The Scottish Mail on Sunday - You
My hues? Here are the rules
As I get older, I definitely favour a clean colour palette – and, no, this doesn’t mean I’m obsessive about laundry but that understated shades are my go-to, complementing my pared-back, fuss-free wardrobe.
Hence the recent Copenhagen Fashion Week giving me the shivers, with its reams of ‘skousers’ (frilly dresses layered over trousers) and array of neon mismatched pieces. This is the exact look – a 40-something clown who has just escaped from the circus – I want to avoid.
Saying that, a clean-lines girl doesn’t mean a boring one. Quite the contrary. So, with the beginning of a new season (always an exciting opportunity to breathe fresh air into our wardrobes), how does someone who has an aversion to bright hues do colour? Like this…
FASHION COLUMNIST AND INFLUENCER JOANNE HEGARTY
Power up a suit with pastels I love the effortless elegance that a good trouser suit gives both for a working day or night out. However, come spring, I step away from dark, wintry shades, preferring to switch up the look with cream, light blue, beige, lemon and mint green.
Likewise with co-ords and sets Open Instagram or walk down the street and it looks like we’re living in a world of sets – from workout ones in spandex, lounge offerings in soft knits and sparkly party double acts to matchy-matchy summer linens. Wearing a set makes me feel lighter, freer and cleaner. And they look terrific on all body shapes and in subtle colourways.
Dial up neutrals with a bold hue For example, a bright top with cream trousers or peeping out from a neutral blazer. Red is staying put for spring/summer and will be a big hitter for dresses. Adding colour through accessories such as bags or shoes can make a neutral outfit instantly sing.
Don’t forget the details This season’s love-in with fringeing, rose motifs and metallics is the perfect opportunity for a flirt with colour.
Think like Coco Chanel She once noted that white, like black, has it all: its ‘beauty is absolute’. One of the strongest style statements this season is the white dress for casual and formal wear. Recent awards dos have been awash with far-from-boring offerings and the white frock is the perfect go-to for women who like quiet luxury but want more from their palette of oatmeal and taupe.
Lilac and blues are the shades for lids this season – and before this trend gives you Mrs Slocombe flashbacks, rest assured the latest iteration is fresh and flattering. Bobbi Brown global pro artist Amy Conway agrees: ‘These cooler tones can knock years off you and, in the same way blue-undertone lipsticks make teeth look whiter, pale lilacs, greys and blues on lids will brighten up the whites of eyes. My favourite take on this look is navy eyeliner, which suits all eye colours, skin tones and ages.’
This season, ‘glazed blush’ is the thing, but don’t let the pretentious name of the trend put you off, because the dewy rosy cheeks seen on the catwalks and at awards ceremonies are, according to Amy Conway, ‘flattering for all ages. It’s all about layering a rich moisturiser, then a cream blush and finally adding a highlight powder – though not one too shimmery as that can exaggerate lines on mature skin. If you want even more glow, add another layer of moisturiser over the blusher for a truly glazed finish.’