Q. I'm worried that white is one of summers's biggest trends. I'd love to be able to wear it, but I've always thought of it as being notoriously difficult to pull off and don't know where to start. Any advice?
A. White is, according to any celebrity worth her dry cleaning account, the colour of the season. On the red carpet at any recent award ceremony or film premiere, the stars have all gone for pure, dazzling whiter-than-white numbers: Megan Fox, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Cheryl Cole have all adopted the virginal hue.
Even top designers are using white in their collections, from pared-down tailoring (Prada and Gucci) to romantic frills and flounces (Dolce & Gabanna, Mui Mui and Erdem). And although sun is not exactly in abundance at the moment, summer's here so it’s time to take the plunge and wear white.
Why?
White goes with almost every other shade and works on almost every type of clothing. It also has transformative powers, turning you instantly into a fresh-faced spring bunny. And if ever there was a fashion season in which to overcome your fear of the pale one, this is it.
I think the smartest investment this year is a summer day dress or a crisp white tailored jacket (try Monsoon, New Look, Dunnes and Littlewoods for styles that won’t break the bank). You can go all the way and wear white from head-to-toe to create the illusion of length. Make sure the shades match though - don't team up a cream or off-white top with pure white trousers.
A pure white suit works wonders for the working day – Warehouse’s tailored jacket, €84, and matching trousers €60, fit the bill perfectly. Avoid shiny, reflective materials, such as satin, as they can be unforgiving in white. Instead, opt for a material that absorbs light, such as cotton, lace or cotton.
If you don't like the way white looks on you, try an off-white shade like ivory, eggshell or oyster. Pure white only looks good on a fraction of the population, so you're not alone. But there's no reason to steer away from it completely.
Here are a few tips:
* If you are fair skinned, try putting on a tinted moisturizer first so you won't wash out and maybe just a touch of pink makeup to look healthy and robust.
* Wear metallic accessories — silver jewelry, sandals, purses and belts work well.
* Plus sizes should ‘glitz it up a little.’ Opt for tunics that are embellished with just a little bit of beading. I think you should accessorize with colour so it isn't so stark. I like wood bracelets or maybe turquoise jewelry. Wear black and white or brown and white. Or maybe wear all white except for a little coral tank underneath. If your body is disproportionate, then do not wear white on the bigger parts.
* Don't get arrested for indecent exposure. All those light, frothy skirts need to either be lined or worn with sheer undergarments (Marks and Spencer Seamless Shapewear, for example). Tops often need a camisole or a tank underneath. In general, you want underwear the same colour as your flesh (white underwear might stand out visually).
* Unless you are extremely tall and thin, white tights should not be in your wardrobe. Brides and nurses are exempt.
* White shoes can make your feet look bigger, so either wear a sandal (so that some of your natural skin tones show), or wear tones that are close to your flesh tone.
