Jenny Joseph said in her famous poem: ‘When I am an old woman I shall wear purple/ With a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.’
In fashion terms, purple is certainly a colour that divides opinion, especially if the wearer is over a certain age. Yet our fabulous model here is in her 60s and the tones you see are a display of confidence, not of age. If your New Year’s resolution was to wear more colour, this is the way to do it: whether lilac or lavender, violet or plum, a warming purple tone is the surprise shade of 2022.
It appeared on the autumn/winter catwalks and reigns supreme for spring/summer. Lanvin sent a purple pleated baby-doll down the catwalk, complete with colour co-ordinating platform sandals.
Shirt, £179, winserlondon.com; trousers, £225, veronicabeard.com; bag, £89.99 and shoes, £49.99, both zara.com
Cashmere jumpers, £115 each, boden.co.uk; dress, £59, marksandspencer.com; loafers, £195, russellandbromley.co.uk
Coat, £349, and trousers, £129, both winserlondon.com; jumper, £79, marksandspencer.com; loafers, £110, boden.co.uk
At Valentino the periwinkle mini dresses were structured — and eye-wateringly short. Tod’s stand-out look was a pair of cropped trousers and a belted utility jacket in a vivid violet. Gucci pulled out all the stops with a chiffon maxi-dress and flowing cape in true purple.
The High Street’s selection is slightly more wearable; it’s possible to avoid conformity without looking completely bonkers. For those weary of block colour, introduce it on floaty, romantic dresses such as Jigsaw’s Wild Garden design, £220. It has a tie that pulls you in at the waist.
High-neck knit, £27.99, and tailored trousers, £27.99, both zara.com; block heeled shoes, £259, lkbennett.com
Floral-print maxi dress, £220, jigsaw-online.com; trainers, £56, Adidas at asos.com
Knit, £39.20, oasisfashion.com; wide-leg trousers, £35, marksandspencer.com; trainers as before
A soft lilac, periwinkle or lavender is surprisingly flattering and Marks & Spencer’s wide-leg trousers are by far the easiest way to add it to your wardrobe.
If you’re really into this colour palette then go for a tonal, monochrome look: use the same colour head-to-toe, mixing hues and textures. Winser London has a Miracle trouser — the absence of side seam has the magical effect of lengthening the leg — and matching coat. If you find these paler hues too sickly sweet for your taste, try Zara’s high-neck jumper, £27.99. It packs a punch and pops when you wear it with white.
If you’re cautious, you can also dip your toe in the water with a statement bag and shoes in a minimalist design. As Joseph says in the closing stanza of her poem: ‘But maybe I ought to practise a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised/ When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.’
Dress, £169, ghost. co.uk; sandals, £262.50, rosamundmuir.com; earrings, £29.99, zara.com
Top, £30 and trousers, £30, riverisland.com; loafers, £195, russellandbromley.co.uk
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