A colour guide to your seasonal wardrobes

In Britain our seasons are stereotypically defined by the weather. Spring signifies the end of the freezing winter months and the beginnings of new life all around us, while summer these past few years has been unbearably hot. Autumn is many people’s favourite season, perhaps due to the crisp smell of the falling leaves or the cottagecore inspired revival of classics such as L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. But winter is where the fashion fun occurs what with layering, wool and cosy sweaters.

Colours can often be a challenge, however, as we tend to gravitate towards shades that represent our personality rather than the season that surrounds us. In the days of capsule wardrobes and minimalism, there has been a reduction in seasonal dressing, yet there is both a practicality and an aesthetic value to coordinating clothing with the shifting seasons. I will discuss fabrics in another post, so in this post will be focussing on seasonal colours. These are of course subjective and you may find that you do not agree (if this is the case I would love to hear your own views in the comments!).

Spring – Pale Greens

Spring is the time of new life, whether that be the unfurling leaves in the hedgerows or the frolicking April lambs. As such, a seasonal wardrobe should reflect this emerging from the long winter into the pale sunshine of optimistic March days. Soft, bright colours are perfect for spring. While I recommend pale greens, you may also like to include other pale colours such as yellows and pinks. Simple floral patterns may help to add an element of whimsy to your wardrobe, whether that is a dress or two or the fabric of your shirts. The aim is to personify the joys of spring and reflect a cottagecore aesthetic of hope and optimism for the year ahead.

Summer – Whites, Creams and Blues

Summer is the carefree months of hot days and pale colours. Cool, light fabrics help to combat the heat of the day, while cool, light colours help invoke the ultimate summer aesthetic and the classic summer look. Blues, whites and creams reflect days spent by the sea, enjoying the brief warm months in peace before the autumn breezes sweep in. Long lazy days are iconic summer staples, as are natural linens and flowing skirts. Choose colours that represent your ultimate summer dream – that image you had in your head during the long winter months bundled up against the grey skies. I tend to gravitate towards block colours during the summer months; however, simple stripes are a classic look.

Autumn – Oranges and Browns

Beloved by many, this is the season of the falling leaves, the season of pumpkins and pies and foggy mornings. ‘Spooky season’, as it is affectionately labelled, has a strange mix of both manmade and natural colours. Halloween invokes shades of black and harsh, garish oranges and greens, whereas the season of autumn is a tonally soft one that showcases a rainbow of orange, red and brown. Oranges and browns are frequent in many people’s autumn wardrobe as seasonal dressing hits a peak during this time. Whether you love autumn or are still befriending it, you will find that the joy of the season can be found all around you. Admittedly, the US do autumn shopping so much better than we Brits do, but that is not to say that you should not fully embrace your autumn spirit. Find a way to mix your favourite parts of autumn and Halloween to create a unique wardrobe that ignites the fire in your heart with the shades of a pile of autumn leaves.

Winter – Purples, Maroons and Deep Reds

I have always thought that winter should be a time for rich, dark shades. No matter how much emphasis people put on garish Christmas jumpers, winter is about block colours and warm fairisle statement pieces. These months are the hardest and coldest on the calendar and as such your clothing choices should be practical and sturdy. Yet, it is also the season of Christmas parties, so add a little sparkle to your outfits and spread that Christmas joy. When layering, always consider one or two staple colours, as a chaotic array of shades can lead to a messy look that often appears mismatched and scruffy. For the winter, you may find yourself gravitating towards rich shades of brown or green; however, my go-to colour is always a deep, pomegranate seed pink. Reds and purples are the winter months personified, what with the holly berries adorning the hedgerows and the rich early sunsets. It is the season of nights by the fire and dark skies, so perhaps these shades will also help bring a little lightness to your day.

Seasonal dressing can bring so much excitement and joy with it and encourage an optimism with the advent of each new time of year. It can help to embrace your love of fashion and bring you closer to the ever changing natural world around you.

Retail Links

Here are a few suggestion for places to stock up on seasonal signature pieces:

• Ebay and Thredup are an excellent sustainable and cheaper option. You can buy all of your favourite brands without heavily impacting the climate or contributing to fast fashion.
• For wonderful winter woolies, I recommend The Longship or searching for vintage fairisle sweaters
• Barbour and Joules have some wonderful autumn and winter wear
• Whitestuff and Fatface are good choices for summer ‘beachy vibes’
• Wholesome Culture is one of the many amazing sustainable brands out there.