Know your velvet

Velvet is for winter

Velvet is warm and soft, the perfect way of adding some colour and texture to your autumn and winter wardrobe. All colours look luxurious in it, and its glow is very flattering.
Every season you can find different on trend this winter as part of the Baroque trend.

• Velvet is the winter alternative of silk and satin: it offers warmth, opaqueness and texture, it also glows beautifully. All colours look positively luxurious in it.
• Stay away from polyester, silk and viscose (20-80% and upwards) mixes give the ultimate softness and gloss. Cotton velvet is very warm, and looks less casual than corduroy.

Worthy pieces

• Trousers, jackets and skirts in velvet are great wardrobe staples if you choose a classic cut. It is worth your while to invest in your neutral green, blue, grey, black and red.
• Accessories: a purse, a belt or sash, or a hat or beret.
• A jacket and/or coat for special occasions. It doesn't look good when the guests put on their everyday coat at one of those. If you invest in these pieces, no celebration will catch you unawares.

Velvet: Trousers by Caroline Grant. A great way to wear many shades of warm green mixing textures and prints for a lovely cozy mid season outfit. The play on green creates a long unbroken line, helped by the pointy shoes with a medium heel.
The pencil trousers are best for those slim, or average body type Cs. If you are heavy on top, beware of creating and ice cream cone effect: opt for a straight cut trousers instead.
The cardigan jacket is the best of way of incorporating chunky knits to your wardrobe. 
Do click on the outfit to go to Polyvore if you want to check the dragon brooch. Butler and Wilson create absolutely wonderful dragon brooches.

Lanvin Slim Fit Velvet Trousers / Peter Som Blouse / Ralph Lauren Shawl Collar Cardigan / Marni Edition Printed Tote / Hispanitas Laces Pumps / Butler and Wilson Laughing Dragon Brooch / Jane Norman Pyramid Ring / Dolce&Gabbana Shine Lipstick in Almond / Dolce&Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Perfection.

Velvet: Jacket by Caroline Grant*. Choosing a top and skirt in the same material and pattern contributes to create a virtual dress and a longer body line. This ones are the fruit of last year's collaboration between Missoni and Lindex. It is also a great option for Body type As and Cs, as they usually need a different size for top and bottom). Cerise or nude tights, please.
The velvet jacket can really be taken anywhere, even the office. I dare you to be elegant every day.

Missoni for Lindex Skirt / Missoni for Lindex Top / Armani Collezione Velvet Jacket / Aspinal of London Brooks St. Workbag / Coast Zoe Signature Handbag / Clarks Asha Booties / Black Lily Jennifer Scarf / Wallis Metal Necklace / Tom Ford Lipstick, Nail Lacquer and Compact in Black Orchid.

Velvet: Coat by Caroline Grant. A lovely dress in silk and an Oriental print will always be marvelously elegant. Choose a Western interpretation of an Oriental dress, unless you are Oriental yourself, of course. Here the traditional Mao collar has been substituted by a sort of clerical collar, and the slits by a plissé detail.
Black pearls, in the necklaces and rings will be a great way of adding character to the soft print.
A minaudière (a handheld box-like small handbag) in brocade and a tassel detail continues the Oriental theme discreatly, and will look good with lots of outfits for special events.
I chose this peeptoe shoes for the dress because the colour of the satin was just perfect, but I would buy something with a much lower heel for myself. At weddings and parties, you will stand up for long stretches of time and probably dance, so don't let your shoes ruin the fun! 

Libelula Velvet Coat / La Rue Dress / Kotur Margo Brocade Minaudière Handbag / Badgley Mischka Gayla Peeptoe Shoes / Pure Pearls Black Pearl Necklaces / Alexis Bittar Rings / Tom Ford Lipstick in Wild Ginger / Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Ginger Fire.

This is the first in the TRL's series How to wear velvet.
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*[Background to the set is Leaves by Dawn LeBlanc (2009) at Fine Art Photo Blog].