SPRING/SUMMER FASHION TREND 2015 - GREY IS NEW BLACK

Grey is yet another colour that has taken centre stage this season, in fact it was declared the season’s new black (see my previous blog on the colour blue).  Grey is a neutral intermediate colour that sits between black and white and this is the reason why it has such a wide range of shades to play with:  from dark moody charcoal to a light, fluid aluminium, or a futuristic stainless steel, as described by the Pantone Colour Institute, it has been used by many European fashion houses and has become one of the dominants in their 2015 fashion shows.

This is such an adaptable colour that even in cheap fabrics it still looks expensive, elegant and classy.  It is great for layering, texturing and colour popping.  What I like about grey it that it works perfectly with contrasting colours enhancing their hues and allowing them to take centre stage.

Coat:  Top End

Dress:  Lanvin (I wore it here)

Shoes:  Christian Laboutin (i wore it here)

Bag:  Chanel (I wore it here)

 True to my shopping mantra, the first thing I do before rushing off to the shops, is to check my existing wardrobe and see if I can find something in grey that, with the help of fresh clothes and accessories could be brought back to life.  Even an old t-shirt could look modern paired with white skinny jeans, a great pair of shoes and a blazer.

Pants:  Lee (I wore them here)

Shoes:  Ted Baker (I wore them here)

If the minimalistic approach to clothing is your style, think about an elongated coat that will always look classic and chic with a white crisp blouse and a pencil skirt underneath. 

Knit:  Sportcraft

Skirt:  Zara

Shoes & Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Long knit turtleneck jumpers and cardigans are among this season’s must have essentials, they have a lot of textures without being bulky and look great with slim cut pants and skirts.

T-shirt:  Sportscraft

Pants:  Gladstones

Shoes:  Lee

Cardigan:  Lounge

If you are not a fan of wearing brights but still want to break the monochromatic streak of grey, you can pair it with pastels; they go with grey very well, especially dusty or light pink.

Accessories such as scarves, shoes, handbags and jewellery speak about your personality, your tastes and style type and help you to make your outfit feel complete and polished.

 

One more thing, crimson lips is the greatest accessories of them all; paint your lips read, dress yourselves in fashionable grey and you are bound to look fabulous!

WARDROBE ESSENTIALS - BLACK PANTS

In my last post I shared with you my thoughts on gorgeous extras, ie shoes and their role in the every stylista’s wardrobe.  Today I would like to talk about one item of clothes that, in my opinion, every modern woman should have in her closet, a pair of gorgeous black pants.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about my philosophy on shopping.  One thing I can say for sure is that I am not a spontaneous shopper nor do I follow the latest fashion trends.  I very seldom buy clothes on impulse or because it is “hot right now”  for a few reasons: a) I do not want end up looking like everybody else around me and b) once the trend becomes yesterday’s news, I don’t want the face a dilemma of “What should I do with this piece now”? 

And it is not just the money you paid for it, you have to find valuable space in your closet to store this currently out-of-fashion item until the wheels of fashion roll over yet again (say every 10 years!!!) and you will be able to wear it once more.  My guess is that by that time, you will probably forget its existence and your body shape could be a different size.

My philosophy in buying clothes is quite simple and logical, to me at least:  avoid impulse shopping, do not succumb to short lived trends; instead look for timeless classical pieces that you never grow tired of and when buying a new piece think whether it will go with in your existing wardrobe.  Mixing and matching is a lot of fun, and if you can master this trick, you instantly double or triple the volume of your outfits.

When shopping for new clothes I prefer to buy them in the stores that allow you to bring the item back for a refund and not just for a credit note.  I like to bring them home and see how it complements what I already have and if not, I return it.

There are quite a few items in my wardrobe, I call them “My capsule collection” that I bought a couple of years back but I love and wear them regardless. Clothes like dresses by DVF (see previous post), a white silk blouse, a smoking jacket or a pair of timeless black pumps are my saviours when I am clueless or in doubt about what to wear.

A case in point is a pair of black slim fit pants I bought while visiting my in-laws in Cape Town. Not only do I love the fact that they are not entirely black but rather have shimmering pattern, they also fit well because of the classic slim cut.  But what is most attractive about them is their versatility, every time you pair them with a different top, it’s like you have a completely new outfit.  They are like a blank canvass and it is what’s in your wardrobe together with your personal taste and imagination that will make them look dressed up or down, helping you achieve an elegant and sophisticated look, or to be playful and casual. 

