20% off all Cicilystyle.com Velvet Party Edit!
One of the reasons (there are many!) why I love fashion is how it surprises me. How it changes my opinion on certain styles and fabrics because of the genius of fashion design.
I’m always intrigued how a certain fashion filters down from the sharp-end of the fashion week catwalks to the more realistic end of our British high-street and online stores.
Image: Valentino, Roksando, Ellery
This season, I think my biggest surprise has been my sartorial change of heart about velvet!
Velvet and I have a chequered past, from embracing it fully in 1978 when I was resplendent in head-to-toe purple velvet trousers and waistcoat riding my Rayleigh Budgie bike to my gothic-meets-indie-meets-grunge phase in university in the 90’s!
So when I saw it on the Autumn/ Winter 2016 catwalks from the likes of Valentino, Prada and Emilio Pucci where the volume, colour palette and drama of this luxury fabric was highly apparent, I was a little nervous, wondering how this flamboyant fashion would be interpreted by our high-street designers and how I would be able to wear it.
For me and velvet it’s all about keeping it simple.
One colour with simple lines for a body-con, tunic dress or a jumpsuit, or playing with the drapery of this luxury fabric by wearing it as a tailored trouser suit.
Images via Pinterest; Georgia May Jagger wearing Sonia Rykiel
Now, there is a risk of a Mark Bolan effect if we overload with velvet!
So if you think your ventures into velvet might have you feeling like you are auditioning for a 1970’s tribute band, don’t go head-to-toe drama. Just add in beautiful accessories in the bright hues available in this rich fabric to luxe up your look.
Image via Pinterest
From chokers to box clutches to rucksacks but what I’m particularly loving are the velvet shoes and boots and have put a pair high on my Christmas list! For street style I love velvet blazers with skinnies, velvet cami dresses over white Ts teamed with white kicks, and velvet wrap dresses with chelsea boots!
Images: Marco DeVincenzo sandal, Dolce clutch, Prada sandal, Zara rucksack, choker image via Pinterest, Gianvita Rossi boots
What I love most about this season’s velvet is that there is a style for everyone. You don’t have to be going to see Meatloaf in concert or the Rocky Horror Show to wear it. Velvet has successfully broken away from its pigeon hole genre of goth and melodramatic rock opera and has arrived in our everyday wardrobes in an array of styles and colours to suit our different lifestyles and personalities.
I honour of my re-found love for velvet all Cicilystyle.com velvet styles in our Party Edit have 20% off until the end of December. Happy Velvet Shopping!
