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Downton Fashion!

With the final series of Downton Abbey behind us, many of us are considering what we are now going to do between 9pm and 10pm on a Sunday evening. Not only have we enjoyed the breath-taking countryside, the intrigue of what goes on upstairs and downstairs but also to ogle at the elaborate costumes that most of us can only dream about. I for one am feeling a trifle bereft having watching every episode of every series.

Downton Abbey has long been revered for its show-stopping costumes and this series does not disappoint. With elaborate accessories and hues of mystical romance, it is providing enough fringe, pearl and lace detail to satisfy even the most hardened of style critics. So, banish those corsets (so passé, darling) and bring on the flapper silhouette.

Out on the streets, sales of long silk gloves, pearls and empire waisted dresses have soared since Downton Abbey aired. The popularity of Downton Abbey and its beautiful costumes has inspired a whole new demand for 1900s fashion accessories like hats and shrugs too.

British hunting parties and opulent candlelit dinners of bygone eras have inspired a return of the county and glamorous looks.

So how can we bring a little Downton into our daily lives without having to have our maid’s available to dress us?

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WHICH COLOUR SUITS ME!

Bright shades for rainy days..

The skies may be grey but that doesn’t mean your outfit has to be. Winter is the perfect time to inject some colour into your look and stand out amongst the crowd.

All to often at this time of year the streets are awash with shades of Black, Navy and Charcoal, however new Signature STYLE can advise you how you can look colourful and stylish whatever the weather, you are onto a winner!

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To sleeve or not to sleeve, that is the question

How many of us feel their arms need to be slimmed down or have bingo wings? How many of us have gone to a dinner dance during the winter and have frozen or had to invest in a pashmina to cover our arms and keep us warm? I can see you all putting your hands up, me too.

In the past there have been campaigns by well known magazines, asking manufacturers to put sleeves in garments – and are they? No they are not. I was out personal shopping with a client recently and I could only find one evening dress with sleeves.

So, this season is no exception and it is not only relevant to dresses and tops, we see the return of the Gilet in the fashion stakes and the sleeveless coat! (It reminds me of a recent genius piece of marketing I saw in a sandwich chain – the breadless sandwich – isn’t that a salad I thought to myself? They were selling like hot cakes!)

Both are an anomaly to me. Jackets and coats should have sleeves just by their very nature – right?

The Gilet is often seen as a garment worn to give extra warmth to the core of your body leaving your arms free for practical tasks. Forget practical, this is now to be a core fashion item in your wardrobe.

This season you can choose denim style or be a biker babe. The dedicated denim lovers can ‘rock’ their jean jackets without sleeves. They can be thrown over anything and worn with white shirts to sequinned pencil skirts. The biker babes are wearing theirs to toughen up summer frocks or layering with winter knits. The best bit though is you can DIY the look and cut off the sleeves of an old worn jacket.

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