Many of my clients wear black and shades of orange, but don’t fancy combining the colours in one outfit because of the association with Halloween. They feel like they’re wearing a costume and can’t take the combination seriously. 

If that’s the case for you, here are three tips to take the Halloween out of an orange and black outfit:

• Add a shade of white to the mix with white footwear, bag, jacket, jeans, belt or top
• Add a shade of blue to the outfit with a pair of jeans, patterned scarf, jewellery, bag and shoes
• Add animal print like leopard or cheetah with footwear, bag, topper or scarf.

I didn’t grow up with Halloween, and don’t have the same association with black and orange outfits. I love to wear orange, and enjoy black in small doses. I don’t wear them together because I prefer orange matched with shades of blue. I also like to add white to the mix to crisp things up.

Over to you. Do you wear orange with black, or does the combination have too much of a Halloween association? And Happy Halloween!

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Back in 2009, I wrote a post on how to fit a coat that is just as relevant today. My guidelines suggest that you think about a versatile and flattering length, and what you can layer underneath the coat. You should check sleeve lengths, your mobility in the coat, ensure a flattering shape of collar, and make sure the coat can comfortably close to protect you from the elements. 

If you live in a four season climate, or cold weather is your dominant season, there is no one coat to rule them all. You’ll need a capsule of coats across a range of lengths, thicknesses and levels of dressiness. And some (like me) will need a good dose of non-neutrals in their coat capsule to make them smile in the dead of Winter.

Here I’m expanding on my 2009 post to go into more detail on the length and width fit of a coat, because they are more important than you might think. I’ll cover lengths today and widths later in the week, showcasing my own coats as examples. Note that all but one of the dark coats are ink blue, and not black.

Coats come in many lengths. From short hip-grazing silhouettes to mid-calf maxis, and everything in-between. The point is that you’ll prefer the proportions and practicality of some coat lengths more than others when you use them in an outfit.

Knee-Length

Personally, I find a knee-length coat the most versatile, elegant, elongating and insulating. Some hit me just above or on the knee cap whereas others cover my knees. The longer length creates flattering and tidy proportions over dresses, skirts and culottes that are shorter or a similar length to the coat. Knee-length coats also look great over full-length and cropped trousers and jeans. I find calf-length and ankle length maxi coats overwhelming on my slight frame, so I steer clear of those. Here are my knee-length coats across a range of dress codes and colours.

Mid-Thigh Length

Mid-thigh coats are a versatile length for my style because they look fab over full-length or cropped pants and jeans which I wear most of the time. I generally don’t like them as much with skirts and dresses, but have worn them that way. Here are my mid-thigh length coats across a range of dress codes and colours. 

Upper-Thigh Length

Upper-thigh length coats that are shorter than mid-thigh but longer than hip length are the least versatile and flattering to my eye. To create flattering outfit proportions, I usually prefer a coat to be longer or shorter than upper-thigh length so that the hem does not cut across the widest part of my thighs. I am careful with these proportions, liking them best layered over a column of colour, a tonal outfit, or when I’m wearing a bit of a heel. I never wear this length with dresses and skirts. The length is very practical for driving, taking public transport, wearing in milder Winter weather, and hanging over a chair in a restaurant. Here are my upper-thigh length coats across a range of dress codes and colours.

Hip-Length

Last, there’s the hip-length cropped coat or outerwear jacket. I find this length almost as versatile as my knee-length coats, but not as insulating. Hip-length outerwear can work well over dresses, skirts, culottes, and all sorts of full-length or cropped pants and jeans because it lengthens the leg line from the hip down. Here are my hip- length coats across a range of dress codes and colours. Some of the items are technically jackets, but I’ve included them because they form part of my outerwear capsule. 

Your preferences for coat lengths and outfit proportions may differ from mine for all sorts of reasons. Lengths are my thing so I’m pedantic about them, and it’s the reason I have a variety of lengths covered in my coat capsule. Feel free to ask questions about coat lengths in the comments section.

An authentication programme from eBay, Nordstrom’s clothing donation initiative, a new creative director for Marie Claire, and other style news that caught our attention in October.

• Tommy Hilfiger is now also making clothing for adults with disabilities: “The clothes are designed to make them more easily wearable for people who use wheelchairs and/or people with prosthetics, movement limitations and other considerations.”
• Nordstrom has partnered with Give Back Box to launch a clothing donation programme.
• Starting next year, Gucci will stop using fur in its designs. The fashion house will auction its remaining merchandise for animal rights charities.
• Hervé L. Leroux, the French designer who created the famous Hervé Leger bandage dress, has passed away at age 60.
• Madewell is branching out into beauty products.
• Harper’s Bazaar is celebrating its 150th anniversary with an exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum that pays tribute to the magazine’s female photographers.
• eBay has rolled out eBay Authenticate, a new programme allowing sellers to opt in to have their goods verified as authentic.
• White House Black Market has started carrying plus sizes.
• Kate Lanphear is replacing Nina Garcia as the creative director of Marie Claire.

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that the colour magenta takes its name from a town in Northern Italy. The deep purplish red dye was first made and patented in 1859, and originally named fuchsine. It was renamed to celebrate Napoleon III’s victory at the Battle of Magenta between the French and Austrians, near the Italian town of Magenta in Lombardy.

Stripes, dots, leopard and plaid are classic patterns that work well together in an outfit. They are the easiest to combine in a neutral colour palette, just like the outfit from J.Crew shown below. Pattens and solids in black, white, cream, tan, toffee, ink blue, navy and blue denim are a good way to go. 

Think of any way at all to combine the four patterns. No need to combine all of them at once. Sticking to two or three at a time is ample. Here are some combinations to get you started.

Striped Tee, Leopard Topper & Jeans

Combine a striped tee with a leopard topper and blue, black or white jeans. Choose black, blue, cognac or cream footwear. If you like you can add polka dot socks and/or plaid bag. Make sure the patterns are in the same colour palette so that you feel pulled together, and that the eye can rest amidst the sea of pattern.

Black & Cream with Leopard & Dots

Combine a black skirt or pair of pants with a cream top and polka dot scarf. Throw in a pair of leopard shoes, navy bag and leave it at that. Go a step further and add a plaid bag or topper.

Dots, Plaid & Leopard

Combine a polka dot top with jeans or solid black bottoms. Finish off the look with cream, black or leopard footwear. Leave it at that or go a step further by adding a leopard bag and/or plaid topper. Or change things around with a leopard topper and plaid bag. Add jewellery, eyewear and watch as desired.

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