A Word and Colour for 2025

This is the seventh time I’m choosing a word and colour for the year. The tradition started with my lovely friend and YLF member Laura, who has done this for decades. She invited me to do the same in 2019 and I haven’t looked back. Thanks, Laura! I love our tradition, and have encouraged close friends to join your word and colour party. 

Choose a word to keep top of mind for the year. Take it to heart, and act on it. It can be motivating, therapeutic, satisfying, and challenging. Personally, I find it a worthwhile exercise because my word helps me learn and grow as a person. It helps me to break bad habits, and keeps me focussed on small and big picture goals.

The colour I choose can be one I’m liking more at the moment, or a colour I want represented more strongly in my life this year. It can come through in my outfits, our home, our setting, and in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Onto a word and colour for 2025:

Word: Progress

I’m focussing on PROGRESS, and more specifically, how I can facilitate the progress of things going on in my life. The progress and completion of our loft remodel is all important after living in a rental for almost a year. A very close friend had an extremely tough year fighting cancer and enduring treatment. Her progress to a full recovery is top priority. The progress and completion of some work projects are high on the to-do list. I’d like my relationships with certain people to progress and blossom to the next level. That means making the time to see old friends more frequently, and getting to know new friends better. I’d like to see some family members going through stressful situations make progress on those fronts too.

Colour: Orange

Bright orange, and specifically Dutch orange, is a colour that I love to wear and see around me. I like orange in nature, and in home decor. I like orange scented things, and love the flavour of oranges in food. I have a fair bit of orange in my wardrobe (shown in the collection below) and there is room for more. I find bright orange versatile, empowering, and uplifting. I like wearing orange with neutrals like navy, denim, cream, white, toffee, and chocolate brown. I also like wearing orange with tomato red, burgundy, and shocking pink.

Over to you. Join us in choosing a word and colour for the year. Share them in the comments section when you have a moment. I’m looking forward to hearing them.

Outfit Formula: The Burgundy Statement

Burgundy, or shades of dark red, are popular on YLF and especially in Winter. So we’re kicking off the new year with an outfit formula that incorporates ONE burgundy item. The item makes a statement in a pattern or solid. Support acts are for the most part neutral, but feel to make them non-neutral too. 

1. Top

A burgundy sweatshirt with embroidered sleeves is partially tucked into wide blue jeans. Dressy animal print boots add a glam touch. They match the cognac belt, and pick up the shades of brown and gold in the model’s hair. Add a bag that matches the palette.

Top

2. Dress

A burgundy patterned midaxi shirtdress is combined with a long fluid blazer in a brown herringbone jacquard. The pattern is very subtle and reads like a false plain. It complements the tan and taupe components in the pattern of the dress. Off-kilter tan haute hiking boots create interesting tension with the dressy frock, and match the colours running through the patterns of the clothes. Add a bag that matches the palette.

Dress

3. Skirt

An A-line burgundy cargo midi skirt is combined with a fluid grey sweatshirt with asymmetrical front knot detailing. The genius knot detailing shortens the top, which creates structure by showcasing the contour of the hips and waist. The shorter top also lengthens the leg line from the waist upwards. Black heeled mules match the model’s hair and the piping in the sweatshirt. A neutral cream bag adds lightness to the outfit.

Skirt

4. Outerwear

A burgundy coat makes a smashing statement. If burgundy is a favourite colour, get a topper or two in it. Here, a plaid skirt with a burgundy component is paired with a tucked navy sweater. Feel free to make it black. A teal cardigan is layered over that, which works tonally with the teal in the pattern of the skirt. Stompy black boots match the navy and black in the outfit. A burgundy coat tops the lot, and matches the plaid. Its dark buttons match the dark neutrals in the outfit. Add jewellery, bag, watch, headgear and eyewear as desired.

Outerwear

If burgundy puffer jackets and coats paired with blue jeans, black bottoms, or grey pants are more your thing, here’s some inspiration.

