How To Beat The January Blues? Wear Colour

When writing about florals in the January issue of IMAGE Magazine, I referred to something called “unclothed cognition”. Basically, this is a convoluted way of saying that our behaviour is affected by our choice of clothes. My point was that we shouldn’t be saving cheery florals for summer, because wearing them in winter will brighten our mood when we most need it. Similarly, making a concerted effort to wear vibrant colour this month can?go someway towards chasing away the January blues. Here are some?brights that will help keep a smile on your face during these dreary January days.

Mustard is proving a surprisingly popular shade for SS17. What’s wonderful about this padded coat is that it’s reversible, so when you need a boost, wear it as you see it here, and when you’d like to look?a little more restrained, wear it with the navy side facing outward. The texture of the furry hooded trim will also?help you feel nicely cocooned?when you’re zipped up and battling the elements.

This shade of coral is so cheery. Although it looks like quite a summery colour, it actually works really well with autumnal, earthy hues. Pair it with an inky navy blue or a rich?burgundy to give it more depth.

This is a terrific time of year to invest in good-quality outerwear. This square-shaped coat from online retailer bimbylola.com is a beautifully warm shade of red, ideal for pale Irish skin tones. It’s also reduced by a huge 60 per cent.

H&M has been especially strong the last couple of seasons. I love this unfussy’shirt dress from its?new collection. The fabric has a satin sheen, which contrasts nicely with the utilitarian nature of the piece, and the dress?has a drawstring waist if you prefer a more fitted silhouette.

Yellow is not a great colour for me as I’m very pale, but if you have a slightly warmer skin tone, this piece would look fabulous layered over dark skinny jeans and a navy polo-neck. It doesn’t get cheerier than citrus yellow.

Choosing an ordinary, everyday item like a rain coat in an interesting colour adds a point of difference to your look and shows a strong attention to detail. I love this shade of blue, which works beautifully with dark denims. Plus, this coat will work in every season, and goodness knows it’s no harm to have a pretty raincoat to hand during an Irish summer!