Thursday: Black is the new black

Each year, I read about how [enter colour here] is the new black for the season... but really, by now every fashionista will tell you that black is in a special category of its own. Just think about how many wardrobe staples are black: the LBD, the essential cigarette trousers, the perfect court pump, the classic tuxedo jacket, the timeless coat, the riding boots... the list can go on, but you get my point. Black goes with everything (almost, I am still unsure about yellow and black, a bit to Maya the Bee for me), yet it looks perfect all alone.

Black has a unique status, and today I celebrated the most versatile non-colour of all colours, by wearing all black, from head to toe. Here is my outfit, an ode to black (not to be mistaken for an ode to the All Blacks, ha ha.)

Yes, I can hear you critics: hold on a minute, this is not all black... The handbag is green and black and there's that gold corset-style plaque on the boots. Aha, I see you have an eye for detail (would you be an investment banker by any chance?)! But you see, the difficulty about a completely black outfit is that it can be very flat, unless you lift it, with colour, texture, or, ideally, a mix of both. Hence the little details...

In the Winter, my favourite colours to mix with black are gold, dark green, bordeaux, and camel. Today, I stuck with tiny amounts of gold and green. My beloved Milli Millu Hong Kong bag continues to punch well above its weight, and it looks lovely worn on the crook of the arm or using the longer strap, hanging from my shoulder. The pony panels add some cool texture against the smooth leather. Just a way to lift the whole mix away from plain boring "Haven't you heard, I'm joining a monastery..." look. 

Then there is shape, that, for me, is essential if you're going to play with a block colour from head to toe. The skirt I wore today is made of heavy wool, which helps it keep the super flared structure created by the box pleats, which in turn call back the ruched detail of the shoulders on the top. It's a simple outfit, if you think about it: a skirt, a top, and some boots, yet it looks different because of the shapes and pleating details. Shape is key. 

And finally, the jewellery,... I could try to argue that I kept it to just a statement cuff and some earrings, but even I will admit that my choices are a bit out there for a work outfit, but who said looking stylish in a professional environment meant banning all fantasy? Not me... If I were one for boring work suits, I would surely never have started this blog now would I?

Here are some details of my outfit:

- Heavy wool pleated skirt, Orla Kiely

- Blouse with gathered seam detail on the shoulder, Cos

- Wrap coat, Joseph

- Lace-up boots with corset detailing around the heel, Sam Edelman
- Handbag, Hong Kong by Milli Millu

- Earrings, River Island, sold out now, I'm looking for decent lookalikes

- Same for the bracelet, which I bought a couple of years ago at Urban Outfitters