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Fashion – that word crops up so much… it’s a massive industry and each season it tempts us with the new ‘must haves’. If you have a good basic wardrobe that works for your lifestyle you may only want to tweak it each season: replacing anything that has worn out or seen better days. You don’t have to be drawn into thinking you need the latest ‘this and that’. Sure, if you enjoy fashion and wearing clothes that you feel are more current, that’s fine, but I’d encourage you to get the right balance in your wardrobe for your body shape, fit and colouring first before spending more money. Having said all that, it’s still nice to know what the new season trends are; so if you are thinking of buying “just one thing…” here’s my Autumn/Winter guide: Footwear – Boots have gone chunky, which is great for Doc Martin because they are just the style of boot others are emulating. These are being worn with longer skirts – not maxi or midi but somewhere in between and often pleated. Block heels are still strong; they often come in a sensible height and are versatile to wear with most outfits. Zara £35.99
Jigsaw suede block heel £129 Interesting trainers are still popular, so if you’ve got dodgy feet and struggle to find a pair of shoes that gives you the comfort and support you need this could be an option but be mindful that it will influence the rest of your style!
Office £60 We will also be seeing lots of detail in our footwear – embroidery, embellishment, bows and lots of colour, even bright metallic. So don’t stick to black or brown!
The purple velvet shoe leads nicely into two other trends – the colour purple and velvet! Purple is a great colour to think about livening up your Autumn/Winter wardrobe – it goes well with lots of other colours and if you get the right tone it will suit most people’s colouring. Velvet crept in last year but will be around in force as the weather gets cooler – a luxury fabric that drapes well, so great in a jacket but you’ll also see it in footwear (I guess not so practical in the rain if you’re a commuter!). And velvet trousers will only work on the very few (i.e. if you’re tall and slender!) M&S £69 If you want something a bit more practical and ‘everyday’ go with cord, M&S and Tesco have got some great value cord skirt. If you need a new winter coat, think military – shoulder epaulettes, piping, and long in length. A word of warning – that’s fine if you are tall, but if not, a ‘pea’ style coat would be an alternative as it would better balance your proportions. If you are looking for something more casual, puffers are big! And I do mean big (oversized!!). Other styles to keep your eye on – Tweed and herringbone, anything heritage. Pussybow blouses – wear with tapered trousers and block heels. Embroidered detail on any garment. And a raw edge on your jeans. Cross body bags – I’m delighted about this one because it’s so practical and great for your posture. Skinny rib tops/knitwear – good for pear shaped ladies!
I’ve included a few examples of me this month, don’t know if that helps to bring the ideas alive? But they are a result of a great shoot with the lovely Catherine O’Donnell – more about that another time! www.catherineodonnell.co.uk
Of course, if you’re not sure what ‘your one thing’ should be I can help, so get in contact. You might even fancy getting a group of friends together over coffee or a glass of wine for a fun ‘Styling’ session! |
Examples from: Topshop £49.00, Boden £99.50, Office purple velvet £26
