Fashion

Red: the hottest colour in fashion this season and always great at this time of the year for adding much needed colour to January grey days. A red coat is a classic item, and much more eye-catching than their black or camel cousins- as proved by Kate Middleton on her trip to Copenhagen earlier this month. (Although red coats will always remind me a wee bit of 70’s Horror/Thriller ‘Don’t Look Now’…but I think as long as you’re not running around Venice being pursued by Donald Sutherland, you should be fine…)

There are a couple of things to bear in mind when purchasing your red coat- if you have warm undertones look for an orange red, if your undertones are cool, look for a blue red. Generally speaking those with red, golden blonde or chestnut hair and either hazel, green or gold-flecked blue eyes have warm undertones, and those with ash blonde, flat brown or black hair and blue or dark brown eyes have cool undertones.

Obviously, your body shape will influence the style of coat you go for- apple shapes (where weight is carried around the middle) should look for swing or A-line coats, which reach to mid-thigh- this will skim over the problem area, with the shorter length avoiding a bulky appearance. I LOVE this vintage inspired fur trimmed coat from Dunnes- very festive- and Dorothy Perkin’s dolly coat. Apple shapes should avoid belted coats, as this will draw attention to the problem area.

These belted coats from Warehouse and Next are perfect for Hourglass figures (small waist, full bust and hips) as the belt will cinch in the waist and define the figure. Hourglass figures should avoid swing or A-line coats- anything that flares out from a large bust will make you look much bigger!

Pear shapes (weight carried around the hips, bum and thighs) should also look for a coat that defines their waist- and possibly one with shoulder or collar detail to draw the eye away from the hip area- such as this military detailed coat or coat with black piping, both from Dunnes. The generous cut of the skirt on this belted coat from Warehouse would be very flattering on curvier pear shapes. Pears should avoid shorter lengths, as this will cut them at their widest area- go for longer coats that end around the knee.