Hobbs
Darla Puffer
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Top Pick
2
Zara
Short Puffer Jacket
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3
Zara
Quilted Jacket
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Top Pick
1

Neutrals and Your Style

Black, white, and grey are pure neutrals. Absent from the colour wheel because they are absent of colour. In a strict sense, they are the only true neutrals. They are versatile, graphic, and can feature heavily in your wardrobe if they suit your complexion. 

Choose Your Neutrals

In fashion, quiet colours like dark blue, browns, creams, tan, and taupe, olives, and blue denim are neutrals too. Most earth tones are considered neutrals because they are found in nature. Fashion neutrals are better suited to many complexions than pure neutrals.

Some non-neutrals are so versatile to you that they function like a neutral in your wardrobe. These are personal neutrals. Colours like burgundy, eggplant, blush pink, red, burnt orange, or metallics can be “neutral” for you, and non-neutral for others.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Fabulous Style Quotes

Following my new year’s wish for you — to dress honestly — here are some fantastic quotes that bring it home. Great style is about authenticity, creativity, and confidence. It is about you, more than anything else. All of these quotes convey that sentiment in their own way. 

Real style is never right or wrong. It’s a matter of being yourself on purpose. – G. Bruce Boyer

Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself. – Oscar de la Renta

Style is the art of self-expression. It’s about saying who you are without words. – Orson Welles.

Fashion is what you’re offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose. – Lauren Hutton

Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to roadmap to style. It’s about self-expression and, above all, attitude. Iris Apfel

The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you. Coco Chanel

I believe in wearing what makes you feel beautiful, not just fashionable. Grace Kelly

Fashion is just something money can buy. People who are stylish are free and have no fear in staying true to themselves. Marc Jacobs

Character. Intelligence. Strength. Style. That makes beauty. Diane von Furstenburg

Personal style is about having a sense of yourself, and what you believe in every day. Ralph Lauren

Style is a reflection of your attitude and your personality. Shawn Ashmore

It’s important to find what really suits who you are, because style isn’t only what you wear, it’s what you project. Carolina Herrera

I believe style comes from within. It’s about having a sense of who you are and staying true to that. Stella McCartney

Create your own style. Let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others. Anna Wintour

What’s my style is not your style, and I don’t see how you can define it. It’s something that expresses who you are in your own way. – Iris Apfel

If you love something, wear it all the time. Find things that suit you. This is how you look extraordinary. – Vivienne Westwood

Remember that a personal style that makes you feel comfortable and happy, and is an authentic expression of who you are, will also make you feel more confident when you present yourself to the world. That confidence, in turn, will make you look and feel more attractive. Find the factors that contribute most to your confidence, and fine-tune them as you progress on your style journey.

I’ll leave you with this quote from yours truly:

Style is confidence. Express your energy and attitude through your clothing, footwear, accessories, and grooming. Express it with ease and confidence, and you will have style. Angie Cox

Happy New Year!

It’s 2025, which marks my thirty-third year working in fashion and style. It also marks our twenty-second year of living in the US, and nineteenth year of YLF. These things have been constants for long periods of my life, and I’m grateful for them. 

At the start of every year, I re-read Lifehack’s post on how to bring positive energy into your life right now. I find it compelling and it really resonates. You might too.

My new year’s wish for you is to dress HONESTLY. The more honest your style, the easier it is to manage, evolve, and to feel comfortable in your own skin.

Sport a style that reflects your personality, sartorial preferences, values, lifestyle, and the weather. Prioritize comfort, what you enjoy wearing, and what makes you feel attractive. Use your signature style as a foundation to build outfits that feel like you. Nothing is dated when your outfit projects confidence, ease, a pulled together look, and intention.

I further wish you an infinite amount of whatever it is that makes fashion and style meaningful to you. Along with laughter, good health, interesting adventures, fun trips, memorable moments, fab friendships, and waking up with peace in your hearts.