I can, hands up, say that during winter I am not very adventurous with colour, despite my preaching of the importance of brightening up your wardrobe. Yep, I am guilty. But of all the colours I think I could deal with, darker shades of blue are completely doable with my existing closet, and honestly, I am talking about navy. Navy is a rich and luxurious shade and is so easy to wear and wear well. My preference is for blazers, which can make any bright colour dress or top look timeless rather than trendy.
At work
The range of work wear from the high street brands has improved tenfold over the last few years, with more pieces being included, as a nice departure from the traditional suit. Dresses are smart and create a feminine but office appropriate look, and in my experience women tend to prefer easy to wear and versatile pieces. Next leads the way this season for workwear and totally embraces the navy trend (Crombie coat, Ponte dress and black quilted bag all from Next ). And don’t be afraid to add some black in there too through accessories like a faux fur snood.
For play
Texture lends itself to work with darker shades in a very sultry way. Brocades, knits, and leathers for example, all synonymous with this season, are everywhere. Penneys is pioneering this look for winter and has struck a perfect balance between edginess and prettiness (crochet collar shell blouse €15 in stores end of November, Lurex boucle shorts €15, metal corners clutch €9 ). Think 1920s Downton Abbey meets contemporary fashion. Lady Mary would be so trendy!
For chilling out
Even when we are relaxing in front of the telly watching X Factor we can still look chic, you know. Knits are the best investment for casual wear, the chunkier the better (and don’t be afraid to knit one yourself ). There is nothing cosier than your favourite woolly jumper teamed with a pair of jeans and flats for strolling around the shops on a Saturday afternoon. Navy, electric blue, and petrol shades will match your capsule wardrobe just perfectly (jumper, Monsoon, €90 ).
To splurge on
Coming up to Christmas we can allow ourselves a little treat. If you want to splurge on something long lasting then a bag is the perfect option. A bucket bag will fit your entire life and is a classic shape that is really popular this year. Take a look at the selection from Hobbs which are of the highest quality and are beautifully made.
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