When it comes to the topic of colour, the most common question that is asked is: "How do I know what colours are good for me?" While you can get your 'colours' done professionally, Genny Iannucci gave us some simple tips to help get us started!

1. Make a list of the colours that instantly 'light up' your face when you put them (even when you are not wearing any make-up at all). Those colours are definitely colours that are 'good' for you; and you should have more of these colours in your closet. Colours that compliment your skin tone will make your complexion glow and make it appear clearer. Shadows under the eyes will become less pronounced.
2. Make a list of the colours that always get you compliments/ or those colours that friends tell you that you should wear more often. Again, these are colours that are good for you. For example whenever I wear purple, royal blue, red or fuchsia people almost always tell me how much they like me in that colour.
3. Make a list of those colours that make you feel good when you are wearing them. When you feel good in something, you'll look great.
4. Keep in mind that it is the colour that is worn up near your face that matters most. So let's say you love khaki green, but khaki green really doesn't do that much for you - then wear khaki green in the lower torso (as a pant or skirt) and match it with a top that works well with your skin tone.
5. Finally as 2 safe bets - navy blue and charcoal grey are 2 colours that flatter just about everyone and are fabulous colour staples to have in your wardrobe.

Monochromatic look:
1. Any time you wear a single colour through the entire frame of your body you will look longer and leaner.
2. The colour you wear can be a light colour, a bright colour, a dark or dull colour - regardless of the colour you will get a lengthening effect through the body.
3. This illusion of length is created because you are providing the eye with a continuous line of colour without any colour breaks to stop the eye.
4. As a variation of the head to toe monochromatic look, you can also acheive this effect by wearing a pattern or a print head to toe, or by wearing subtle variations of the same colour i.e. various tones of grey, various tones of brown,
5. To maintain the illusion of length but to add some interest to the outfit, add a contrasting coloured accessory or a contrasting/patterned blouse to a matching blazer and skirt/pant.

Colour breaks:
1. When you are mixing 2 or more colours of different intensities, your eye will always be drawn to the lighest or brightest colour first versus the darker/duller colour. Lighter/brighter colours appear to advance while darker/duller colours appear to recede when they are mixed together.
2. Understanding this principle can help you make the most flattering colour combinations for your figure type.
3. For example, women who have a triangle figure type (fuller through the hip/thighs compared to shoulders) might want to try wearing darker/duller colours in the lower torso (to de-emphasize this area) and brighter/lighter colours in the upper torso (to draw the eye upward and highlight this area).
4. Women who have an inverted triangle figure type (stronger shoulders in comparison to their hips) might want to try the reverse: darker/duller colours in the upper torse and brighter/lighter colours in the upper torso.
5. Also be aware that the eye will also focus on colour break points (the point where 2 colours meet), so ensure that your colour break points do not highlight figure challenges.
6. For example if you are wider through the hips/ thighs ensure is that the colour break point does not happen exactly where you are widest. What you want to do is wear a jacket/top that ends either an inch or so above or an inch or so below the widest point on your hips/thighs.
7. Use colour breakpoints to accent your figure assets as well. For example - if you have a smaller waist line then wear a top in a contrasting colour to your bottom piece and be sure to tuck it in. To further highlight your waist - do not wear with a jacket over top.

Wearing Prints/Patterns:
1. Just as with colour, when you are mixing a print with a solid colour - your eye will typically go to the print or patterned piece first (as it is more visually interesting). For this reason a lot of women tend to avoid wearing prints or patterns on their lower torso.
2. There is a way to soften the effect of the print or pattern. Here's how: Look at the print and list all of the colours in the print. Since the eye is drawn to lighter and brighter colours first, select tops and jackets in the lightest or brightest colours in the print.

All clothing, including Genny's outfit available at select Melanie Lyne stores:
www.melanielyne.com