Karen Walker shift dress, $575. Melie Bianco Clutch, $200. Photo / Greg Bowker
Gawdy brights, chill out. It's all about restraint with this season's colour blocking update. Peacocking street-style figures know that wearing colour-blocked outfits is a surefire way to get their picture taken. However, this time around the lesson is in subtlety, toning down brights by combining them with the more quieter and subdued colours of the season.
Earthy hues such as brown, khaki green, burgundy
and ochre provide an unusual yet refreshing take on colour blocking when worn with primary brights or even the myriad pastel tones available right now. These typically spring/summer colours are still making an impact well into the cooler months, an indication that designers are focusing heavily on more trans-seasonal pieces.
For his recent autumn 2014 collection for Christian Dior, Raf Simons highlighted this idea by teaming crisp, man-style pant suits in crimson red and forest green with bright yellow and brilliant hot-pink car coats, providing the perfect example of balanced colour blocking.
Good knitwear is key, so look to the many coloured options available from specialists such as Standard Issue and Nineteen 46. Both labels have a wide variety of jumpers and cardigans in a rainbow of jewel tones.
