“It’s elevated my style”: Melbourne musician Lashes on how colour theory has changed the way she gets dressed

Learning the tones and shades that complement you best.

Earlier this year, a new trend emerged on TikTok For You Pages – a colour wheel filter, where users could match their skin tone to shades of autumn, winter, summer or spring. It was a fresh take on colour theory, a concept used by stylists, makeup artists and fashion and beauty enthusiasts for years. For Melbourne-based musician Lashes, seasonal colour theory provided a comfortable way for her to move away from the safety of her all-black wardrobe.

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“Putting a cohesive outfit together has never come naturally to me, and I would often leave the house feeling mismatched and unsure why,” Lashes explains. With the help of Rach from Colour Lab Stylist, she learned an autumnal colour palette suits her best – shades of fawn, sage green, deep purple and burgundy red. Below, she speaks on her experience working with an expert colour analyst, and how the concept has transformed the way she gets dressed.

Can you tell us about what colour theory is, and what drew you to the concept initially?

 

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From my understanding, we each have either a cool or warm undertone to our skin and thus fall into a season of colours that suit us best. I was drawn to the concept because I wanted to gain a better understanding of what suited me. Putting a cohesive outfit together has never come naturally to me, and I would often leave the house feeling mismatched and unsure why.

You worked with a colour theory expert throughout this process. What was that experience like?

I did, I worked with Rach from Colour Lab Stylist. She was so thorough and helpful. Knowing my correct colour palette influenced the aesthetics of the shoot and made the creative process a breeze. It’s really helped evolve the Lashes brand.

How has colour theory changed the way you get dressed? What about hair and makeup?

 

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I no longer have to wear all black or play it safe… [I] can experiment with different styles. I was able to cull my wardrobe and discovered that I already had a lot of pieces in my season of colours. The hair and makeup guides have been especially helpful in putting cohesive looks together and I have peace of mind when leaving the house knowing that from head to toe I’m in complete harmony.

Has colour theory helped you embody that on-stage persona?

Absolutely! It has been one of the best things for my confidence. It’s elevated my style and it’s made me feel more comfortable in my own skin.

What exactly does a colour analysis guide entail?

 

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It is an in-depth document explaining your personal [colour] analysis. It contains colour swatches of all the tones and shades that complement you best. This can include your best metals and materials like suede, leather, jeans and jewellery colours. It also lists the colours that are best to avoid, as they can often either overpower you or make you appear dull. It gives examples of makeup looks and hair colours along with a list of other celebrities that fall into the same season as you, which I found handy.

For more on colour theory, head here.