White is Winter’s IT Colour

Imagine winter. No colourful butterflies fluttering in your garden, a bare turf, dormant flowers waiting for spring and birds off to summer breeding grounds. No COLOUR…..or is there? How about the red-orange sky on frozen forests that turns orange or pink at sunset? The vivid evergreens in the yard, and red berries in the snow? Look around you and you will discover that the chilly months aren’t as dull as they are popularly projected. That also means your winter wardrobe doesn’t need a whole lot of colour to it. Step out with the beauty of neutrals – and even better – white, because white is winter’s IT colour.

White is winter’s IT colour

White was one of the dominant fall/winter colours of choice by some major fashion houses.

• Black and white prints with optical illusion from Saint Laurent, Valentino and Emilio Pucci
• White intergalactic look from Calvin Klein and Anthony Vaccarello
• Soft, warm and white classic fur coats from Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton and Giambattista Valli

White on the red carpet

Celebrities made a fashion statement with all-white ensembles at music, movie and red carpet events. Some rocked the colour across the gamut of formal clothing – from crisp silk shirts and  jeans, creamy tuxedo suits and blazers to knee length shirts, crop tops and  court shoes – included Sienna Miller, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Minogue, Julianne Moore and the ever-stylish Alexa Chung.  When white is on the red carpet, you really know that white is winter’s IT colour!!

White lies

If you’re among those women who hesitate to wear white, we’d like to dispel some  myths once and for all. Here goes:

White accentuates curves:

Dark colours like black absorb light to make you look slimmer. But that doesn’t mean white can make you appear bigger. In fact, by mixing shades and textures, white can look very flattering on curvy women.

White is not practical for everyday wear:

The fear that whites stain easily shouldn’t keep you away from the colour. Coffee or other stains are tough to spot on textures like brocade, tweed or corduroy. These textures incorporated in white can serve well as daily wear in the winter months.

White does not suit very pale skin:

While whites are most flattering on darker skin, bright whites without yellow tones go well with light complexioned women. Outfits in such colours can add more vibrancy to your overall look.

How to wear white like a fashionista this winter

There are two areas where you can go wrong: choosing the wrong white clothes and/or not pairing them correctly.

• White pencil skirts are flattering on virtually all body types. They mould sexily into curves (on larger, curvier women) and offer an illusion of curves (on bonier women). Make sure you pick a heavier fabric or one with lycra to contain your body better; a lighter fabric will allow curves to jiggle around and fail to offer an illusion of balanced curves.
• A white dress can come alive when paired with shoes in tan, light blush or metallic colours. Avoid pairing one with black shoes, or it may make you look severe, and more so if you have a light complexion.
• When shopping for white pants, slim is the way to go. Flared leg shapes can accentuate your bottom-half, which can be especially unflattering if you’re bottom-heavy.
• Black jeans and a white blazer is a classic choice – you can never go wrong with this combo.
• Layer up your white outfit with grey knitwear for an interesting, eye-catching and stylish look.
• Wool-mix skirts and textured sweaters tend to work better than cotton, which can lose its appeal when it crumples.

What to wear under white clothing

Many, if not most white outfits are sheers or see-through, necessitating the use of appropriate innerwear. Here are some tips:

• A pale pink slip or bra under a button-down white shirt is a good alternative to beige
• Grey underwear is the best bet for white pants
• Plunge bras work well with white low-cut dresses
• Briefs made from lighter fabrics are a good fix for see-through white skirts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make an impression with white this winter. Watch this space for more winter dressing tips and tricks.