Be the Best Version of You!

I decided it was probably a good time to figure out which colours and styles suit me best after seeing a few articles about this fabulous mom-and-daughter team, Fay and Megan, from Image Insured! Launching The Hill magazine gave me the perfect reason to take the drive from Ballito to Kloof to see their shop for myself. Their business is the only local seasonal colour concept store, and their services range from colour analysis consults to fully transformative makeovers.

It's such a pretty store that gives you a great feeling as you walk in, friendly staff and a wonderfully peaceful environment welcome you, with soft worship music playing in the background. It took me a while to wrap my head around their clothing range which is called "Seasons", as it actually has nothing to do with the seasons of the year and everything to do with your skin tone and what seasonal colour palette you fall into.

Megan shared that, "While there are general guidelines for finding out your season, many people fall outside of these, making self-assessment nearly impossible. With years of experience assessing thousands of unique skin tones, we always begin with the most important step: identifying whether a client has a naturally warm or cool undertone." She goes on to explain that, "Our colour analysis process is rooted in the original, tried and tested 4-season system developed in the 1980s, which is still widely regarded as the most accurate method. Winters and summers have cool undertones to their skin, and autumns and springs have warm undertones. From there, we use the client's eye colour and natural (uncoloured) hair to determine the intensity and depth of colours they can handle. It's a precise process of narrowing down to a personalised palette where colours enhance rather than overpower or wash out the individual."

Fay started my analysis by figuring out what "season" I am. She does this: 1) With a very trained eye, quickly assessing that I am a Warm Autumn with Warm Undertones, and 2) by confirming this by using fabric colour swatches. I loved that she showed me, holding them around my neck, how the colours truly "pop" and bring out my best features! Once the colours are against your skin, it really shows how wearing what complements you brings out the best in your hair and eyes, and even skin tone "changes"! I was very sad to realise my standard black and navy blue had been too "harsh" for me, and is being replaced with a chocolate brown (my new black).

Next was the figure and clothing personality analysis, where they teach you the correct styles to wear that flatter your body shape, without losing any of your personality quirks. You can still be who you are, but tweaked to be the best version!

After we finished the colour analysis, Megan did my make-up for me, using my warm autumn colours as the basis, to bring out the best in my features. She also showed me how to do a quick "day" makeup and then how to tweak it for nighttime.

Tying it all together, I tried on a few outfits from their clothing range, using the new lessons learnt about colouring and body type. I spent three-and-a-half hours there, learning about warm and autumn colours (none being what you think) and how clothing, accessories, hair and even glasses can either make or break your look! It was an eye-opening and informative session, and I learnt so much!

There were a few things I did not want to hear, like "Bye-bye black and silver" and "Hello, chocolate browns and gold", but it all makes sense when you see it!

What is even more impressive is that a morning session with them is really way more affordable than I thought. Since then, I have taken the last two weeks to slowly move out the silver from my jewellery (replacing it with only three new items); I moved my less desirable colours to the back of the cupboard; I bought a few tops in the correct colours (and design); and have been using them with what was already in my cupboard, pants-wise.

I can honestly say that people have been noticing the changes, and that has made me feel really good.

A Quick Guide to Find Your Season

Winter: Cool skin tones (usually throws out more yellow), and has to have at least ONE naturally dark feature (either dark eyes, dark hair or dark skin).

Summer: Cool skin tones (usually throws out more yellow), often has naturally light hair (either blonde or light brown) and almost always has blue or green eyes (sometimes light hazel).

Autumn: Warm skin undertones (often throws out more pink and is prone to flushing easily) and has to have at least one naturally dark feature (usually dark eyes or hair). Most autumns either have green, hazel or brown eyes (never blue). Hair often has natural warmth to it.

Spring: Warm skin undertones (often throws out more pink and is prone to flushing easily). Almost always have blue eyes, sometimes green eyes (never brown).

031 764 1039
info@imageinsured.co.za
Shop 2 & 3 Fields Centre, 13 Old Main Road, Kloof, 3610