If your mornings look anything like most mums’, they start with chaos and minor meltdowns (sometimes major meltdowns!). Packed lunches. Missing shoes. The mental gymnastics of remembering who has PE, which form needs signing, and whether there’s time to grab a coffee.

What often gets lost in the mix? You. You don’t have time to overthink an outfit. The key? Learning how to use colour strategically.

Colour as a Shortcut to Looking Pulled-Together

Wearing the right colours can make a simple outfit look intentional. Even if it’s just jeans and a jumper, when the shade suits your natural tones, you instantly look more refreshed, more put-together and more “awake” - even on six hours of sleep.

This is where colour analysis becomes your time-saving secret weapon. Once you know what shades flatter your skin tone, everything in your wardrobe starts working harder for you.

No Time? No Problem. Here Are 3 Easy School-Run Outfit Formulas

1. The Tonal Sandwich Dressing Look
Think of this as layering with intention. Start with a base colour on your bottom half (like navy wide-leg joggers), add a lighter or softer tone on top (ie a slogan tee or sweatshirt), then finish with a pair of shoes in a colour that matches your top half. The “sandwich” effect creates balance and visual interest without needing prints or accessories. Add a crossbody bag in one of your best accent colours to tie it all together. When you stick to your colour palette, even the simplest outfit looks styled.

2. The Jeans and Tee Basics, But Add Extras

The key to ‘wearing vs styling’ is all in the little details. Start with jeans and a t-shirt or a colour-block maxi-dress in a flattering tone. Add a statement layer like an olive green utility jacket or a soft camel longline trench (depending on your seasonal colour palette). If you want extra style points without breaking a stride, add a baseball cap, a colourful pair of trainers and any necklace you can find that’s close to hand.

3. Colour Pop Comfort
Keep your the basic foundations of your outfit simple, for example leggings, sporty trainers and a borg jacket over a long sleeve crew-neck top or hoodie. Add a scarf or bag in one of your best brighter colours - teal, coral, berry - depending on your colour season. It’ll pull the eye up and draw attention to your face. Remember that neutrals aren’t limited simply to black, white, beige and grey – if you’ve had your colours done you’ll know there are several options you can use as a base to build up an outfit.

Style Shouldn’t Add Stress

When you’re managing kids, work, and a life that never stops, the last thing you need is a wardrobe that demands your energy. That’s why knowing your colours is such a game changer. It means you can dress at speed and still feel like you showed up.

This isn’t about striving to put yourself on show or win a prize for being the best-dressed mum at the school gates. It’s about feeling good in what you’re wearing without having to second guess yourself in the few minutes you have to get ready.

Online or In-Person, It’s Easy to Start

What you’re wearing should get your day off to a great start, not slow it down. When you know your colours, you can get dressed in minutes and still feel like yourself - confident, calm and ready to take on whatever the morning throws at you.

If you're local to Surrey, Hampshire or South West London, you can book an in-person colour analysis session and get hands-on advice tailored to your lifestyle and wardrobe. Prefer to stay home? My online colour analysis offers the same personalised palette and guidance, delivered straight to your inbox.

Whichever route you choose, you’ll walk away with clarity, confidence and a wardrobe that finally makes sense. Because when your colours work for you, everything else gets easier.