"The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you." — attributed to Coco Chanel

Why Knowing Your Colours Changes Everything (And How to Find Yours in Bendigo)

You open your wardrobe. It's full. And you have nothing to wear.

Not because the clothes aren't there. They are. But half of them feel wrong somehow. A shade that looked gorgeous in the store sits in the pile you never reach for. A top you bought because it was "a good price" has been worn twice. A colour you loved at 30 doesn't feel like you anymore and you can't explain why.

This isn't a wardrobe problem. It's a colour problem. And it's one of the most common things women tell me when they arrive at my home studio in Strathfieldsaye.

The good news? It's also one of the most solvable.

What colour analysis actually is

Colour analysis is a professional process that identifies which colours harmonise with your natural tones: your skin undertone, eye colour, hair, and the contrast between them. When you're wearing colours that work with your natural features, you look more vibrant, more rested, and more like yourself. When you're not, even the most expensive outfit can fall flat.

It's not magic. It's observation. A trained eye, a set of professional drapes, and a structured process that cuts through the noise of trends, Instagram, and whatever was on sale.

At She Bee Style, I use the Absolute Colour System, developed by Imogen Lamport through the Academy of Professional Image. It works with 18 distinctive palettes, each containing 50 colours and neutrals. That's not a rigid prescription. It's a starting point for the thousands of shades that genuinely work for you.

Your colour swatch is like a compass, not a cage. The whole world of colour is still open to you. You'll just know which part of it is yours.

What actually happens in a colour analysis session?

An individual consultation runs for two hours at my home studio in Strathfieldsaye, just outside Bendigo. Sessions are also available across Central and Northern Victoria (Castlemaine, Echuca, Kyneton, Kerang and beyond), or you can bring a couple of friends and make a morning of it with a group session.

Here's what we cover.

We start with a chat about what you're hoping to get from the session. This is a session for you and about you. If there's anything specific, you're wanting feel free to share it with me.

Then we drape. I hold a series of professional colour drapes near your face in natural light and we watch how each one interacts with your skin and eyes. Some colours will make you look lit up. Others will make you look tired or washed out, even if the colour itself is beautiful. Most clients find this the most surprising and satisfying part: seeing the difference is immediate and undeniable.

Once we've identified your palette, you'll receive a physical swatch of your 50 best colours to take home and use when you shop. More importantly, I'll teach you the principles behind it, so you can recognise your colours anywhere, in any store, in any lighting. You're not dependent on the swatch forever. You develop an eye.

We also work through a personalised style strategy: your best neutrals, makeup and hair colours that harmonise with your natural tones, and how to dress for your personality while staying true to your palette. You'll take home a printed guide covering all of it.

No judgment about your current wardrobe. No rules about what you can or can't wear. And black? We can absolutely chat about using black in your wardrobe.

Why it matters more at certain points in your life

I did my own colour analysis at a time of real transition. After years in government and project management, I was reinventing my career, my body had changed significantly, and my wardrobe felt like it belonged to a version of me I'd left behind.

If you're going through menopause, a career shift, a relationship change, or simply a moment of "who am I dressing for now?" this is exactly the right time. Colour analysis isn't a critique of where you are. It's a celebration of who you are right now.

As one of my clients put it: "It felt like discovering a secret about myself that had been hiding in plain sight. I left excited to try new things."

The practical difference it makes

When you know your colours, shopping changes. You stop being tempted by things that don't belong in your wardrobe. You start reaching instinctively for what works. You open your wardrobe and, for the first time in a while, everything in it makes sense.

As Helen G. told me after her session: "Seeing my palette come together was such a lightbulb moment. It suddenly made sense why some of my clothes feel right and others don't. Now I know exactly what to look for."

That type of understanding is worth more than a wardrobe full of maybe.

Each of these layers makes your colour palette even more powerful and personal.

Ready to find your colours?

Individual colour consultations are $330* and run for two hours. Group sessions (2 to 3 guests) are $280* per person for three hours, great if you'd like to share the experience with friends.

Sessions are held at my home studio in Strathfieldsaye, Bendigo, or I can travel to you across Central and Northern Victoria.

Book your colour consultation here →

Have a question first? I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch here →

*Prices are current as at April 2026 and are subject to change