GREY IS A NEW BLACK

I recently came to realise that I don't favour any particular colour but rather go through random phases where a chosen colour would take centre stage in my outfits only soon to become replaced by another one.  

There is no pattern or reason as to when and why I become attractive to any particular hue nor do I know what colour will be my next choice, it's all totally sub-conscious and absolutely random.  As you can see, this week it's all about grey.  

It does not mean that every time I have an itch for a new colour, I run to the shops and buy anything that fits my mood.  I might have some pieces in my closet already and have worn them separately but not together in one complete outfit.

They grey journey started with a Furla handbag that I got last year for my birthday which was a step away from traditional black.  Then a couple of months ago I saw this beautiful peony print silk blouse at Assembly Label that I simply had to have, followed by just recently bought a pair of slingback dark grey pumps by Boss.

We all know the power of black, it is the the ultimate colour to go to when we want to look chic and elegant and is extremely helpful when we want to appear slimmer than we actually are but I think that the grey colour that so far has been undermined by it, should be brought back into the limelight.  

Basically, the colour grey is a mix of white and black and by changing the ratio between them we can modify its hue and saturation from pale grey on the top of the scale all the way down to dark slate with the colours like ash, platinum, silver etc in between, which means that you can be dressed in grey from head to toe or, as French say it ton sur ton, and don't look dull and boring.  

The key to pulling off  this look is to make sure that every item of an outfit is in a different shade of grey thus adding an element of subdued elegance and depths to the look.  

And to support my view on the subject, here is the meaning of colour grey:  "...typically associated with dull and dirty...as well as formal and sophisticated..."

I wanted to have a grey colour in each element of my outlook including silver earrings and grey nail polish.

My outfit details:

Blouse - Assembly Label

Pants - Lee (old)

Shoes - Boss

Handbag - Furla

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!