Colour, used intentionally, is fantastic. Imagine these outfits without the green jumper, blue tights and blue jacket….they’d still be nice for sure but they wouldn’t have that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that colour brings. I’ve noticed that as women move through the ages, many start to veer towards a neutral palette as it takes up less head space to put together a tonally neutral outfit in the morning. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this, as a formula it works but if you can find the inclination to inject some colour, especially around the face, I almost guarantee it will make more impact and you will feel better for it.

Obviously choosing colours that suit your individual complexion is sensible but as a jumping off point, red is a good place to start. Particularly with grey, beige, cream and navy blue, red looks fantastic. A scarf around the neck, a cardigan poking out from under a jacket, a jumper around the shoulders or coloured socks, these are all excellent ways of injecting colour and lifting an outfit into something a bit more interesting and intentional.

I adore this green jumper. The vibrancy of this particular hue is fantastic. Plumo Studio are so clever at getting the colours of their knitwear just right. On a grey day, imagine having this green jumper in your arsenal of tricks!

Gingham and summer is like strawberries and cream - they’re made for each other. This gingham two piece would be perfect for summer events. It is lightweight, comfortable and cool but the suit element lends a formality to the look, making it ideal for an occasion. Obviously I am wearing jelly shoes- yes, they’re back!- but a more structured shoe like a leather sandal, ballet flat or loafer would lean into the formality further.

I also love that each piece could be worn separately. The jacket with a t-shirt or crisp white shirt and jeans, the trousers with a lightweight knit for Spring.

P.S. the jelly shoes are SO comfortable and should you find yourself near a body of water that you must wade into, you’re all set!

Mum’s blue workwear jacket is also part of a suit. The matching trousers with the jacket looks very cool but we decided to feature the jacket on its own this time - in contrast to my two-piece. Again, Plumo Studio have nailed the colour. The blue is fabulous. To me, it represents the prefect ‘throw on and go’ jacket that I discussed in our last post. The colour and shape are absolutely perfect for a summer evening in the UK.

I also love the detail that has gone into it. The little pewter coloured metal buttons and the over-sized patch pockets. It is details like these that elevate the garment into something superior to its high-street equivalent. It is also garment dyed meaning that it’s constructed into a garment first and then dyed as a whole piece rather than being constructed from a pre-dyed fabric. The process lends a depth of hue and patina to the jacket that is subtle but noticeable.

In true Plumo style, this raincoat is wonderful. I adore the simple shape in contrast to the waxed tartan design. The design is subtle enough to go with everything but distinctive enough to add interest and character to all outfits. It is sized gernously. Mum is a UK10 and wearing a size 1.

One last thing, while it’s in my head. When wearing colour, it helps to highlight said colour with pops of white. I am wearing a white t-shirt which pops at the neck and hem of the green jumper and mum’s white shirt serves to lift the grey cardigan and blue jacket. The white acts as a palette cleanser to the other colours and patterns in the outfit.