Colour Up: In Vino Veritas, Part One

Wine, purple, oxblood, bordeaux, the colour of the season. The key is to wear it as a total look, or with similar shades, or with a few select non-intrusive complementary colours. Which, essentially, sounds like you should be short on styling choices, but frankly, that could not be farther from the truth.

I had a few old and not-so-old-but-not-so-new pieces in these dark, warm winter brights, plus my eyes on a couple of current season numbers I want badly. Even so, it was almost shocking how many ways you could wear them.

This is the first look - slightly evening-style, office-appropriate, and very simple with a tiny twist. Note how the comfy, half-elastic belt makes the outfit chic, and how much better it looks with purple tights, proving the single-colour approach right.

Below is how the simple dress is dressed up and up until you get a final result you're sort of happy with. I suggest you start having fun with the wine-coloured things in your wardrobe. I will be back with more - in vino veritas.

pinny dress and suede wedges: New Look, 

contrast lapel blazer: Miss Selfridge

dress, wedges and double hinge belt: New Look,
tweed cape: Mango, tights: Calzedonia, velvet jacket: vintage (Gimbels)

Simple Sixties: Light, Shadow And Flame

Can you not love a 1960s graphic retro look when the cold days arrive? The uber-comfort of a fine high-neck tee, a pair of super-soft opaque tights and  low, chunky-heeled ankle boots? Well, you might be generally avoiding such basic comforts like the plague, for fear of ending up looking and feeling utterly boring. 

But fear no more. And, mind you, no need to give in to femme fatale tendencies either - bad weather, the muddy or icy catwalk of city streets and killer heels do not match. 

There are other ways to sharpen up and brighten up: colours, graphic effects, and cuts.

Hence the monochrome patch pocket miniskirt with gold buttons, an op-art image of bright light streaming through a window, a finely crinkling-and-folding long-sleeve top in the brightest red, a lick of flames in the fireplace, plus a bit of patent leather with a hint of gold at the heels, proof that even the darkness can glow.

This season, the look has got even better with my favourite, go-with-everything quilted, gold-zipped biker jacket in a classic cropped and collarless Chanel style by New Look. Just as with the New Look summer parka, I can't get enough of it because of the snug sleeves, that us petites with twig-like arms so rarely get in a jacket, and that makes all my other jackets appear big and bulky in comparison.

This is a classic autumn look that, when the going gets tough as low temperatures hit, you can throw an oversized boyish winter coat, a traditional wool trench, a padded parka or a shearling cape over it, and you're covered up nice and tight.

 

monochrome skirt: River Island, quilted jacket: New Look,

poloneck top and 1960s ankle boots: Asos