As Durham gets colder, drearier and rainier, a chilly winter with the promise of early snows is becoming evident. However, the prospect of low temperatures should not make you worry; designers have for once favoured utility and comfort and the hot trends for this year are perfectly suited for this coming season. Â
If there is one word to describe the general feeling of last March’s runway shows it must be VOLUME. Bold looks included capes, oversized coats and wide knitwear jumpers, an all-encompassing mix of soft and bright colours, plain woollen shades and extravagant patterns. And the finest option for staying warm must always be fur. Far from being a forgotten luxury, shrug-on shearlings and fur lining are the utmost expression of this winter’s easy-going spirit. Burberry’s iconic campaign best exemplifies this in a reminiscence of the Bloomsbury and Charleston decorative art, but there are more affordable options which are equally as glamorous. Below is just one example; the Burberry’s Bloomsbury Girls Campaign for Winter 2014.
A must-have for this season is the blue turtle-neck from Massimo Dutti:
The woollen coat lined with faux fur from Zara:
And why not complete the look with Bimba & Lola’s faux fur version of a seasonal must-have:Â
To top up a look, try a slouch beanie teamed with gloves and earmuffs, all from trendy British fashion designer Karl Donoghue.
And yet winter is not an excuse to forget to dress up – silky shirts and vaporous dresses may still be worn beneath thick covers, and they become all the more mysterious and interesting for it. Feathers, shimmer and velvet are probably this year’s favourites when it comes to embellishment, while lacy details on sheer materials create a dreamy and on-trend look. Elie Saab’s use of degraded colours, cascades of sparkles and shadow play has no rival in its field, and it may have inspired a few cocktail dresses worth having a look at.Â
Fitted black dress from Mango or a plunge neck, lace and sparkly bodycon dresses, all from Topshop:
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But even in splendour one must remember that this winter’s fashion is ultimately based on natural simplicity. This year, ostentation is old-fashioned. A dash of shimmer is more than welcome (often a necessary touch of femininity to contrast comfy oversized items of a more manly style), but do not forget to down-play the rest of your look. Noticeable colours are also on the spotlight, but even the brightest tones used in the catwalk are earthly and warm.
The obvious conclusion is that, when it comes to fashion, this winter is all about keeping warm – and, far up in the British highlands, this is hardly something you will regret.