I don’t know about you, but I am 100% bored of winter and have spring on the brain. But while my head is filled with visions of spring blossoms and bare legs and blue skies, the weather has other plans and we are definitely still in the full throes of winter’s icy temperatures and grey days.
While I almost never wear a black coat and instead prefer cheerier shades of pink, leopard, or camel, like most people I’ll often find myself relying on an otherwise black and neutral palette during the colder months. It’s easy, goes with everything, and there’s nothing chicer than a little black dress paired with a red lip and just a few accessories. But by this stage in winter, it’s frankly a tiny bit depressing to still be pulling on head-to-toe black when the weather outside is lending little in the way of colour.
So I’ve been challenging myself to put together more outfits which avoid dark shades altogether, or which only include one black item (such as a pair of tights, skinny jeans, or a beret) if I must. And I have to say: it has been so refreshing, and feels like a breath of fresh air on a grey day. Even if the weather refuses to cooperate (I’m looking at you, Storm Dennis), it does make it feel a little more like spring to be dressing for the season we want.
To be honest, I didn’t buy much at all this winter; aside from needing new boots, I had everything I really wanted and didn’t see many new things that I felt I had to have. But this outfit includes some of the best things I added to my wardrobe this season: a great pairs of boots which I have lived in since October (after I posted about buying these perfect ankle boots in black, Sam Edelman kindly reached out and sent me the gold pair which are just so fun), this pearl bag which was a lucky Amazon find and the best £20 I spent all season, and this boucle coat in the perfect ivory shade that seems to go with nearly everything in my wardrobe and which will take me all the way through to spring.
I’ve been wearing almost this exact outfit combination on steady rotation lately; pairing the ivory coat with a white or cream dress and bare legs when the forecast is mild, or adding black tights or jeans + a cream sweater when it’s not. And while avoiding black won’t make winter end any sooner, it does help signal that spring is just around the corner.
Wearing: H&M dress (also comes in black polka dot) // Topshop coat (wearing a size S, similar style here) // AMAZON pearl bag // Sam Edelman boots c/- (also available in black + snakeskin) // H&M beret // ASTLEY CLARKE necklace c/- (less expensive style here) // vintage brooches (similar style here) // BOBBI BROWN ‘Red Carpet’ lipstick*
I’d love to know how you’re getting through these bleak winter months, sartorially-speaking?
Love, Briony xx
Photos by Joe Galvin. *Contains some affiliate links
