Cobalt and burgundy merchandise is in high supply this season, and most of my clients like both colours. Some wear burgundy with cobalt. Why not! So we’re picking sides between the colours, and I have no idea which one will win. 

I don’t wear burgundy at all. My nod to the trending colour is a patch of it on a very bright twinset, and that’s it. When it comes to red, I am devoted to bright tomato. It conjures up all sorts of happy feelings when I see it and I’m even more excited about the prospect of wearing it with blush pink. I do love burgundy on others though. Some of my friends and clients look utterly delicious in the colour. 

I like cobalt, and love to wear it with black and shades of white. It’s also great with shades of orange and ink blue. I am without a doubt Team Cobalt.

Over to you. Are you Team Burgundy or Team Cobalt? Tell us why and no batting for both teams. But if you’re sitting this one out on the bench, there’s hot cocoa and buttery shortbread to snack on.

A shade of blue with a shade of orange is a glorious pairing. First, blue is better than black if you want to stay away from Halloween associations. And second, blue and orange are complementary colors. 

I was inspired by orange and blue outfit combinations while pinning looks from the Spring 2014 runway collections. Take a peek: 

• Orange and turquoise knitted top matched with mango culottes. A super look with casual messenger bag and metallic blue sandals.
• Cobalt and ink checked wide leg trouser suit and mandarin orange shirt. Stunning.
• A bouquet of orange and cobalt with stripes. Festive and flirty.
• Dark orange with cobalt and orange swirls. Dramatic yet simple.
• Quadruple pattern mixing in cobalt and orange. Harmoniously hectic.
• Welted Dutch orange sweater with turquoise window pane slouchies. Elegantly no-nonsense, and fun with the backpack.
• Orange, light blue, turquoise, yellow and brown evening edition. Refreshingly different formal wear.
• Orange red trouser suit with turquoise bag and footwear. My favourite combination of orange and blue.
• Shades of mango orange with ink and turquoise checks. Delightfully ’70s.
• Muted French blue fluid shell with Dutch orange pencil skirt and metallic and fur accessories. Modern and ’90s inspired.
• Controlled chaos in geometric orange, yellow, orange-red and periwinkle. Zebra patterned shoes for even more chaos.
• And Prada’s rainbow Christmas tree outfit of oranges, blues, blush and neutrals. You’ll light up the room in this outfit.

These combinations are by no means exhaustive. For example, a shade of orange matched with navy, ink and denim blue is a slam dunk. You needn’t select a bright and bold orange either. Earthier versions in rusts and burnt oranges work just as well with shades of blue. Or match light blue or faded denim with pastel peach and apricot. 

Remember that if you don’t like to sport orange as a solid colour or clothing item, wear it in a pattern, as footwear, or accessories. I like the addition of white to a blue and orange combination because it freshens up the palette. Don’t think you have to wait till Spring to sport orange with blue. Wear the combination year round and whenever it tickles your fancy. 

My favourite mix of orange and blue is a deep orange-red with bright turquoise, and hint of white. I also like ink blue with Dutch orange. Will you wear orange with blue?

Here’s a collection of items that I like at Banana Republic right now. Some are simple, and others are more dramatic. There is an additional 40% off your purchase today, so go Team Bargain Hunters. 

• Striped Bow Crew: Fun, graphic, romantic and conversational. Fairly thick for a fine gauge pullover. 
• Monogram Colourblock Wool Cape: A dramatic piece for mild Autumn and Winter weather. 
• Turnlock Sweater Cape: A more casual cape with bohemian and cuddly appeal. 
• Quilted Knit Moto Jacket: This one is for Team Navy and Ink Blue. Texture rich and super comfy. 
• Extra-Fine Merino Wool Vee Sweater: V-neck pullovers are hard to find at the moment, so give this essential a bash if you’re after great layering pieces that are as fab worn on their own. Fluid and non-itchy. 
• Sloane-Fit Windowpane Slim Ankle Pant: I wish these were regular length, which they might be on you if you’re petite. Match with black top and booties and you’re done. 

These items can be dressed up for business casual and formal, as well as dressed down with denim items, relaxed footwear and handbag.

There are items on our shopping list that we don’t purchase because they simply do not exist. Or they exist at an unaffordable price point. This is what I call a highly elusive wardrobe item, or “HEWI”. 

The most elusive wardrobe item on my list is a pair of dressy and tailored cream knee-high boots that fit my narrow thirteen inch calf circumference. The boots must be low heeled, impeccable quality, and fairly pointy on the toe. Add to that the need for comfort, and it’s an even taller order. Dressy and tailored, low heeled boots to fit a narrow calf are hard to find in any colour. The fact that I want them in cream, well made and comfortable, makes them even more elusive. 

After five years of searching, I’m prepared to pay a high price for these knee-high cream boots. I also need to replace my dressy low heeled black knee-high boots that are looking the worse for wear after hard work in bad weather for eight years. I will not pass those on until I have a replacement.

At this stage I’ve given up and I’m no longer actively searching for tall dressy boots in black and cream that fit my style requirements and comfort needs. All good things come to those who wait, so I believe that these highly elusive wardrobe items are going to find me one day. And when they do, the victory will be sweeter. Right now, I’m relaxing into the fact that I can’t find what I want and I’m focusing on what is available to me. 

In the meantime, it’s so much easier to find short Winter booties and formal pumps that fit the bill so that’s where I’m spending my fashion dollars. Thank goodness I have my golden oldie, tall black dressy boots, and falling-apart cream Go Go boots to wear with skirts and dresses for now. These hardworking darlings will have to keep me going until their replacements enter my style life. 

Over to you. Do you have highly elusive wardrobe items on your shopping list that, season after season, are impossible to find? Do you give up searching and relax into it, or are you increasingly frustrated by the fact that they do not exist?