HOW TO DRESS LIKE A GROWN UP
LATe last year, hours before the British Fashion awards, I stood before the mirror in a fantastically frothy pink confection. It had been loaned to me by its British designer, Molly Goddard.
My husband was speechless, his eyes wide in amazement. his look — coupled with my seven-year-old son’s comment ‘Can I dress up funny, too?’ — was all it took to make me retreat into a black satin sheath before you could say Barbie.
To be fair, it was probably all the ruching, ruffles and sheer frou-frouness of the style that threw them.
But I wish I’d been braver. Because not only did Molly Goddard win the emerging Designer gong at the awards, but pink is without doubt the fashion colour for 2017.
From the palest blush and coral to raspberry and fiery magenta, but particularly — and most alarmingly — bubblegum and candy floss, the catwalks have spoken.
This, ladies, is the age of Barbara Cartland.
Only this time round, pink is trying to be a proper grown-up shade. Let’s all try to banish the image of Katie Price in her pink velvet Juicy Couture leisure suit and matching Range Rover to the backs of our minds — and don’t bring your daughter’s princess costume into it, either.
I’m as pink-phobic as any female over the age of four. My wardrobe is a sea of black and navy. All structured, clean lines, smart and, I like to think, lowkey elegant.
ANyThING that’s remotely splashy or, God forbid, demanding, has long since been weeded out. It must be rigorously edited (I keep telling myself) for speed and ease on the early morning school and office run.
The result of all this stringent fine-tuning? My clothes have become colourless, lifeless and, I admit, a bit dreary.
While I’ve been busy whittling down my wardrobe, redacting it to the point of characterlessness, fashion has moved on and embraced eccentricity, diversity and daring-as-hell individuality.
As actress Kay Thompson declared while playing the late legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland in Fifties film Funny Face: ‘Think Pink!’
Vreeland’s fashion advice was more than generic magazine silliness. her ethos — to stand out and have fun with clothes — is echoed in today’s bold colour message from some of the world’s greatest designers.
From the grand octogenarian Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel to the Why it’s all about Barbara Cartland pink this winter fortysomething Phoebe Philo at cult brand Celine, from Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli, 52, to bright young thing Simone Rocha, 30, they all seem to be saying the same thing: ‘Life’s great! Be happy!’
And what better way to transmit all this spirit than with pink — said by psychologists to represent compassion and unconditional love.
So pink — sugared almond, flamingo, salmon, rose — bring it on! But how to wear it? And who can wear it? I’m happy to report that pink has no age limit. As my mother, aged 83 and cutting a striking figure in plummy pink on Christmas Day, will tell you, pink is a fully paid-up member of fashion’s ‘Great Greynaissance’.
Indeed, the more silver-haired you are, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to carry off a flaming pomegranate midi-skirt (£75, finerylondon.com) or a shocking, lipstick pink dress (£120, essential.antwerp.com). Note: wear it not as an A-line mini-dress, but as a fluid tunic over tailored black trousers.
If softer pinks take your fancy — supremely flattering on any complexion — try a faux fur coat (£89, topshop.com) or a jacket with a ballet pink fur collar (£69.99, zara.com) to frame the face.
For daytime, the dusty tones really shine against a crisp, white shirt or a black polo neck.
As we move into summer you can bring out the chalky hues — there’s nothing prettier with a tan.
For evening, take the sparkly route with a draped pink sequin skirt (£39.99, hm.com).
Pink, I think, when all is said and done, is deeply wearable.
It’s finally chic — and for grown-ups. Well, what more could you ask for?
n Rebecca LowthoRpe is fashion director of Grazia. Sarah Mower is away.