Purple is an extremely popular colour with my friends and clients. For many of them, purple is their favourite colour, and they wear many tones of it with panache. Lilac and lavender have fast become Spring and Summer favourites, while richer shades and tones reign supreme for Autumn and Winter. Purples are less available at retail at the moment because earth tones are taking centre stage. But you’ll find purple every season, simply because it sells well.

Eloquii

Easy V Neck Tunic

View Info

Top Pick

2

Shopbop

525 Cotton Balloon Sleeve Cardigan

View Info

Top Pick

3

Lane Bryant

Knit Lena Jumpsuit

View Info

Top Pick

2

Eloquii

Dramatic Sleeve V-Neck Top

View Info

Top Pick

4

Lane Bryant

3/4-Sleeve Pleat-Front Top

View Info

Top Pick

1

Shopbop

Isabel Marant Étoile Harveli Jacket

View Info

Top Pick

3

Shopbop

Harris Wharf London Slouchy Peacoat

View Info

Top Pick

5

Shopbop

Victoria, Victoria Beckham Flounce Sleeve Top

View Info

Top Pick

2

Shopbop

Victoria, Victoria Beckham Cropped Flared Trousers

View Info

Top Pick

3

Lane Bryant

Crossover Neckline Fit & Flare Dress

View Info

Top Pick

1

Nordstrom

Franco Sarto Stevie Bootie

View Info

Top Pick

3

Nordstrom

City Chic Wild Heart Pants

View Info

Top Pick

6

Nordstrom

City Chic Dazed Satin Skirt

View Info

Top Pick

4

Nordstrom

OUTDOOR RESEARCH Coldfront 700 Fill Power Hooded Down Vest

View Info

Top Pick

5

Shopbop

Isabel Marant Étoile Camelia Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

3

Nordstrom

City Chic Wild Pixy Layered Tulle Skirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

Nordstrom

Free People Through the Motions Short Sleeve Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

3

Nordstrom

Free People This Is It Tunic Top

View Info

Top Pick

1

Nordstrom

AFRM Shailene Mesh Midi Dress

View Info

Top Pick

3

L.K.Bennett

Alessandra Purple Bouclé Double-Breasted Coat

View Info

Top Pick

7

White House Black Market

Short-Sleeve High-Low Wrap Dress

View Info

Top Pick

22

Boden

Cashmere Cuff Detail Cardigan

View Info

Top Pick

5

Boden

Hampton Shoe Boots

View Info

Top Pick

3

Boden

Cashmere Crop Cardigan

View Info

Top Pick

3

Boden

Richmond Pants

View Info

Top Pick

3

Boden

Siddal Velvet Pants

View Info

Top Pick

2

Boden

Clifford Coat

View Info

Top Pick

3

Mango

Geometric Knit Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

9

I don’t bat for Team Purple, but fully support those who feel fab in the colour. I love it when people wear their happy colours, and the joy exudes from their confident swagger.

Here’s some outfit inspiration.

1. Frocked

Wear a purple dress or two-piece dress in a solid or pattern. Add footwear and bag that work with the pattern, or throw in something deliciously jarring like green or red. Here, ivory sandals and bag pick up the white in the pattern. Black would work too. And so would pumps, ballet flats or boots instead of sandals. Throw a coat over the top and you’re done.

2. Layers of Eggplant

I like outfits that are the same non-neutral from head to toe, like this one would have been if the top were a similar solid shade of eggplant instead of a pattern. That said, the purple patterned top works well and packs a punch. But my favourite part is how the coat, pants and boots match in the same shade of eggplant. Rich, yummy and different.

3. Remixed with Earth Tones

It’s on-trend to wear earth tones, AND to remix them with any palette. Enter purple. Combine a solid or checked pair of earthy pants with an earthy pullover and brown footwear to match. Throw over a purple topper because, why not? Jarring to some, but fab to others. Personally, I like the unexpected pairing. Sub the pants for a skirt if that’s more your thing. The refined mules look pretty with the pleated ankle pants. If you like, add a scarf in purple and earth tones to pull things together.

