Because I desperately feel the need to refresh my look for Spring, I’ve learnt to build up an assortment of Winter weight wardrobe items that don’t look overly Wintery. The following items use colour to say “Springtime”, but will keep you warm:

• Light and brightly coloured footwear: You’re after shoes that you can wear with socks or hose, but that aren’t black and heavy. Think of boots, booties, loafers or oxfords in colours like grey, red, blue, chestnut, taupe, tan, cream and white.
• Light or brightly coloured coats, jackets and trenches: I wear a bright blue wool coat, a cream leather jacket and a quilted cream trench coat in Spring time. I hope to add a citron wool coat to my Spring outerwear collection too. Unless it’s really cold, my heavy wool grey coat and long black puffer will rest up until the following Winter.
• Light or brightly coloured knitwear: I actually wear brightly coloured pullovers and cardigans alongside their black and grey counterparts all through Winter. But bright knitwear is all I wear at the start of Spring. They are great layering pieces and signal to the world that warm weather is on the way.
• Textured nude tights: As far as possible I like to say goodbye to black and grey hose in Spring time. I prefer to substitute the look with flesh coloured micro fishnets or polka dot hose instead.

I sport brightly coloured scarves and handbags all year round, but consider introducing these in Spring if you normally stick to dark colours and neutrals for Winter.

Why post about this in Autumn when Spring seems so far away? Well, it might affect what you purchase for Winter right now. If you try looking for the perfect pair of tan boots in February, you probably won’t find them. And you might think twice about adding another pair of black boots, black frock or a black jacket into your Winter wardrobe mix.

Black can look severe, lifeless and dull when worn close to the face, especially as you get older. But there are ways of bringing a bit of life back into a black top so that the colour doesn’t look as strict and harsh. This is achieved by creating eye catching contrasts with colour and texture. By breaking up the expanse of flat back against the face, you add depth to the hue thereby making it look alive and interesting.

When I wear black tops and frocks I always use one the following six tricks to soften the look:

1. Use black as a layering vehicle only: you can cover up most of a black top by layering over it in another colour. That way the black top becomes the textural interest of the ensemble. I like black best paired with white and cream. I also like it with grey, ink blue, cobalt and saturated bright colours as long as there is white or cream in the mix as well.
2. Combine a lower neckline and a contrasting necklace: the lower neckline distances the black from your face, while the necklace adds contrasting interest. A pearl necklace of sorts in my preference because I’m obsessed with pearls, and because there is something magical about a white pearl against a black background. But you could use any necklace that tickles your fancy as long as there is the effect of a contrast.
3. Choose tops in sheer black fabric: black looks less severe when the fabric is transparent. The see-through parts of the top act like another colour which once again breaks up the black. Opt for a bit of textural and layering interest too. The camisole adds layering interest and the nobby fabric, ruffles and satin bow on this particular blouse adds textural interest. This frilly blouse might not be to your taste, but you get the idea.
4. Add a contrasting necklace between the top and your face: the same rule of contrast applies, but this neckline is higher. This top has the added advantage of textured ruffles giving an otherwise dull flat black chiffon a lot more movement. This adds depth to the colour by creating shadows.
5. Choose tops with textural interest: the Chanel-esque cardigan has stitch interest, contrast piping and gold buttons all of which break up the black.
6. Add a scarf: this trick works with most types of black tops, but I’ve shown it with a button down shirt and turtle neck. I’ve tied the scarf inside the collar of the button down shirt so that the colours are directly against my face. I’ve tied the scarf close to my neck with the turtle neck to achieve the same effect. I could have also taken the necklace I used in #2 and worn it over the turtle neck to create another form of contrast.

You can use these guidelines for any type of dark top or dress that needs a boost. Also, never underestimate the power of lipstick and rosy cheeks. A bit of extra facial polish goes a long way in making a black top pop.

There’s a lot of black around this season and hopefully these tips will help you to use it in your wardrobe. But if black is still not your thing, opt for softer dark colours like charcoal grey, bitter dark brown or ink blue instead.

Grey has been a relatively new neutral in my wardrobe. It’s flattering as long as I wear it with white, cream, or a bright colour. But I have enough grey and black in my wardrobe at the moment and won’t be purchasing more items in these colours. So it’s frustrating when I see clothing items that I love, but are only offered in grey or black. I guess that’s one way of keeping my budget in good shape.

I don’t personally wear brown or any of the earth tones that go with that palette, but I’m missing it in stores for clients who do. If you don’t like grey, black and white, there is little for you to purchase in the neutrals department at the moment. Perhaps offering only one colour spectrum of neutrals is a conscious retail decision in our tough economic climate. Buying budgets are tight and stores need to keep their stocks lean.

I adore the versatility and softness of grey and will continue to wear the grey goodies in my wardrobe. But my tolerance for the colour in stores is wearing very thin. Too much of a good thing. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Think further and pop a mid-tone blue top under a sleeveless black frock. Wear blue shoes or boots with black bottoms, leggings or a black dress. Add a blue handbag to an all black outfit. Wear a blue coat over a flop proof LBD.