I love to wear them with loose blouses for the office, with quirky tops and short boots when I am out for a drink or movies and with a pair of elegant black shoes and a pearls and an onyx necklace for a night at the Opera.

Top:  Georgio Armani

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes:  Mark Jacobs

If you, like me, a lady of certain vintage, you would know exactly what style suits you best.  It is possible that the slim fit pants might look on you like a second skin or on another hand, you’d prefer to cover some parts of your body by way of plaits, layers or loose fit, so you would opt for some more streamlined silhouette. 

Points to remember:

One – high heels make anyone’s legs look longer and add few extra inches to your height;

Two – regardless of style and colour, your pants should be of high quality and fit perfectly.

Top:  Zara

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes: DKNY

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Top:  Sass

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Boots:  Midas

Top:  Fabiani (SA)

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes:  Christian Dior

HOW TO WEAR BLACK AND WHITE

My love affair with the dresses continues (see my earlier posts) From vibrant and exciting bright colors to a classic and sophisticated black and white monochromatic palette, I simply can’t get enough of these garments.  

Dress:  Zara

Boots:  Robert Clergerie

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Monochrome is a trend that timelessly carries on from season to season, it looks marvelous on its own, works beautifully with an injection of a bright colour (colour popping is the term, I believe) is added and screams with confidence when mixed and layered with different patterns. 

Dress:  Zara

Boots:  Midas

Coat: Jane Lamerton

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Of course, time of the day, an occasion or just the mood you are in right now should be considered when choosing the outfit and accessories but no matter what you opt for, choose the one that works for you and wear it with pride!!!

Pants:  Glassons

Shirt:  Zara

Shoes:  Repetto

Coat: Jane Lamerton

Pants:  Trenery
Top:  Sportsgirl
Shoes: Senso

Jacket:  Lovers
Pants:  Sass & Bide
Shoes: Repetto

Pants:  Glassons (as before)
Top:  Seed
Shoes:  Miu Miu
Bag: Coach
Necklace: Bondi Markets

Pants:  Sass & Bide

Top:  Marcs

Shoes: Midas

Pants:  Sass & Bide

Top:  Marcs

Shoes: Midas

Bag:  Georgio Armani

Jacket:  Saba

HOW TO WEAR A SHIFT DRESS

There are many factors involved in making a woman of a certain vintage looking fabulous and, in my opinion, not all of them involve clothes or shoes or accessories.  Most importantly, for me, is the knowledge of what works for your body type, what your body’s assets and flaws are and how to take the best advantages of the former and try to minimize the later. And one more important point – you have to be brutally honest with yourself.  And that, my dear readers, comes with experience.

Dress:  Camilla & Marc

Shoes:  Christian Louboutin

Bag:  Chanel

Hand cuff:  Hermes

I am also quite aware, that why my legs are still slim and toned (due to hours spent in the gym and on the running track), my face is a signal of my age, hence as much as I am tempted to wear extremely short skirts, tight dresses and plunging necklines, I am well aware, alas, that this type of clothing is more suitable for my daughter.

Having said all that, I am all into dresses at the moment and I have a new flavour of the month - a shift dress.  I adore them for their simplicity and versatility; their clean silhouette fits almost every body shape and size, you can dress them up or down and they are fantastic transeasonal staple.

In one of my recent trips to Camilla and Marc, I spotted one of them in a luminous orange hue and took it to the change room. I loved its easy cut and the way it accentuates the best parts of your body and hides the ones that you are not so happy about; the single colour of it is a perfect background for playing with all sorts of accessories, from necklaces and bracelets all the way down to shoes and bags, depending on the occasion, your mood or the time of day. 

For a trip to the movies I paired it with thick heeled short black boots, a funky necklace and for a colour pop (my favourite way to wear brights) – an aqua shoulder bag.  

As the days are getting cooler, a pair of black tights is a great addition to this sartorial look.  On a night out to a dinner at a two-hatted restaurant, I accessorised it with a string of pearls, a Chanel evening bag and a pair of killer heels from Christian Louboutin.  But no matter where or how I wear it, this dress always earns a compliment.

Dress:  Camilla & Marc

Boots:  Midas

Necklace:  Zara

Bag:  Coach