Confidence through colour and style in your forties and beyond

Personal stylist

Wardrobe consultant

Colour consultant

Wellington based

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Connect with me

Get in touch to discuss your goals, which service best fits your needs.

Discover your style

Gain tailored, practical knowledge that makes style feel simple again.

Feel confident and excited

Enjoy your refreshed look and the ease of knowing what suits you.

I’m Nicky, founder of Style Sanctuary

I help women feel confident and authentic through finding your best colours and style.

My approach is gentle, practical, and down-to-earth – focusing on what works for you. I don’t believe in high fashion or “must-haves”; instead, I help you create a wardrobe that suits your lifestyle needs, shape, and style personality.

Find out more

Get a free 15-minute style check

Not sure where to start? Let’s talk about your styling needs. Together we can tailor the best approach for you – with no pressure to book.

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FAQs

Can’t find the answer to your question? I’m always happy to have a chat.

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What do you actually do in a colour analysis consultation?

Firstly, I introduce you to the concept of colour ‘seasons’ and explain how each season corresponds to different tones and shades. This helps set the foundation for understanding which colours naturally enhance your features.

Next, I guide you through a short questionnaire so that I have got all the information that I need to ensure a worthwhile appointment for you. I then use a set of seasonal colour drapes to see how various shades look on you and I carefully observe which colours complement your skin tone, eyes, and hair.

After analysing the results, I show you which season you belong to and show you which colours complement your skin tone, eyes, and hair. This means that you will gain a clear understanding of your colour palette, allowing you to make informed decisions about what to wear.

We then have some fun exploring the full range of colour drapes in your season, discussing which basics and neutrals are essential, how you can mix and match, and what you personally prefer, along with how these colours apply to make up and jewellery choices.

Lastly, after answering all your questions, I provide your handy colour swatch and talk you through how to use it, so that you can eliminate any colour uncertainty.

Do I need to wear anything special for my colour consultation?

This is easy – you absolutely do not because I will not be assessing what you have turned up in! However, I do ask that you do not wear anything that is high-necked, as that might get in the way of the colour drapes. I also ask, if at all possible, to come without makeup (but a little bit of mascara won’t hurt).

I send an information sheet that covers all this prior to our appointment.

Will I need to throw out a lot of my clothes after my colour consultation or wardrobe editing?

After a colour consultation, most clients feel excited about their newfound understanding and colour choices, and actually want to have a clear out that makes sense because most women only wear about 20 to 30 percent of the clothes that they own, so there is always scope for a cull.

As part of the consultation, I will talk you through how to make the most of what you have in your wardrobe. We will definitely be working towards a cull so as to simplify your options and to learn what goes with which. The aim is to have easy outfit choices once we are finished and a lot less clutter.

Do the colours that suit me change as I age?

Your colour season remains unchanged as you age; however, sometimes it helps to go for less intense versions of the colours that you have always previously worn.

More often though, you might have been wearing colours from the wrong palette, and they are way less forgiving on older or ageing skin, so the clash stands out more. Wearing the colours from the right season for you can make a huge difference.

How would you advise me on looking modern yet dressed for my age?

Finding your style personality is a good start, and I can help you figure that out with questions about your lifestyle needs and what image you want to present.

Once we know this, looking good is about getting clothing that is the right colour, shape, and fit for your figure in line with your style personality.

May I do a quick check with you about an outfit for a particular occasion?

If you are a current or previous client – yes. If you have something in mind but are a little unsure, get in touch and we can do a short video call so that you can show me your outfit.

I will give you my advice, and if you need more help with shopping or a look book, we can arrange that, too.

"Step back and let Nicky work her magic or really get involved and build your knowledge of what works for your skin tone."

"I enjoyed the 90-minute experience of identifying my colours with Nicky. You can get as involved in the process as you wish, step back and let Nicky work her magic or really get involved and build your knowledge of what works for your skin tone. I've looked at colours differently since then and have been working through my wardrobe understanding why I like certain things but not others."

Gina, Lower Hutt

“My experience with Nicky was brilliant.”

“Nicky is fun, practical, kind, supportive, and encouraging. I was in a slump after putting on heaps of weight and felt uninspired by my clothes. I kept buying things that didn’t suit me and was in desperate need of help. “

Kim, Wellington

"I highly recommend her and her style services!"

"My daughter and I recently had a mother-daughter colour consultation with Nicky and highly recommend her and her style services! We weren't quite sure what to expect but Nicky took us through it step by step, so we felt very informed throughout the whole process."

Kristen, Lower Hutt

“It’s such a fun process to see what colours really suit me”

"Having my colour analysis with Nicky was so great. It’s such a fun process to see what colours really suit me and what doesn’t. Nicky is so welcoming and made the whole process really enjoyable. I'm excited about using new-found colour understanding to help guide my future wardrobe purchases."

