HOW TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES? WEAR THEM!

Cheer up . . . with these seven ways to wear the experts’ colour of the year

Fashion types are always telling us to wear this or that difficult colour: last year it was either palest lilac or lime green.

For 2020, though, the undisputed colour of the year is classic blue. What a relief! You would, of course, be forgiven for observing that we do not really need the Pantone Color institute — whose colour of the year is eagerly anticipated by the fashion industry each winter — to tell us to wear blue. however, Pantone is all

about exact shades. The system was set up in the Sixties to help with precise colour matching in the printing industry, and this year’s shade is that lovely, bright true blue that just about everyone looks good in.

It’s lively enough to be a statement, but flexible enough to work with plenty of other shades. It has no red tones to inflame pink complexions, nor any green or yellow notes, so you won’t look ill if your skin tone is darker. Furthermore, given that fashion in 2020 is going to be all about buying less and buying better, this classic blue and navy work together like a dream. And who hasn’t got something navy?

You can forget that old adage ‘Blue and green should ne’er be seen without a colour in between’. Rubbish! Nearly all shades of green look fab alongside classic blue.

If your hips are heavier than your top half, I would go for navy trousers or a skirt, and wear those with a classic blue sweater or shirt. Essentiel Antwerp is doing this shade particularly well, as is Marks & Spencer, which has a versatile, classic blue jumper (above far right).

If you want to minimise a heavier bust, keep the classic blue below the waist. Essentiel Antwerp’s wide-leg trousers (also far right) are very of the moment, but be warned that they are quite long. If (like mine) your legs aren’t catwalk-model enough for this style, try the fabulous cow-print dress (centre) from Whistles.

In 2019 Pantone’s colour of the year was coral — lovely on some, but not of universal appeal. So I’ll be making the most of the wearability of this year’s choice. After all, who knows what tonal challenges 2021 may brings?