a simple yarn

Twenty years ago I had “my colours done.”
Any self-respecting woman (and 21st century man) will understand what this means. Someone looks at your hair, your eyes, your skin, your shape, your style and tells you which colours will help you look perky and well-rested even after a week in hospital and which will drain away all evidence of life though you’ve just returned from your Bermuda holiday. The goal is obvious: aim for the former, avoid the latter.

So, twenty years ago, I was a “winter.”
Back then there were only four colour options…aligned with the seasons. Now, of course, it’s not that simple. First, I have to find my primary palette. I think that’s fairly easy, though. I mean the sample faces are so very different that it’s more or less obvious which is me. Once I’ve discovered that, I then have to look for a secondary, complementary grouping, which is certainly more obscure. I’m having my own Dan Brown moment to try and unravel the clues and symbols. My hair is dark, but my eyes are not. My hair has reddish tints, but my skin is not golden. So what am I?

I am no longer a ‘winter.’
Not only am I not a winter anymore, my whole base of colour has done a U-turn! I am now an autumn. Sorry, make that a ‘warm with tendencies toward soft and a hint of clear’ (I think). What is that all about?! I can’t wear brown and forget about dark olive! I’m a basic black kind of girl! Jewel-tones, that’s what I’m about!

I must wear warm colours.
This rocks my colour-world! My foundation (not to mention my wardrobe) is built upon black, gray and navy. None of this brown, moss and terracotta stuff! As I storm to the mirror, it hits me. On this rare, sunny day I can see that while my eyes are still very green, my hair is no longer dark nut-brown. It’s more like auburn, which is a fancy name for dark red. If I look closely I can even see a hint of gold. And what’s more, it’s my own fault.

I am L’Oreal No. 7.
I have temporarily prevented the passage of time by colouring my hair and I’ve been using a dark blonde shade to minimise the root issue. I realise I’m kidding myself on that one, but I didn’t realise that this would dramatically alter my entire life’s colour scheme.

So, I resign myself to being a ‘warm.’
Okay, there are worse things that having to make a seasonal shift. But honestly, I will never wear pumpkin or coral! However, I think I will enjoy this season of life wearing a fresh palette of colours. Of course, way deep down inside of me, I’ll always feel like a winter temporarily residing in an autumn body. And I won’t give away my black and gray and navy. The real me will return when my hair goes all-gray-all-the-way!