Christa, Lower Hutt

"As a 48-year-old woman, it feels pretty spectacular to have left that life-long baggage in Nicky’s studio"

"It’s difficult to capture in just a few words how much my session with Nicky meant to me. It was about so much more than colours. I’ve always harshly judged my appearance, dressed to hide my body, and felt ashamed of my wardrobe. As a 48-year-old woman, it feels pretty spectacular to have left that life-long baggage in Nicky’s studio. I loved every minute, Nicky."

Joany, Melbourne

    
 
 
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   Kelly 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing experience! I’m very lucky to have found Nicky at Style Sanctuary. I’ve never known what to wear navigating this new chapter in my 40s has made it even more challenging. From the very beginning, Nicky has been kind, professional and intuitive in understanding what I was looking for. The colour analysis has given me so much confidence in understanding which colours and jewellery suit me best. While I’m still on a journey of learning to put outfits together, Nicky’s guidance and support is invaluable every step of the way. I couldn’t recommend her highly enough!
  
 
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   Sienna Packer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nicky is amazing! She has a great eye and gives really practical tips to help build a wardrobe. She was very thorough and helped us to sort through which items are worth keeping and how to put together an outfit. Would definitely recommend to anyone needing some styling support!
  
 
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   Diana Smart 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I would leave 6 stars if I could!  I had a 3 hour wardrobe edit with Nicky and it was money very well spent! Once we started with the whats and whys, the process was fun, easy, and actually quite fast. I'm now enjoying a new considerably slimmed down wardrobe.  Choices are FAR easier. Future clothing purchases will be well considered and targetted saving me money.  I'm loving putting together new outfits and wearing pieces I've had very little, if any wear out of previously.  Being an older lady (57 yrs), it was really reassuring to hear what suits me best now and what has becomed dated or just wrong!  I've gone from brunette to silvery/blonde hair, skin tone's changed over time, not to mention physique so it was time for help.  I highly recommend this service and Nicky herself, who is informed, friendly, and patient.
  
 
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   Helen Williams 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a colour analysis with Nicky, she was super friendly, relaxed and full of knowledge. I learnt what colours suited me and which ones made me tired and drained.  It was a fun session and I highly recommend her.
  
 
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   Maria Skatova 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A colour consultation with Nicky changed my life. Seriously. From being colour-confused, I transitioned to colour-aware and colour-confident in just an hour. I made some discoveries, too, about colours that I'd never considered before. And yet, they magically work. I changed my hair colour tone to align with my skin tone. I let go of all cold and pale neutral tones clothes I had in my wardrobe that made me look sleep deprived and tired. I started wearing clothes in my colour palette. And people started commenting and complimenting the way I look. I shop differently now, too - it's much easier for me to pick things to try on, and be confident that the colour is right. It just started to make sense. Nicky provided all this insight and clarity, made some suggestions and showed me what works with my complexion. 10/10, highly recommend.
  
 
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   Penny Maxwell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nicky styled me like a pro! Helpful tips on clothes, shapes, lengths, colours and accessorising. Who knew the handbag length tip? Highly recommend her fun, relaxed vibe, and skill. Penny Maxwell
  
 
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   Danielle Thomson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a great experience with Nicky. I left feeling positive and confident. Nicky focuses on what really makes you shine. Understanding my season and absolute best colours has been extremely helpful. Overall it’s a fun experience and I love having my swatch of colours when I’m shopping now.
  
 
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   Katie Kabala 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a colour analysis and makeup consultation with Nicky, and it's not an exaggeration to say my life has transformed! We talked about what makeup suits my colouring and skin type, and Nicky kindly but honestly guided me to try things differently. I was so impressed with Nicky's knowledge and instinct, and how quickly her tips made me look and felt great! We also chatted about clothing choices, and with Nicky's encouragement I now feel empowered with the enthusiasm and information to freshen up my wardrobe and step into a more colourful, elegant, and confident me! Thank you Nicky!
  
 
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   Inez Romanos 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nicky is a super-competent, friendly stylist. I learnt so much from my session with her. She advised me on dressing for my shape and colouring, with a full colour consultation. What the right red for me looks like, and the wrong red. Why denim has never suited me, what my perfect outline is, and why my black velvet dress should be the go-to. We had fun, plenty of laughs, and I got so much useful information. If you’re new to all this, Nicky is a perfect person to start with — empathetic, she meets you where you are. And if you already know a thing or two, you’ll be surprised what she can tell you. Thank you, Nicky!
  
 
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   Anna Kenna 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Visting Nicky in her Wellington studio was such a treat. As women, we so seldom take time to focus on ourselves and having permission to do that felt nurturing and affirming. Despite the mass media depiction, we come in all shapes and sizes and finding what works best for you is liberating and a real confidence boost. Nicky's knowledge and positive energy is a real tonic, and you will leave with a better idea of what style is uniquely yours - and you will own it!