Orange Winter Wear
December can be a bore, right? Moods are low, the weather is abysmal, work probably have you in the office at ungodly hours preparing for Christmas and, to top it all off, you have to pack away your brighter summer gear in favour of more winter-appropriate, often considerably more drab, alternatives.
Or not.
Many of you might think we need to ditch the colourful garms once the days start to draw in, but this year’s an exception. Orange, one of AW14’s key colours, is set to inject some serious life into your cold-weather style.
A hit on the catwalks of brands such as Hardy Amies and Dsquared2, this warm and now winter-appropriate hue is a must-have for the season. Not sure how to work this one into your wardrobe? We give you three easy ways to start taking advantage of orange…
1. Legwear
Proving Savile Row’s no longer stuffy, Hardy Amies showed a pair of relaxed-fit tangerine chinos in its AW14 collection. Perfect for adding a splash of colour to an otherwise dull winter getup, orange trousers strike the right balance between smart and statement-making.
Best teamed with complementary neutral hues such as brown and blue, orange legwear, like all things potentially divisive, should be worn with a healthy dose of confidence. We’re all for pushing boundaries but depending on your day-to-day style, tentative steps may be best to start.
So, use your orange trousers as your centrepiece and don’t overcomplicate the outfit by adding any other brightly coloured pieces. Sticking to one eye-catching garment per ensemble will give your look an edge over others without raising eyebrows.
When it comes to texture, heavier fabrics like wool and corduroy not only look great, offering a natural mattifying effect, but will help keep you warm once the temperature drops below zero.
Round out your look with worker boots, chunky knitwear and a button-down shirt for an unfussy, rugged outfit, or team with a tweed blazer, ribbed roll neck and classic brogues for something slightly dressier.
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Pieces
2. Outerwear
A little more familiar, perhaps, than orange trousers, orange outerwear is a trend making itself known for AW14 – but you’ll want to avoid anything too mountain rescue or Baywatch to carry this off as refreshingly modern, rather than a misfire.
Rest assured, though, while wearing vibrantly coloured outerwear can prove difficult – even the most eccentric dresser would be hard pressed to pull off a bright orange overcoat – it isn’t impossible. In fact, if you select the right style of jacket and combine it with the appropriate elements, orange outerwear can quickly become a key part of your day-to-day wardrobe.
In terms of the style of coat you should be looking to invest in, formal silhouettes such as the mac or overcoat can be considered, and will certainly breathe life into your monotonous formal or professional wear, but we wouldn’t advise opting for one over a timeless navy or camel version.
Instead, to ensure you get maximum wear out of your choice – let’s face it, this is an investment that’s probably going to be called upon more often than not during the next few months – stick to versatile designs like the bomber jacket or parka, which can easily work for a variety of looks from super- to smart-casual.
To construct a relaxed outfit that’s ideal for cold winter weekends, try teaming your jacket with a knitted navy jumper, slim- or straight-leg jeans and hiking-style boots, switching for a crisp white shirt, black trousers and loafers combination for a night on the town.
For further inspiration, take a look at the AW14 collections of Dsquared2, Oliver Spencer and Etro. Here you’ll find an array of striking outerwear pieces perfect for the fashion-forward gentleman. Our favourite look came courtesy of Dsquared2, who teamed a bright orange peel bomber jacket with a generous helping of black in the form of a beanie hat, shirt, trousers and ankle-grazing military boots.
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Pieces
3. Knitwear
From chunky roll neck jumpers to fine gauge cardigans, knitwear is your number one weapon against winter and should take pride of place on your new season wishlist.
Orange knitwear makes a bold appearance in several AW14 collections, favoured by the likes of Topman Design and Christopher Shannon. The former teamed acid orange knits with wet-look and wide-leg inky black trousers, while Shannon piled a fine-gauge cable knit over some short shorts, offering a zesty take on his signature sports-inspired aesthetic.
Much like orange-coloured outerwear, you’ll want to opt for knitwear styles that are all-rounders. For a look that mixes the best parts of urban and the great outdoors, try teaming a chunky orange cable knit with a charcoal grey blazer, sky blue Oxford shirt, heavyweight chinos and leather worker boots. This same jumper will also work for with a marine blue MA1 bomber jacket, slim jeans and trainers for an outfit that’s more solidly street.
Don’t be afraid to introduce a shot of colour to your formal attire, either. A refined burnt orange merino wool jumper or cardigan would slot seamlessly between your white shirt and grey/navy/black suit jacket (see lookbook below), instantly lifting your mood and appearance.
It’s worth remembering, too, that there’s a whole spectrum of shades to choose from. From rich, dark hues to far softer variations, the options really are endless. So, whatever your style preference, loud or reserved, finding something that will suit your tastes is more than feasible.
Lookbook Inspiration
Key Pieces
Final Word
With the festive season now well under way, building a well-rounded winter wardrobe should be at the top of your sartorial to-do list – with orange right at the forefront.
Perfect for introducing some much-needed vibrancy to an otherwise dull couple of months, it’s well worth investing in this on-trend colour. Whether you prefer orange legwear, knitwear or outerwear, we would love to know what you opt for and what you’re planning on wearing it with.
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