For those who are thinking about freshening up their look, having a colour analysis in Nottingham is an excellent way to get some inspiration.
I went down to Hue and Bloom Studio in Wollaton (hueandbloomstudio.co.uk) to try this out for the first time. This was kindly gifted, but these are my honest thoughts. You can also use the code NOTTSEDIT20 for £20 off an individual or double colour analysis appointment.
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Nottingham, this is definitely one of them. For more reviews like this, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
I had a colour analysis in Nottingham — it changed how I see my wardrobe
By Eve Smallman
I’ve got to be honest – I had never really given it too much thought whether a colour suited me before or not. I have some items in my closet that I know just work, and I know when to pull them out. But sitting in the chair at Hue and Bloom Studio, I’m beginning to understand why those pieces actually work.
Tara Taylor is the founder of the studio, which is based in Wollaton. She works with the 16-season colour analysis system – an expanded method of personal styling that determines which clothing, makeup, and hair colours best harmonise with your natural features.
While the classic model uses four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) and a more common intermediate model uses 12, the 16-season system divides each family into four distinct sub-seasons to offer higher precision.
Before we start my colour analysis, I’m asked what colours I tend to lean towards normally. I explain that I tend to go reds, oranges, and greens – sometimes light blues and yellows too. Slightly more on the autumnal side of things.
But I’m not overly attached to colours, and I’m keen to see what actually will look good. This is especially so as I recently dyed my hair after being near-enough blonde for eight years – I’ve really struggled to find colours that don’t wash me out, so I’m here with an open mind.
It’s a little bit like being at the opticians. Sitting in the naturally lit conservatory in front of a full-length mirror, Tara places numerous fabrics on me, from red to pinks to purples to blues. We go back and forth between different hues, and it’s remarkably easy to see the difference. I have naturally olive skin, so some colours wash me out, while others give me a yellowish look.
However, slowly but surely, it comes together. The dark brown over beige, the bright pink versus the pale pink, and the Chinese blue over the ice blue all surprise me. These are all items I genuinely don’t have any of. The raspberry wine and the pine didn’t surprise me, as most of my occasion dresses are in these shades – but seeing them against my skin made me think I needed to utilise the shades beyond occasions.
The biggest surprise was royal purple and navy blue. I really don’t tend to go too far down the rainbow, but these looked so rich against my olive tone. So did the silver. I also normally wear gold jewellery, but my silver Pandora is an exception that I just thought naturally stood out due to the charms. But no – silver is the winner.
That contrast and that richness all lead to me being a deep winter. My partner always says winter suits me best, and it turns out he was way more right than he thought. The winter colour family is cool, bright, deep, and dramatic. Tara carefully set aside my key colours throughout, draped them all on me at the end, and took pictures of both these and deep autumn – which turned out to be my sister season after all.
Afterwards I’m talked through – and subsequently sent – super in-depth guides with palettes for clothes shopping, makeup from eyeliner to blush to lipstick, and jewellery. I’ve now screenshotted these on my phone, so I’m able to whip them out whenever I’m doing a clothes shop or Boots run (and perhaps this has helped me stop being impulsive!).
In the week after the colour analysis, I dug out an old royal purple long-sleeved top and wore it out – and couldn’t believe the compliments I got. Unprompted! I also treated myself to an aubergine leather jacket, which, after a heavy night and putting it on for the first time the next day, even my partner commented on how fresh and bright I looked – all things considered.
That being said, I’ve not shopped for a whole new wardrobe, makeup bag, or jewellery box. I’ve definitely just found myself reaching for things I hadn’t before – and looking sharper for it (if I do say so myself).
The whole process took around an hour and a half for me, but the slots are allocated for two – especially great for people who have lots of questions. Tara also made me feel so comfortable throughout, and was extremely knowledgeable. For something that could feel like a criticism of how you look, it really didn’t feel like that at all. Instead, it felt like I was working with a friend on a project, us both ‘hmming’ and ‘yessing’ along together.
If you – or anyone you know – have ever been curious about having your colour analysed, I really highly recommend visiting Tara at Hue and Bloom Studio. It would make an excellent present – and an excellent treat for yourself too.
Use the code NOTTSEDIT20 for £20 off an individual or double colour analysis appointment. This brings the total price to £130 for an individual appointment or £240 for a double (£120 per person). The code is valid until January 31 2027.
🤳 Keep up with us on socials on Instagram and TikTok
✉️ Send stories such as press releases and feature ideas to editor@thenottsedit.com
💰 Want to feature your business in The Notts Edit? Email Eve Smallman at editor@thenottsedit.com to receive our media pack
☕ Enjoying The Notts Edit? Buy us a coffee on Ko-Fi and help fuel our words