Ladies and gents – beware of what I call “the black rut”. Despite the fact that black items of clothing tend to make one feel slimmer, smarter and possibly even more powerful; black is not a colour- it is the absence of it. Black items of clothing, accessories and shoes certainly have an important place in anyone’s wardrobe, but such items need to be put together “with style”. Ending up with a cupboard full of black clothing is easy to do – especially with the strong rebirth of neutral tones that is happening right now.

So how can we successfully wear the colour black?

• Black looks it’s absolute best when worn with one, or a combination of neutral tones (e.g. white, grey, cream, tan, gold, silver, bronze and brown)
• When wearing black with a colour, be sure to add another neutral tone to the ensemble – it looks less dated that way
• It isn’t easy to look good in black when worn from head to toe, but it can be done. Make sure that each item of the outfit is of a different texture. The trick is “add dimension” and avoid “looking flat”. Consider adding subtle self color pinstripes, lace and feathers (if you are a lady), surface-interest fabrics and sheen. Prada and Donna Karan specialize in creating this 3 dimensional all black look and they do it very well.
• Black items need to be very black! As soon as they start to lose their colour – the overall flattering effect is lost
• Refrain from wearing black all the time. It has the power to “drain” one’s appearance. Remember to alternate with other colours that suit your skin tone

It’s therefore a fallacy that “black goes with everything”. It’s actually the one neutral tone that doesn’t!

Donna Karan does black with neutrals

Spring trends are all about neutral tones – white, black, brown, navy, beige, cream, silver, gold, bronze and denim. If you have previously been one to wear lots of colour like I have, and have suddenly found yourself at a bit of a loss as to what to do – don’t despair! Red, green, yellow and lilac will start to appear in stores soon if it hasn’t already. In the mean time:  

• Liven up your neutrals by mixing them up (not just sticking to one) and adding the newness of the season with metallic accessories eg. bag, belt , shoes
• Throw in last seasons beautiful grass green or turquoise bag while keeping those shoes metallic – you’ll still look updated. Remember that those days of matching your shoes, bag and belt are gone
• Add a colourful necklace to kick your neutral outfit up a notch. Consider gigantic plastic beads either around your neck or on your wrist – they are the accessory of the moment
• Throw in a stronger shade of lipstick like red, cherry or dark mauve – it will make you feel less monochromatic, but still trendy

If you have always been one to embrace a neutral palette, this is your season – enjoy it!

The seasonal retail cycle is absurd. I would never have been able to grasp it if I hadn’t been a buyer for years. Why is it that when the weather is hot, you can’t find a pair of shorts to buy; and that when it’s cold, turtle necks and coats aren’t available in stores? At the height of ski season, sports shops are filled with summer camping and cycling gear. Absolutely bizarre! The explanation is simple – retailers worldwide assume that people plan their wardrobes in advance for that first chilly Autumn or warm Spring day, and therefore buy ahead of time. For this reason, merchandise needs to be in store promptly for this “planned” pattern of purchasing. Any diversion from this rigid cycle would be detrimental to business. Despite the fact that there are 4 official seasons, clothing collections refer only to 2, namely Spring and Autumn. Summer is merely an extension of Spring and Winter an extension of Autumn.

The retail cycle in the northern hemisphere (when July is hot and December is cold) is as follows:

• January to July – when Spring/Summer collections are available
• July to December – when Autumn/Winter collections are available

Sales in the fashion industry are generally planned as well:

• January – Winter sale
• March – Spring sale
• July – Summer sale
• October – Autumn sale

Hitting March and October mid season sales are the closest that you’ll get to buying clothing for an urgent seasonal need. The retail cycle for the southern hemisphere (when July is cold and December is hot) would be the exact opposite of the above.

In the northern hemisphere, the best time to buy bathing suits is usually in March when there’s still frost outside. While winter coats are typically best bought in September when the air conditioner is still on. Knowing how the retail cycle works is especially useful when planning for a trip. If you are off for a beach holiday in October – you’ll now know that you’ll need to have bought your tank tops, shorts and speedo somewhere between Feb and July. By the same token, if you’re off to ski in March, you’ll have needed to buy winter woolies between August and December. Here’s hoping that you won’t be caught unaware of what is and isn’t available in stores at a particular time from now on!

If you are a little strapped for cash, don’t have the time to shop, or just don’t fancy what the new trends have to offer. Whatever your dress size, think about getting a few, or all of these “quick fixes” that will automatically pop you appropriately into the new season: 

• a pair of new shape jeans (granted they suit your body type)
• a new bag and belt
• hot off the press new look shoes 
• the accessory of the moment
• a new haircut, hair colour and makeup application

Invest in anything metallic and “animal” as far as accessories go as these trends are going to be around for at least another year. If you are a platinum and silver type of girl and still can’t get your head around all this gold that is everywhere – start yourself off slowly by adding bronze, or buying gold that’s matte and brushed…..that’s what I did! Don’t buy a little dog to have as a fashion accessory. Get a pet to complete you as a person, not your look. Our Rosie & Jasmine would be heartbroken if they thought that the only reason that we had them was because we thought they “looked fashionable”.