4. Topped Over a Column with Orange

And last, create a column of black or dark blue with separates or a dress. Add hosiery and boots to match. Throw over that purple coat with a pair of gloves in an unexpected pattern or colour. The orange fingerless gloves here are a playful touch. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired.

If you’re after fragrance with staying power, WWD recommends trying a perfume oil instead of your typical eau de parfum.

Fashionista explores whether or not ‘clean’ perfumes could be the solution for those of us with scent sensitivities.

Having synaesthesia — he sees “a range of vivid, painterly strokes when he smells perfume” — helps perfumer Frédéric Malle create unique fragrances.

Fab Links from Our Members

Katerina found this article about whether or not to stack your watch — and the meaning of true luxury – very interesting.

Two of nuancedream’s favourite companies, REI and Athleta, are partnering. She says: “It’s a win-win for active women and those who are interested in becoming more active.”

L’Abeille recommends this blog post about accessory capsules: “I can’t wait to plan out my berets, scarves, and gloves, since that will be the only visible evidence of my personality for the next six months…”

Nikki is here for dressing in one colour from head to toe, referred to by Glamour as ‘solo saturation‘.

Kkards thought others might be interested in what Vanessa Friedman of the NYTimes answered in her weekly advice column when a reader asked about finding the one jean style that will last a lifetime.

Kyle is loving the ’60s vibe of this new Dior collection.

Suntiger directs us to this thought-provoking post about the emotional issues surrounding clothes, and adds: “I can relate to the idea of costuming for different situations.”

I am passionate and emotional about colours, which is why I have a colour-rich style, and a wardrobe with a large assortment of palettes and possibilities. Our home decor is colour-rich too. I follow my feelings when combining colours in outfits. Simply put, if I visually like the colour combination and feel confident in it, I wear it! I don’t know if I’m breaking so-called colour theory rules, or abiding by them. Either way it’s a completely intuitive process, and until now, winging it my way has worked well enough.

Because colours feature strongly in most aspects of my life, and since I am very particular about what is exactly the right colour for me and our home, I would like to take greater care in using the terms that describe the variations of a colour more correctly. Art was my best and favourite subject at school, so the terminology rings a bell. But it’s time to brush up.

Here are the definitions as they apply to mixing paint colours, and I think this is a useful way to think about the colours in your wardrobe. You can find more in depth explanations here and here.

Hues

A hue is the most original pure pigment of a colour as it is shown on a colour wheel. It does not contain black, grey or white, so it’s a colour without tint, shade or tone. A hue is also the starting point of a colour as we see it. Examples of hues are red, blue, yellow (primary colours), green, orange and purple (secondary colours) in their most vivid form.

Tints

A tint is a hue, or mixture of pure colours, with the addition of white. The more white you add, the lighter the tint. A tint lightens a colour but does not brighten it. When a significant amount of white is added, the tint becomes a pastel. 

Shades

A shade is a hue or mixture of pure colours with the addition of black. The term comes directly from the darkness introduced to a perceived colour when it is shaded from sunlight. A shade is darker than the original colour, transforming it from slightly darker to almost black. The more black you add, the darker the shade.

Tones

A tone is any hue or mixture of pure colours with the addition of grey (and grey is a neutral mixture of black and white). A tone can be lighter or darker than the original hue. The addition of grey will tone down the intensity of any colour, making it look less vibrant and more dull. The majority of colours in our everyday world are tones.

I tend to use tones and shades interchangeably and forget about tints and hues. I’ll do a better job from now on. After this refresh, it makes theoretical sense that lighter tints look great with white, and darker shades look fab with black, when combined in an outfit. I enjoy the former more than the latter. I also like to wear varying tones of a colour in one outfit. Come to think of it, I like to combine tints and shades of the same colour too. And I’m fine combining clashing hues. I happily have a high affinity for colour-mixing.

