KEY POINTS:
Picture the scene: five women in the minimalist Auckland living room of a posh stylist. All different shapes, sizes and colours, they perch anxiously on the edge of the stylist's fancy designer couch, notepads at the ready, awaiting the words of wisdom they have paid well to hear.
All in black, every hair perfectly in place, the stylist stands in front of them and gives a fabulous speech: she tells them about the colours of the season, trends, which footwear goes with which frock, plus tips on hair and make-up. At the end of the session, she asks the women if they have any questions.
For a moment, there's silence. Then one woman clears her throat: "I have a question," she pipes up.
"All that stuff about trends is really interesting but I was wondering," she says somewhat defiantly, "if you could give us some advice on, um, well, how to look sexy in winter, you know, with all those clothes on?"
The other women all nod in agreement. Turns out that after all that information, what everyone really wants to know is how to look hot while staying warm. So, ladies, here's how:
OPAQUE TIGHTS
The thicker and more opaque the better. Think of these big black (or any other colour) fellows as a replacement for leggings or even trousers because when they're thick, you'll actually feel as though they are. This gives you license to wear floppy, jersey dresses and shorter skirts without feeling too exposed, while - of course - keeping warm.
If you've got nice pins, you might like to experiment with colours and textures and draw a little more attention to your legs and to the smouldering length of your skirt.
HIGH-HEELED ANKLE BOOTS
Especially those ankle boots with an almost 80s feel that stop a little lower than you'd expect at the juncture of foot and ankle. There's something deliciously undressed about this look, with the exposure of the top of the ankle bone, even if it is covered in an opaque tight. The other interesting item of footwear is what fashion is currently, and somewhat hilariously, calling the "shootie", aka the shoe-boot combination. Don't know about you but the look brings to mind everything from cross-dressing hotties to dominatrixes with whips. And yes, only gay men and foot fetishists tend to notice your shoes, but it's the vibe that counts in this case.
GLOVES
Wearing a pair of gloves is like turning a key in someone's consciousness. They open the door to a variety of pop-culture references - everything from ladylike to fetish to burlesque, depending on what else you're wearing. If you're going for the sex appeal of gloves, then don't wear them in a practical way - as in, you don't want your victim's subconscious to dwell on gardening, driving or skiing. Instead consider texture, fabric and colour - fine leather, satin, delicate wool, a moody aubergine or a sultry crimson. When you're taking off those fine, crimson woollen ones be sure to look your target firmly in the eye, then remove the gloves delicately, finger tip by finger tip. Go on, dare you.
A FITTED COAT OR JACKET
Something a little bit tailored that nips in at the waist is going to be better than some giant, shapeless parka any day - no matter how practical the latter is. This season there are a stack of interesting and fashionable coats around, including those in clear and shiny PVC with definite futuristic or fetishistic overtones. And obviously you can't go past that classic trench coat look. Belt it at the waist, wear it with stockings and heels and pretend you have nothing else on underneath.
Finally, a good rule to shop for coats by is to think how you would feel if you had to wear the prospective purchase all evening. If you didn't get a chance to take it off, would you still feel good?
HOT LINGERIE
And not just your traditional black lace brassiere. Yes, knowing that you're all gussied up underneath your clothes is certainly helpful to cultivating a sexy frame of mind. But what may be even more helpful when temperatures drop is taking a look at all the varieties of thermal underwear you can get these days. It's no longer just nana-style singlets down at the shops, ladies. Labels like New Zealand's very own Liberty do scintillating things with merino, including fine black lacey looks that wouldn't be out of place on a beautiful Italian widow, plus wrap tops that you would be able to wear as outerwear.
Other local labels like Silkbody and Icebreaker may sound sporty but one of their fine and streamlined, long-sleeved merino tops is perfect under almost anything. Basically, the light fabric, minimal style and choice of colours mean you can wear that fitted, short-sleeved dress without bulking up or disrupting the garment's original look. Investing in a couple of these sorts of tops gives some of your more summery or slinky garments the potential for a winter outing.
DRAPED AND SHEER LOOKS
Here's another instance where the thermal undies you just bought are going to be very helpful. You may have been wearing that deliciously draped or sheer top all summer. And you may be thinking that's not going to work in winter.
But put a merino singlet or long-sleeved top underneath, and, although we may not get to see as much skin, there's no doubt that the overall impression is the same: draped, transparent and undone, as if - oh my! - this little number might fall off any minute.
TEXTURE AND DETAIL
When you look at a zip, the thought of pulling it is almost instant - a reflex. When you see something soft and pretty like mohair, you can't help but want to touch it. Other details, such as elements of corsetry or buckles on leather, also leave a fleeting, but automatic, impression. So though you may be fully, warmly, dressed it is also true that when your partner or potential partner sees you in a soft mohair cardigan or a dress with a zip down the front, they cannot help but have wicked thoughts about you.
