Vırginia Chadwyck-Healey What to wear to ... pare things back
Leave the frills and fuss behind and get back to basics with colour and your favourite boots
Ifeel I might ruffle some feathers with the angle of this week’s column. I’m going to suggest that perhaps the Jane Austen/upmarket milkmaid vibe we’ve enjoyed in the past two years might, actually, be nearing a tipping point. It’s heading for the fashion equivalent of Room 101. But what do I know? This kind of statement is what makes fashion so brilliantly democratic, but if you have read this column before you’ll notice I’m one for encouraging the curation of fewer, better pieces rather than one-trick ponies you’ll tire of. If you were to see my wardrobe, scattered over multiple rooms at home (“And floors!” bellows my husband) you’d find a few Pride and Prejudice looks, yes, for I too have fallen for the vintage day dress look, with frill sleeves and bib fronts. But when a trend reaches saturation it’s not that it wasn’t a good look, it’s just a sound time to go back to the classics. So today is about block colour essentials, and using accessories to really boost your outfit. Add a handbag, wear a hairband, try adding a brooch to a jacket (yes, a brooch). Make these your hints of fancy.
Today’s dresses are both under £115 and both would be a good way to test the style. For those unsure of red from head to toe, it can be broken up with a long navy waistcoat or a camel city coat. The green dress would be lovely with a black hairband, a black cross body bag and the boots shown here. I maintain long dresses (or skirts) with knee-high boots are a failsafe approach to autumn/ winter dressing, for any age, and any height. There are a gazillion great boots out there so if you think you can’t find a pair then please get in touch and I can help. Muscly calves, “cankles”, bunions, lack of confidence in heels – these are all extremely normal concerns. Of course, most of us are staring, on average, at three pairs of (barely worn) kneehigh boots and I’m guessing about five pairs of ankle boots: biker, Chelsea, cowboy, block heel, kitten heel, those red monstrosities... (As an aside, I advise anyone with unwanted shoes to look at Sal’s Shoes, a wonderful charity in need of good quality used footwear.)
Today’s boots have a chain detail at the rear, which I love. Camilla Elphick, a shoe designer based in west London, has mastered this Karlie boot which can be pre-ordered (I’ve begged her to make the very same pair in brown suede so watch this space.) If I was styling you in person this chain detail would lead me to recommend you maintain the gold theme in your jewellery. My favourites are Otiumberg, Minka, Missoma and Simone Rocha. Don’t overdo the accessories; there’s a fine line between eclectic and confused.
What I really want to convey is that just because there is no frill-factor, no vintage florals or patchwork patterns this look is not dull. If anything a simplified approach means I wear the dress,
‘This look is not dull. A simplified approach means I wear the dress, it doesn’t wear me’
the dress doesn’t wear me.
It’s a great time to realise, once more, the potential of what we are all sitting on. All those trinkets, the silk scarves, charm bracelets, trilbys, the jewellery your children made for you… let these be your talking points. Pare back the clothing details, but by all means experiment with texture (I’ve got my eye on a great cobalt blue needlecord number). You’ll be amazed how good it feels to bring out things that haven’t had nearly enough air time recently. Of course I will never fully ditch my penchant for something frilly but the key is to know when you’ve bought enough. Find what works for you. Dig deep: bon courage!