Consultant profiles are going to be a semi-regular feature here on the blog. There are so many incredible and inspirational women (and men! Well, man) working with House of Colour that I think I could probably write a couple of thousand words on every single one of them without too much difficulty. Each one I've met has had their own story, told, without excception, with passion and humour, and every single one has taught me something new about being an image consultant and what it means to us and our clients. I appreciate that sounds utterly gushy, but as a bunch of people who get to see our clients growing in confidence and joy on a daily basis, we do get a little gushy occasionally.
Every consultant at House of Colour could share an amazing story to open this series, but in the interests of starting somewhere, I thought that the best place was my own beginnning - the consultant who was responsible for my own House of Colour journey as a client.
Alex Turchyn, based in Brighton, was the consultant I went to for my own colour analysis class a few years ago, and she inspired me not only to transform my wardrobe into something that was absolutely me, but to transform my career and become a personal image consultant (and I'm not alone - at least two other consultants started their House of Colour journey as clients of hers. Good thing she hasn't taken it into her head to start a cult...)
I actually intended to write this profile more as a feature (previous life as a journalist making me somewhat snobby about Q&As), but I loved all of Alex's answers so much that it seemed a shame to chop them up and edit them to death. And, frankly, the girl doesn't need any help from me in putting her story together!
J: What is your House of Colour story?
A: I had been working away on a cruise ship as a singer for six months and when I returned I was eager to catch up with my friends, particularly my best friend who I'd known since the very first day of school. She'd moved away from my home town of Bromsgrove to Warrington and set up a new life with her partner, so I set off up north. I still to this day remember my reaction when she opened the door. I took a slight step back and an intake of breath. "You look good! Have you been on a cruise as well?" She smiled gleefully and invited me in. "No," she said, "I've had my colours done!" At this point I stopped in my tracks, somewhat baffled. "Err, what's 'had your colours done'?" And so, unbeknownst to me, the start of my own journey into colour and style began.
She explained to me the process she'd been through, about having different colour drapes compared under her chin,but, to be honest, her description is a blur to me. I was hardly listening, but I was certainly looking. Stood before me was a girl I had known for over 20 years and yet she was somehow different. Her eyes sparkled, her skin looked healthy and clear, her overall demeanour was 'lifted' somehow. I couldn't put my finger on it - all I knew was that I wanted 'in' on the secret and within days I had booked in with the House of Colour consultant she had gone to see, and I have never looked back.
J: Why did you choose to go on and train as a consultant?
A: After only one week of finding out that I was a Winter, buying a few tops in my double star [very best] colours and changing the shade of my lipstick, people started to notice... And I mean notice in a good way. At first I felt self conscious. "Why is everyone staring at me?!" But they were saying things like, "you look good," "that new lipstick really suits you," "that top really brightens you up." In fact, all the same sorts of things I had said to my friend.
The thing that I was most impressed with, though, was the positive responses and the increase in acting jobs I was getting when I went for auditions. It started to dawn on me that, much as I would like to say I was becoming more talented(!), I must have been making a very positive impact when walking into a room. And that was what completely sold it to me. The fact that it wasn't only about looking and feeling good, it was making a positive impact on my career.
Now, as an actress you're either in work or, I shudder to use that dreaded word.. 'resting'. What if, when I wasn't acting, I could do something else that I enjoyed equally and was passionate about? And so I picked up the phone and called House of Colour.
J: You moved half way across the country after initially establishing your own consultancy. What was it like setting up in an entirely new area?
A: I want to say scary and risky, or perhaps I should say scary and risky, but I didn't think about the consequences at all. I was compelled to do it in my own 'yang' way [during a style class, we use the concepts of yin and yang to classify the two different sides of our personalities. Alex and I share a very high yang score, which is demonstrated by the kind of life choices we make, and in terms of personal style affects everything from jacket shapes to skirt lengths just as much as the bodies we are dressing], not to give too much thought about how I was going to pay the rent! It was only when I got to Brighton that I thought, "best get cracking then!" and I launched into a frenzy of networking. I had to get out there and get known.
J: What is your typical client?
A: I would say mainly ladies between 30 and 60 and around 85% of them are at a new stage of their life and ready for some degree of change. I see quite a few mums whose kids are growing and they want to get back a little of their own identity; ladies who have been through a divorce or separation and want to reinvent themselves; ladies nearing retirement who want a new lease of life - a refresh and a re-vamp. I also see a lot more men than I did in the Midlands. They're a lot more open to idea in Brighton, and no, they're not all gay!
J: I can pretty much answer this for you, but anyway... What do you think it is about you that makes you a good consultant?
A: I guess the main this is that I want to support them in their journey, whatever stage they're at. Change can be a scary thing! [as a client of Alex's, who still regularly turns to her for advice, I can guarantee the truth of this statement!]
J: I know that you, like many other consultants, wear another professional hat (Alex is an actress), but yours is rather more glamorous than most of ours. How do you balance your two professions, and do they impact on one another?
A: They actually work in perfect harmony, and I feel really blessed. Basically, whatever job/hat gets booked into the diary first, that's the priority.
J:Any favourite client stories?
A: There have been many moving moments with clients, but one in particular was the first lady I ever saw, although I didn't find out what had happened until two years later when I received a phone call from her giving me her new address. "How's it going?" I asked, to which she replied, "I'm getting divorced!" I was a bit stunned, "I'm so sorry to hear that," I said, "Don't be!" she replied, "I've been needing to get out of that abusive relationship for years and since seeing you, I've really found my confidence. I'm a completely new me, and I want to say thank you so much for everything you've done." That absolutely brought tears to my eyes. I had no idea just how powerful what we do can be. I don't think that it's ever just about colours or style, it's about identity and feeling good about who we are.
J: What does the rest of 2013 hold for you?
A: I'm just loving building the business and meeting new people, so I'd say lots more of the same please!
