Colour, Explained: An Honest Chat with Our Colour Specialists

At Melissa Murrell Personal Styling, colour is never an afterthought, but it’s also never used in isolation.

When clients come to us, they’re often asking “What colours suit me?” but what they’re really asking is “How do I feel more confident, more put-together, and more like myself?” That’s where our colour specialists come in.

At MM Personal Styling, colour and style work hand in hand. We don’t believe in giving you just a list of colours, we like to show you how to wear them in real life, with your body shape, your lifestyle, and the clothes you actually want to wear. Colour should make getting dressed easier, not more complicated.

In this interview, we’re sitting down with our colour specialists to talk about how colour fits into the wider MM Personal Styling approach, how it works alongside the Hourglass Balancing Method®, and why getting colour right can completely change how your wardrobe works for you.

Why is it so important that colour is considered alongside body shape and style – not separately?

Katy: A lot of women end up with wardrobes full of clothes they don’t wear, and it’s usually down to one of two things – the fit isn’t quite right, or the colour doesn’t really suit them. When you get both right, choosing styles that work with your body shape and colours that suit your skin tone – it’s a complete game changer. Everything suddenly feels easier, and getting dressed becomes much more enjoyable.

Kirsten: An outfit is a sum of its parts. You could be wearing a bespoke suit that fits your shape and personal style perfectly, but if the shade of fabric drains all the colour from your face you'll never feel your best in it. Colour has a vital role to play in how we dress and joyously, you rarely have to consider dress size when you pick a colour. You just have to love how you look in it!

What do clients often assume colour analysis will be, and how does the reality differ?

Kirsten: A lot of clients think that once they discover their season, they need to get rid of all their clothes that don't fall into that category. We would never encourage that! There are always ways to make clothes work, so if they have a favourite piece that isn't ideal for their skin tone, we can advise on how to style it. Sometimes it can be as simple as putting on a necklace. 

Katy: Most people think we’re going to tell them they can’t wear black anymore – or that they’ve been wearing all the wrong colours their whole life! In reality, most women are already intuitively drawn to the right colours. What they’re often missing is the confidence to wear and style them properly, and that’s what we help them with.

Can colour be used to create balance in the same way shape and proportion do, just like our Hourglass Balancing Method®?

Kirsten: For sure! Colour is great for diverting the eye to parts of the body you'd like to show off, and equally we can use it to minimise other areas. This helps to balance proportions. 

Katy: Absolutely. Wearing your best colours close to your face can make such a noticeable difference. Skin looks brighter, more even and healthier, which instantly brings balance to the overall look. Colour and pattern are incredibly powerful tools. They can be used to draw the eye exactly where you want it, or gently take attention away from areas you don’t want to focus on – just like shape and proportion do.

Are there certain colour placements that can really help an outfit “do the work” for the client?

Katy: Yes – like I said, placing your best colours near your face makes a huge impact. It lifts the whole outfit and gives that fresh, glowing effect without needing to try too hard.

Kirsten: Darker colours (not necessarily black), are always good for minimising. If you contrast them with lighter or brighter colours/patterns then you will draw the eye to that part of the outfit. 

What are the most common colour mistakes you see women making in their everyday wardrobes?

Kirsten: Relying on black trousers as their foundational base. Unless you have a lot of contrast in your features, which reduces with age, it's so hard to make black trousers + a top work. Most women look much better in navy, brown or camel - or even denim. 

Katy: Impulse buys and fast-fashion trends are a big one. They often lead to a wardrobe full of colours that don’t work together tonally, which then makes putting outfits together feel overwhelming and frustrating.

Do you notice a mindset shift once a client understands their colours?

Katy: Definitely. During a colour analysis session, clients can actually see the difference straight away – and seeing really is believing. That’s usually the moment their confidence grows and they feel excited to wear their best shades.

Kirsten: 100%. They suddenly start to look at their clothes through the lens of undertone rather than just 'colour'. This means that they see what's warm vs cool and therefore what suits them better. Once you see it, you can't switch it off! It makes shopping much, much easier. 

How can women start using colour better without replacing their entire wardrobe?

Kirsten: If you can figure out your undertone (warm or cool), start by wearing the right colour of jewellery, as this will help to balance the colour of anything you wear near your face. I would also invest in knitwear in your best colours, as it's an easy win and something that won't go out of fashion. 

Also, I would encourage you to become more aware of colour. What are you drawn to? What makes you happy to look at? More often than not these are the colours that you'll be able to incorporate into your wardrobe more effortlessly. 

Katy: Start small. Accessories worn close to the face are a great place to begin – earrings, necklaces, scarves, even makeup from your colour palette. Small changes can make a big difference.

If reading this has made you realise that colour has always felt a bit confusing, overwhelming, or simply not for you — you’re not alone. Most of the women we work with felt exactly the same before their consultation.

A Colour Consultation at Melissa Murrell isn’t about rules or restrictions. It’s about clarity. Understanding which colours genuinely work with you, how to wear them in your real life, and how to make your existing wardrobe feel easier and more pulled together — without starting from scratch.

If you’re ready to feel more confident in the colours you wear, you can book a one-to-one colour consultation with our specialist team and finally make colour work for you, not against you.

Book Here

And if you’re not quite ready yet… keep an eye on this space. We may or may not be working on something very exciting behind the scenes for those of you who want to go deeper into colour — in a way that’s practical, wearable, and completely aligned with the MM way.

Maximum style, minimum effort.

Melissa and the Styling Team x