For more punch I like to mix in white or cream into a black and mid-tone blue palette. White acts as a bright and adds a refreshingly crisp touch. This can be as subtle as a camisole that peeks through from under a top, or a skinny belt that breaks up the expanse of a blue tunic. My favourite ways of adding white are with pearl accessories, white specs, a white watch or white button down. But there are countless combinations so give it a whirl if you like to wear blue. Brunettes, I hope you’re listening.

Neon pink is a fringe trend this season. It’s much more intense than the fuchsias and citrons that form part of my regular wardrobe. This turtle neck glows in the dark, which will make it extra fun to wear on a cold grey Seattle day.

It’s good to fess up to things that we thought we’d never wear because it means that we are evolving our style. Keep those fashion feet moving! Do I hear any more fashion confessions?

I’ve been starved of bright colours this season, which is why I was drawn to neon pink. I look awful in muted tones and for the most part, that’s what’s been on offer as an alternative to neutrals. I guess we should never say never. Not even to neon.

It isn’t flop proof though. I’ve found that black and ink blue work best when paired using the following guidelines:

• Keep the colours saturated: Pair very rich black and dark blue items together. Faded items don’t work as well.
• Keep one of the items texture rich: Texture adds depth to a colour, so opting for something with a bit of textural sheen is an excellent idea. For example, black slacks look magical with an iridescent ink blue top or jacket. Shantung silk that’s “shot”, meaning it changes colour when it moves, is another good example. So are self-colour jacquard fabrications.
• Add another black or ink blue item into the ensemble: Repeating one of the colours will pull the look together. For example, adding a black belt to an ink blue top and black bottoms is an easy solution.
• Add white or cream to the mix: Sometimes adding a white or cream item or accessory into the ensemble does the trick, like white bottoms, a white jacket or a pearly white necklace. It’s not a necessity, but it can add extra pop.

You might be sporting this colour combination without thinking about it. Wearing a black top with super dark blue/black wash jeans is a great example. The jeans provide the textural component that the outfit needs. Easy.

Black is not flop proof. It can look dull, severe and lifeless against the skin, especially as you get older. Yet for many women it’s become an easy fallback option because of the perception that black is versatile, chic and slimming. Black is all of those things, but it has to be worn in the right way. It can look great when worn head to toe, if there is ample textural interest. Texture adds movement and depth to the hue, bringing it back to life. Black is also beautiful paired with white, cream, grey or rich reds, blues and browns. As for the rest, it’s a little trickier to get right.

I hope there’s enough colour variety this season. Although it’s stylish to wear black in the right doses, it’s refreshing and uplifting to wear a colour other than black, especially on a chilly day. Do you wear too much black?

Some typical pairings of black items this season. Wearing black with black is often encouraged, once again confirming my earlier suspicions about a 90’s revival in fashion.

Over the years my preferences for specific neutrals has changed. In my teens, white was my favourite neutral. That changed to black in my twenties with white and cream coming in second. In my thirties my preferences changed again and this is how I rank my neutrals today:

1. White and cream
2. Black
3. Blue denim
4. Red
5. Silver grey

Red is a bright, but acts as a neutral in my book. Blue denim is a fabric, and a colour at that, but its ubiquity has made it a neutral in the modern wardrobe. Silver grey is a new neutral in my wardrobe and I’m enjoying its soft and pretty possibilities for Spring and Summer.

My wardrobe would not function without neutrally toned clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. They provide a strong foundation that works with every fashion trend and retail season. Simply brilliant. Your turn. How would you rank your favourite neutrals and have your preferences changed over the years?

Think of incorporating the following white items into ensembles as temperatures rise:

• White tops: They often need a camisole to make them look whiter and less see-through which is not ideal in sweltering weather, but it’s worth it if you’re in air conditioning. A white top accessorized with texture and contrast is flop proof.
• White bottoms: I’m a huge fan of white jeans, clamdiggers, pants and skirts. They are the perfect bridging piece as they make existing wardrobe items (like black tops) feel seasonally right. White bottoms do not make you look fat if the fit and fabric is fab.
• White camisoles: Where you would have opted for a black camisole, try using a white one instead. You’ll be surprised at how this one change can make a big difference.
• White outer layer: Consider white lightweight jackets, denim jackets or cardigans if you need a second layer. In order to prevent “the lab coat” effect, choose jackets with a contrasting button in black or a metal.
• White handbags and shoes: If you don’t like to wear white clothing, sport the colour through handbags and shoes instead. It packs instant punch.
• White accessories: Think white chunky beads, pendant, bracelet, watch, belt, earrings, specs and sunglasses when you’re adding Summer accessories to your look.

If you don’t like to wear optical white, choose a variation like off-white or cream. They work just as well. Also, you don’t need to be tanned to wear white next to your skin. I’m pale skinned and somehow wear white well. If you’re still not convinced, use it as a layering vehicle instead.

I’ve adored all things white and cream since I was little. There is something magically clean, crisp, sophisticated and cool about this neutral, which is why it holds a special place in my heart. Most of the time white is my black. I do lots of laundry because of my impractical obsession with white things, but it’s worth it.