In days gone by, I steered clear of wearing orange. In part at least, this is because my younger brother’s childhood depictions of my hair involved orange crayon. At that tender age, I didn’t like being a redhead and I positively hated being called a ginger. Consequently, for decades, my sartorial choices included nothing that might emphasise my colouring. Of course, more than 30 years on, I couldn’t be happier with my hair colour. After the highlighted outer layers went too blonde during last year’s glorious summer, I asked my hairdresser to match it to the much darker colour underneath. My natural colour which I love, because it’s different, it’s distinguishable and it’s me.

To this day though, I still don’t have many orange clothes. Perhaps it’s just semantics and you’ll say that this dress is orange, but I prefer to describe it as coral. In fact, I shall say it is Living Coral, because that’s the Pantone Colour Of The Year, a colour we can expect to see a lot throughout 2019. Either way, it’s a shade that appeals to me and one that casts a warm, flattering glow on the skin.

The dress is by Needle and Thread, a brand that has long had me enraptured. Its signature ethereal ruffled lace, the dainty embellishment and the exquisite embroidery are everything my romantic eye is drawn to. I bought it in the sale and it’s now out of stock, but have a look at the website and you’ll see what I mean. Their bridal gowns are also in my thoughts…

But enough daydreaming. for now at least, and back to this Living Coral dress.

A floaty, delicate dress like this needs footwear to ground, but not overpower it. Black is too harsh and animal print makes it all seem a little too busy; I want the dress to be the star of the show. These delicious burgundy stretch ankle boots, (also a sale purchase and still available at the time of writing), work beautifully. Mulled wine is the perfect colour to complement Living Coral.

The Perfect Pair

What colour eyewear works with Living Coral?

Animal print, especially tan leopard, works beautifully with all orange and spice shades. For a head-turning, contrasting combination choose cobalt blue. It sits opposite orange on the colour wheel so the juxtaposition is particularly striking. If metallics are your thing, choose rose gold or copper.

I chose a tonal shade which is, I concede, undeniably orange. This frame is called Simo by Feb31st. The slightly upswept shape works for me and like the boots, it serves to complement rather than overpower. It’s lightweight and comfortable and I can’t decide whether to have sunglass lenses or varifocal lenses put in.