NYC-based photographer and fashion & lifestyle blogger Rose documents her outfits on Instagram, and her blog, Dadou~Chic. Her style is romantically polished with flamboyant touches. Rose loves a tonal look as much as she loves vibrant colours and patterns. She often sports midi dresses, likes a wide-leg trouser, and a good ruffle. Finally, bright red lipstick and dramatic hats are signature to her style.

A knit skirt set is an easy way to create your own two-piece dress look. Rose is sporting a relaxed pencil skirt in midaxi length paired with an oversized sweater in the same knit fabric. The V-neckline and semi-tuck balance out the volume of the batwing sleeves. The vertical ribbing on both pieces draws the eye up and down, thus creating vertical integrity. Dainty pointy-toed kitten heel mules in white dress up the look, and make the vibrant sky blue skirt set pop even more. A croc-embossed top handle bag with romantic white and blue toile motif repeats both colours. Rose’s flamboyant Panama hat bookends the footwear. Dangly pearl earrings and pendant, white nail polish, and bright red lippy are the polished finishing touches.

Rose dresses up a pair of ecru pleated linen shorts with a boho-lite peasant-style blouse in crisp white. Tucking the blouse lengthens the legline, and tempers the volume of the dramatic poufy sleeves. The ruffle collar and lace detailing create a romantic vibe that is trademark Rose. Our blogger’s high-heeled strappy mules match the colour of the shorts. A cute straw bag and matching hat fit right into the neutral tonal colour palette. The black band matches Rose’s dark hair. Statement drop earrings add to the Summery vibe.

Saturated sunny yellow with white is such a delicious combo for a Summer outfit. Rose is wearing a relaxed-fit linen camp shirt with on-trend high-waisted wide-legged trousers. Semi-tucking the shirt lengthens the leg line from the waist up. Sporting sandals with a high block heel also adds height. Rose’s straw bag makes a second appearance, this time paired with a straw hat with fun floral ribbon. Pearl earrings and pendant, a dainty bracelet and rings, and gold watch add subtle bling and lots of polish. Our blogger’s trademark bright red lip is the vibrant finishing touch.

This is a great example of how combining different textures can create a visually interesting, luxe look. Rose has tucked a white blouse into faux leather camel culottes. The soft romantic vibe of the open-work details and lace panels on the blouse creates a fun juxtaposition against the soft-edge vibe of the culottes. Tucking the top fully showcases the waistband and pleats of the bottoms, which lengthens the leg line. Pairing the just-below-the-knee culottes with tall suede boots in a similar colour, and no gap between bottoms and footwear, also creates vertical integrity. Rose’s wool-blend coat continues the camel colour palette, and adds extra textural interest. Her unique cognac bag adds some playful quirkiness. Soft rose lippy, a refined pearl necklace and earrings, and a sweet leaf-detailed headband are the accessories of choice.

Rose’s striking midi dress with large-scale floral pattern is the star of the show in this elegant dressy outfit. The vibrant yellow, white and blues combo is very striking, while the swoosh factor of the fit-and-flare silhouette also adds fun flair. The puff sleeves and volume of the bottom part are balanced out by the tailored fit on the shoulders, the sleeve cuff, and V-neckline, that bring in structure. Rose’s chambray linen ankle strap sandals with block heel don’t match the blues in the dress but go with it perfectly. Her straw box bag and oversized tortoise-rimmed sunnies complete the Summery vibe.

This chic equestrian look could come straight out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue. Rose is wearing a cream top tucked into tweed pleated pants in a marvelous rich brown. She’s tucked the trousers into tall cognac boots which creates a jodhpur effect. As a topper, our blogger has picked a relaxed-fit long-line blazer with subtle puff shoulder in brown and cream plaid. I love how the browns in the outfit don’t match but play wonderfully well together. The tucked top and the blazer’s tailored shoulder fit create structure. Rose’s wavy locks, bright red lip, and nonchalantly tied silky patterned scarf are the perfect romantic finishing touches.

Let us know what you think of Rose’s beautiful outfits in the comments, and be sure to browse the rest of her looks on her blog and Instagram.