Summer is drawing to a close, and it will soon be time to pack away your mono-kini, your gladiator sandals and your saress and look for something to wrap up you up warm and for this season the 1950s should be your inspiration.
Imagine you are Audrey Hepburn sipping an après ski cocktail, or Jackie Kennedy/Onnasis snuggling into a cozy fireside scene, and you’ve got the gist of the 50s -inspired retro look that is the theme of this year’s autumn and winter collections. It’s a great opportunity to grab a bargain from those vintage second hand stores, and believe it or not, your old grannies handbags – you know, those boxy ones that look like miniature medical bags, or even those bags she has that look like leather envelopes – are hot hot hot. So its time to rifle through the drawers of your older relatives and see what you can pilfer.
The vintage influence extends to patterns and fabrics, with a tendency towards those big florals and classic checks, but beware of anything that looks a bit too curtainy. This seasons favoured colours again evoke a bygone age of elegance, with camel, holly-berry red, icey blue and olive shades all being popular. Fashion’s obsession with purple is not yet over, but for the colder months, you need to go for richer darker tones, deep plum and aubergine rather than brighter violets. And for those with a sense of adventure, burnished metalics are another colour trend this season, though tread carefully to avoid that looking brassy, or like Xena Warrior-princess.
Instead of coats, we are looking at chunky knits or gilets as alternatives, and another 50s favourite – the cape. Sheep-skin lined leather flying jackets are also in vogue.
This summer skirt lengths were dominated by the maxi, with that wafting, full length elegance all over the catwalk and now all over the beach, but for autumn/winter its mid-length you should be looking for, think of those 50s icons, and go for A line skirts, or full circle skirts, or even a wrap around.
Finally, your feet can also go 50s with kitten heeled pointy slingbacks making a welcome return, or if all this retro feel is a bit much, other styles to consider are the ever versatile ankle boot, or long high heeled boots with wrap around zippers (can’t remember Audrey wearing those!).
The fifties look is more structured, more tailored, less free-flowing and less casual, and it oozes glamour and sophistication. But its not going to suit everyone. So if you aren’t sure if you are looking like Marilyn Monroe or your auntie Marjorie, contact me ( at personalstyle.co.uk) for some one to one advice to steer you to the right combination for your figure, colouring & personality .
