This week we have asked The Wardrobe Insider's Katie Powell, fresh from Paris Fashion Week, to give us her insights from the shows and how we can translate the trends into our everyday lives. First up - capes, coats and blanket wraps...
WRAP UP IN YOUR PERSONAL STYLE THIS AUTUMN WINTER
By Personal Stylist at The Wardrobe Insider, Katie Powell
Utility chic at Victoria Beckham, denim galore at Burberry, 70’s rock n roll at Saint Laurent and abstract florals at Chanel; just some of the most irresistible trends served up on the fashion menu for spring/summer 2015 and showcased across the most stylish spots on the globe! With the most sophisticated city in Europe closing the shows last week, we are now left to drool over the collections and start making our shopping lists for March next year - #EXCITING!
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Utility chick at VB, florals at Chanel and denim at Burberry
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But as ever, the unveiling of one season in the fashion world coincides with the arrival of the one before and right now, it’s all about autumn/winter!
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| As a personal stylist, the winter season is one I am very passionate about since there are always more elements to one’s outfit, meaning more to style and more opportunities to create that wow factor!!! |
I tend to find a lot of women also prefer this season, but not for the same reason; mostly because we can wrap up, boot up and forget about trying to camouflage those bits we may not feel so comfortable with (we all have them). The down side to cocooning ourselves in this oversized style though is that we often forget about making that extra bit of effort to feel our best in our clothes and adopting the same rules that we would when all is on show in the summer season. So the question is - Is your winter wardrobe still complementing your body shape? Are the colours that you’re wearing still illuminating your skin tone and hair colour? Are you making that extra bit of effort to put the finishing touches to your outfit? And do you feel amazing in every single piece of clothing that gets an outing?
The answer should be yes to all of those, so let’s take a look at how you can feel comfortable and amazing this autumn/winter but in a true style that works for you and your shape!
The most glamourous addition to your autumn wardrobe should most definitely be the cape coat, shawl cape or the blanket coat (sounds comfy, huh); super cozy and easy to wear for all lifestyles. The cape was showcased all over the catwalks from Burberry Sacai and Issa and conjures up wintery images of long country walks and pub lunches by the fire.
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| Burberry pioneering the cape cloak look for AW |
If you are opting for a cape coat, then invest in a classic neutral (navy, camel, grey or black) that will complement any outfit and become a staple piece. However, if you prefer to experiment with a shawl cape or blanket as a wraparound piece instead then look at checks, velvet and patchwork detail for the key textures of the season.
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| Clockwise from top left: Asos cape Cardi, Sessun Reina at asks, Topshop unique showcasing the patchwork look |
Your coat is there to keep you warm but it must also complement your silhouette. If your legs are your slimmest area, wear the cape coat as is and team with a leather look or high gloss black jeans but if your waist is your best feature then use a belt over the top to cinch and define, one of a/w’s other key trends.
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| Dolce and Gabanna giving us all cape inspiration |
When choosing the hue of your statement coat, fairer skin tones should pick deeper, brighter colours as anything too light will wash your complexion out. This way of thinking can be applied to the rest of your wardrobe too – essentially, the lighter the piece of clothing and the paler you are, further down the outfit you need to wear it!
