My journey from There to Here…

I have avoided telling my story for ages as I did not do things the traditional way – generally Image Consultants talk about their childhood love of dolls and dressing them up in different outfits etc BUT I came a very different route – here is my story.

If you had known me at school, I would probably be the last person you would expect to be giving advice on image. At school I was always small for my age (still am), walked with a bad limp, my legs were covered with scars and I had to wear a raise on ONE shoe (sensible shoes at that). I was not someone who was confident about the way I looked, I never thought I was pretty and I definitely was not girly. My sister Angela was the one who played with dolls and loved makeup and hair – my toys were more like the chemistry set, secret agent stuff, my bike and I always had my head in a book. I had an ambition as a kid and that was to stand up and wee like my older brother, I did manage this but the resultant wet floor got me a telling off!! Yes, I was definitely a tom-boy.

So I was small, had a limp, scarred legs, raise on one shoe and I was a tom-boy – BUT I always had a nice smile and I still do :-)

My disabilities stemmed from being born with a dislocated hip. Aged 18 months my parents were were told I would never walk. I then spent 2 years in hospital in Nottingham (Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital). As I lived in Grimsby I only saw family for 2 hours at weekends for those 2 years. I had lots of surgery and spent weeks laid on my back in a frog plaster etc BUT finally I did walk aged 3½. At 15 my longer leg was shortened - the raise on my shoe had increased by then 1½” and my last pair of built-up shoes were one platform and one not a platform – as a self-conscious teenager I was desperate not to have to wear shoes like that and readily agreed to more surgery! I had a hip replacement 10 years ago and will probably need a further 2 in the same hip. On top of all this I was involved in a serious Road Traffic Accident on Laceby Road aged 8 when I broke my bad leg BUT the other 2 people I was crossing the road with were both killed.

Through all this there was no counselling so, not surprisingly, in my mid 20’s I got very depressed and anxious and had to leave work. At that time I was married and working as a medical secretary – I’d wanted to be a nurse but due to my disabilities was advised against nursing. After leaving work anxiety and depression still plagued me. I then had 2 children but still the anxiety and depression continued – though became more manageable. I did an English and History degree as a mature student following which I taught Information Technology at Grimsby College and Adult Education. During those years I also worked voluntarily as the Local Area Representative for Samaritan’s Purse – an organisation sending out Christmas shoe boxes to Eastern Europe. This concluded with a trip to post war-torn Croatia.

Fed up of all odd bits of hours teaching I trained in building Personal computers and loved it. My idea was to set up a business fixing and building computers.

At about the same time Gill walked into my life. Gill always wanted me to go shopping with her for clothes. I used to stop the shop-assistants bullying her into buying clothes that didn’t suit her – this did not make me popular with shop-assistants but I didn’t care ;-) It made me so cross to see my friend bullied and I am a firm believer in people having the tools to manage their own problems/lives. I could quite easily have still been going shopping with Gill, they were always fun days BUT I advised her to have a colour analysis done – that way she would KNOW the colours that suited her and at least take some control in the clothes she was buying.

I’d had colour analysis done in 1995 and it changed the way I shopped – shopping became so much FUN and easier and quicker and I knew the colours I was wearing looked good on me. Gill and I were all set for a girly day in Harrogate or York to get Gill’s colours done as we couldn’t find anyone locally...that was until Gill said “I have a better idea, you train to do it and I’ll be your first customer!”

Since having colour analysis done I had bought all the Colour Me Beautiful books about colour analysis and even had some style books too. You could say I’d developed a bit of an interest. Even though I had the books it didn’t really benefit me much because owning & reading the books didn’t give me the skills I needed.

Through research I found a company that wasn’t too far away and looked good. I presented Gill’s idea and that information to my husband Patrick who agreed to back me, which was brilliant – he became my first customer, it was only fair, as he had paid for my training. My friend Gill was my second customer.

Four years ago, aged 49 I became a business woman and Colour Confident Image Consultancy was born. Totally unplanned, I often tell people I fell into this business ;-)

After I had trained in Colour I knew I wanted to train in Ladies Style and after that Men’s Style and then Hair Image with London's Hair Image Consultant, Scott Cornwall. I quickly got a passion for all of it!!!

One thing I realised was that after getting married, having children and gaining 3 stone in weight I had lost the exuberance of my youth and it was during style training days that I remembered the teenage girl who’d made herself a pair of purple hot pants which she wore with a clashing green blouse and the girl with the bright blouses that everyone commented on. I realised the colours I was wearing had changed from non-descript beige to the vibrant colours I now wear – the bright, deep, cool colours of winter that complement my skin tone and my hair and eye colours and give me that wow factor - colours that project the REAL me!!! My style has now gone from frumpy to funky and FUN and I lie in bed thinking about putting outfits together and then get can’t wait to get out of bed to try my ideas out :-D

Because of the amazing journey I have been on and the difference it has made to me I realise others can do this too - I get a real buzz out of encouraging others to start a journey of their own, to be who they are meant to be - to reach their potential and feel confident.

The qualities I now have were there all the time – they just needed to be developed. At 53 I can honestly say that I am happier and more confident and fulfilled than ever. I believe we all have that potential to fulfil our passions – we just need to be encouraged. A lady who came to me for colour analysis a couple of weeks ago said, “Julie, I got more than a colour analysis didn’t I? I started a journey today, one that has been a long time coming.”

I love my job and love helping ladies who were just like I was. If you are stuck in a rut and wanting change please give me a call and I will encourage you along your journey and I will hold your hand – all I need is your willingness to take the plunge and a bit of time and money of course ;-)

Thank you for taking the time to read my story - I hope you have enjoyed reading it and that it encouraged you. I would be pleased to hear your comments, hopefully some of you will be brave enough to be be open about your struggles/pains and joys - doing this helps others and makes the struggle so much more worthwhile.

If you would like to share your stories or if you would like help with your journey please call me on 01472 504680 or 07875676919 or email julie@colourconfident.co.uk I would love to help you :-)


Julie X