For me, January is the hardest month to dress for. It’s cold, which is an issue in itself, there is nothing in the shops and all the winter clothes I own seem to automatically lose all their appeal the very moment the New Year starts. I don’t want cosy knits or rich colours, I want to look fresh and crisp and fit and on top of things and maybe even a little bit edgy. Considering my post-holidays mental and physical state, financial constraints and the environment I’m in, this is an impossible brief.

This is why every year, I find small ways to cheat myself a little bit closer to that ideal of freshness and coolness. In 2017, my top tip is to wear white. And I don’t mean ski-chalet white, although a chunky white jumper or sweater dress are also very much a thing this winter. The effect I’m going for is a little bit more fashion, a bit more Celine/Alexa Chung.

The easiest way to do this trend is a white polo neck: an item that ticks both the mod and 90s boxes. Similar, but a little more sporty is the half-zip tracksuit top (as seen here, although not in white). The other relatively easy option is a white bag: I think this works especially well in a form of a clutch and if I had the resources, I would own this Victoria Beckham version already. Personally, I’ve gone for white boots. That’s not necessarily easy to pull off nor especially flattering, but I like the overall effect it gives. I would go for a pointy (or possibly square) toe and I think flats and mid-height heels work best. We are not going for the white stiletto boot look.**

White jeans have been everywhere, too, and by everywhere I mostly mean my Instagram feed. This is again a pretty tricky choice, thanks to the Liz Hurley connotations – I have absolutely no problem with Liz in white jeans, but it’s not the look the current wearers are aspiring to. The way to wear them now is either very minimally or in a slightly ironic way (see Pandora Sykes for the masterclass), in either case it does look very fresh in the middle of winter. The other plus is that while in general all fashionable jeans tend to be very complicated at the moment – patchwork, high-waist cropped mom jeans, crazy hems – you can get away with simpler shapes when wearing white, as you’re laready making a statement with the colour.

*The last time I talked about winter whites, they were of perfumed variety. For today’s theme, I would go with something slightly masculine – a citrussy-green cologne, maybe.
**Obviously in January (at least for everyday), it makes sense to pair the boots with opaque tights and/or cropped trousers or jeans, rather than follow my example on the cover picture.

Boots from Zara sale, tights from H&M.