Cold Snap, Crackle, and Colour Pops

Street Style at the Paris shows

The other morning when my five year old son woke up, he looked me up and down, smirked and said, “That’s a funny outfit.” Yes, he’s five and yes, he is still quite happy for me to dress him however I see fit but usually if he passes comment on what I’m wearing, it’s something sweet. On this occasion, despite the 6.30am gloom and the two of us being the only people present, I suddenly felt rather self conscious. And not in the way that I did a few weeks ago when I made the mistake of asking my boyfriend if he liked my new hat and he replied, “You look like Dr.Who.”

The annoying thing – especially since I didn’t have the time to change – was that when I had got dressed half an hour earlier, I too had wondered if I really liked the skirt I had fished out of the wardrobe the night before. It’s a very bright yellow, absolutely not my colour but a safe enough distance from my face which is currently sporting its fetching January hue. Everything else I had on was black, which these days is unusual for me but it was the only thing I had which goes with the yellow. I had in fact inadvertently dressed as a giant bumble bee.

Jessica Alba pulling off yellow

Amy Adams rocks orange

Jada Pinkett Smith goes green

Attempting not to appear too bothered, I asked, “Why do you think I look funny?” to which the boy in the rock star pyjamas replied, “Because black and yellow don’t really go together.” I decided to leave it there given yesterday at his Art Club my son came home with a piece of work ‘in the style of Alex Calder’ and I had to Google Alex Calder* to find out who he was.

A Winter pallet…

Blue & yellow scarf £45 at Whistles

For ‘Winters’ – Cherry red Jacket £159 at Hobbs

Yellow backpack £90 at Whistles

The thing about small children is, they have a very subjective view on colour and it tends to be that they like anything bright and cheerful and are wary of anything dark and gloomy. My son insists on referring to dark grey and dark blue as black too. This will be why pre-school television programmes and books are generally full of primary colours.

A Spring pallet…

For ‘Springs’ – Blouse £25.99 at Zara

Mules £49.99 at Zara

Off the shoulder top £39 at Top Shop

It’s February, the weather is bleak and there is an awful lot of grey and black in the shops, more than usual it seems. So I’ve gone on a colour rampage in a bid to brighten everyone’s day. Here are my top picks of the (mostly) new in pieces in the shops currently. A word to the wise, if you’re an ‘Autumn’ pallet, you’re laughing, for the third year in a row, you’re totally in fashion.

An Autumn pallet…

For ‘Autumns’ – Burgundy and blue dress £59 at M&S

Blouse £120 at Whistles

Print dress reduced to £75 at Karen Millen

If you’re a ‘Summer’ pallet you will have to search a bit harder for variation but trust me, you’re probably the most in need so put some energy into it and it’ll transform your February wardrobe!

A Summer pallet…

For ‘Summers’ – Pastel suede clutch £35 at ASOS.com

Cashmere mix lemon cardigan £29.90 at Uniqlo

Sparkle top £65 at Whistles

As for my ‘funny’ yellow skirt, I think we have come to the end of the road. It was nice while it lasted but life is too short to have your sartorial choices questioned before you’ve had your first sip of coffee. Today I am in my blue midi and cream blouse and it seems to have passed the test. The yellow skirt has been told it is going to live in a warmer country where it has much more space to run around. The bag is by the door ready for the H&M recycling bin.

 

*Alex Calder was an American sculptor who often produced figures using wire.