Pastel Streets and Pink Coats for Winter

If my Instagram feed the past week is anything to go by, the only thing we should all be wearing now that December has arrive is a combination of red, plaid and cream aran knits. But while I love a little tartan – and I’m certainly not opposed to a sartorial cliche or two – I prefer invest in the sort of pieces I know I’ll be able to wear all season long and that won’t feel entirely passé come January. For me, a chic party dress and a classic coat beats a scratchy Christmas sweater any day.

Although blush pink is my favourite colour, I used to think it was just for spring and summer. But the past couple of years, it has established itself as a year-round favourite in my wardrobe. A pink coat might not seem like the most practical choice for winter, but it’s actually the piece I reach for the most once it’s too cold for a nude trench coat (my autumn staple). Aside from blush and navy, I don’t actually wear much colour, and a pink coat seems to instantly brighten an otherwise all-black outfit and add a pop of much-needed colour on a grey winter day and feels subtly festive at this time of year.

Although I already have several pink coats in my wardrobe, I fell for this blush version the moment I spotted it at Whistles. I resisted for a few weeks (on the very rational basis that I didn’t need a sixth pink coat), but then reasoned that as I wear a coat every day for five months of the year in England, buying a couple of lovely new options each winter was a sensible investment. Because really, life is too short and winter too long to settle for boring coats.

And I’m happy to say that on a cost-per-wear basis alone, the coat has already earned it’s place in my closet. I added a couple of these darling crystal brooches to make it resemble this Kate Spade version I was also fantasising about, and have been teaming it with a black dress and heels for work and appointments, and cashmere sweaters and over-the-knee boots for errands and weekend outings. Bonus points for the big pockets and the classic cocoon cut that makes me feel instantly more pulled-together.

Wearing: Whistles coat // Ted Baker dress // Kate Spade heels // Coach bag (fuchsia version on sale here) // J.Crew bag charm // Celine sunglasses c/- SmartBuyGlasses // Topshop crystal brooches // Michael Kors watch // Kenneth Jay Lane earrings (inexpensive version here) // Z for Accessorize crystal ring c/- // ASOS horseshoe ring.

Beauty: Marc Jacobs ‘King & Kisses’ blush // Charlotte Tilbury ‘Kim K.W.’ lipstick // Chanel ‘Pink Rubber’ nailpolish. 

What are your favourite non-festive winter staples for this time of year?

Love, Miss B xx

Photos by Joe Galvin