Beige. It’s not a colour that I own much of nor is it a colour I previously thought I could get on board with, if I’m honest. That all changed when I spied a pair of beige vintage Levi’s 501 jeans in a shop in Brixton and strangely, I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I’m a sucker for vintage Levi’s and an alternative to a classic blue pair is always welcome in my wardrobe. Luckily when I went back a few weeks later, they were still there.
Beige is a key colour for SS19 and beige jeans are an easy way to dip your toe into that trend, especially if, like me, you’re naturally a monochrome-phobe. They are a more subtle option to white jeans and are a great way to integrate some lighter wash denim into your winter wardrobe, before they come into their own in spring. (I’m thinking white T-shirts, hair scarves and bright sandals…)
So, a few hours before catching a Eurostar to Paris back in December, I returned to said vintage shop in Brixton to grab this pair, knowing how perfect they would look with the beautifully beige backdrop of the streets of Paris.
I kept the base of the outfit simple and tonal; tucking in this cream V-neck cardigan that I had bought from a vintage kilo sale the month before. On my feet, I wore my Grenson boots; the only shoes I took to Paris that weekend and the best investment I have made all winter (comfy enough to walk in for hours and they’re pretty toasty too). So far, so monochrome so of course I had to add a bit of colour.
This pink coat is last season Jigsaw. I got it at their sample sale back in June and have been longing to wear it ever since. Coats are my thing and I have built up quite a collection over the years – almost an entire rainbow – I’m still missing a few colours but this pink one brought me a lot closer. It’s the perfect shape; cut in a thick structured wool with the most wonderful large lapels I have ever seen. I love how its bright colour looks with the beige; somehow it just works.
I finished off the look with my burgundy Coach saddle bag. I’m really into bringing together colours from the same area of the spectrum (hence the beige and cream in the base of my outfit) so pink and burgundy was an easy pairing. It was also a simple way to bring in another colour to this otherwise beige look.
So that’s how I wear beige, a surprisingly easy colour to come around to and style with colourful pieces. I could definitely see myself looking for some beige linen shorts for the summer when, as I learnt last year, I tend to wear a bit less colour. How will you be wearing beige this year? X
