Purple reign

If you pay attention to Vogue, or indeed Glamour, Elle or any fashion blogger around, you will no doubt know that purple is the colour of winter 2012-13. It had something of a revolution on the catwalks a few months ago when designers were showing their new collections, and this trend is only getting more relevant as winter progresses.
Traditionally purple was the colour of royalty, and, as Vogue fashion editor Francesca Burns points out, it ‘was only worn by an elite few’. Now it’s gone all democratic. If you’re haunted by images of Sandra Bullock wearing that purple Bottega Veneta dress to the Golden Globes in 2010, where she looked like a purple Quality Street, banish them immediately.

Purple has hit the catwalks, and of course the high street, in a variety of ways, and you can find your own way of wearing it. If you choose a shade anywhere from lilac to plum, you’ll be ahead of the fashion pack. It may be worth noting that if you want to pair your purple with this season’s other dominant trends – the gothic and the baroque – it may be worth your while going for a darker hue.
It needs a bit of confidence to pull off these trends, as they are anything but subtle, but you can always give a nod to them rather than going all out. Wear a violet sweater over your skinny jeans, or even go for violet skinny jeans. If you’re a confident trendsetter, try matching different shades of purple for a really luscious winter look, and blend in perfectly with the Christmas baubles!
A deep purple dress is easy to pull off with aplomb, and it makes a lovely, chic alternative to the classic Little Black Dress. This season you must have in the coat hangers of your closet more than one. If you do want to mash up this season’s trends, go for styles with sheer panels or sparkly embellishments, or wear a plain shift dress and load it up with dramatic jewellery. Team with some appropriately gothic makeup: a deep plum smoky eye or a wine-coloured lip will add just the right amount of dark glamour to your purple reign.