There’s no shade which you’re “not allowed.” You can wear red and you can wear green — you just need YOUR red and your green. Every colour comes in hundreds of versions: warmer or cooler, brighter or softer, lighter or deeper. The trick is matching the version to your natural colouring.
If you’re warm and bright (golden undertones, clear eyes, maybe freckles), skip the deep pillar-box red and go for a cheerful poppy or coral red instead. Swap Christmas green for a fresh apple green or sunny turquoise. Gold jewellery and a coral or tomato-red lip will finish it off.
If you’re cool and soft undertones (rosy or pinkish skin, gentler colouring, ash-toned hair), try raspberry, rose or a soft berry red. Instead of bright green, look at sage, soft teal or sea green. Silver jewellery and a soft grey or blue eye look work beautifully.
For warmer, rich tones (golden or olive skin, warm brown or auburn hair), you’ll look gorgeous in rust, brick red or terracotta, with olive, moss or deep forest green eye liners and shadows. Camel, mustard or antique gold add that cosy, luxurious feel.
If you’re cool and striking (high contrast, clear eyes), classic Christmas colours really are made for you. True red, cranberry, emerald and pine, finished with crisp white, black and silver, will light you up.
Already bought the jumper? Don’t panic and please don’t bin it! If you love it, keep wearing it. Just bring a flattering colour up near your face — a shirt collar peeping out at the neckline, a scarf, or a lipstick in one of your best shades. Also, a pair of earrings or glass frames in a colour that makes you pop ensures that the jumper can just be the fun part.
Christmas should be about feeling fabulous in the family photos, not fading into the background. Once you find your shades, you’ll look, and feel, brighter and fresher.
This year, don’t just wear the jumper. Make it yours.
