YCB’s whimsical white edit
White clothing: pure, luxurious, elegant …and notoriously difficult to pull off. Across the world black is thought of as the most classic of colours, but it’s often associated with hiding. There’s something about white that makes a woman shine. If you know how to wear it, it screams confidence.
Gwyneth Paltrow in that Tom Ford caped dress, Scandal’s Olivia Pope in her crisp white trouser suits, and Bianca Jagger’s non-traditional bridal skirt suit are still being talked about decades later. What is it about their looks that have made them so iconic? They let the clean cut lines, sumptuous fabrics and the gleaming colour take centre stage. The secret to creating a daring yet dreamy whimsical white look is to experiment with materials and shapes, whilst keeping accessories to a minimum.
First, play with proportions. ‘If you know what proportions look good on you, anyone could pull them off’, designer Maram Aboul Enein tells us of all-white looks. Contrasting proportions is something that the Paris-based designer has very consciously worked in to her AW15/16 collection, juxtaposing cropped hems on tops with cascading oversized sleeves, and neat upper arms with generous coyote fur. Treading a very fine line between a fantasy world and a realistic approach in terms of cut, timelessness and longevity, MARAM Paris’ white pieces dress the woman of independence, drive, strength and value.
Fabric choice is vital to the success of a head to toe white look. The wrong white material can instantly cry cheap vulgarity, but the right whites can ooze luxury beyond compare. MARAM Paris has cleverly re-worked classic materials like cashmeres and furs to draw the eye across ensembles without deviating from the all-white theme. Pairing ribbed cashmere with thick fur marries luxury with comfort; sprinkling Swarovski stones serves to further brighten lamb leather white shorts.
‘White goes with everything’, Maram explains, so for those who want to add dashes of other colours to a predominantly white look the options are endless. A mature, classic combination, we’re in favour of keeping tones muted and elegant by pulling off a head-to-toe monotone look in white and camel. Sleek white trousers – legs elongated by stilettos – should be paired with draping camel cashmere for a simultaneously contemporary yet ageless ensemble.
As with any outfit, accessories are important, but should very much be kept as minimal as possible so not to defeat the purpose of whimsical white. For the evening suppress all your natural urges by sticking to a clean neckline. Focus instead on a beautiful pair of simple chandelier earrings, brought to centre stage by a dreamy up-do. During the day, team the look with a well crafted statement leather handbag or shoes with minimal hardware. ‘Because the colour palette is so neutral and clean, you can re-accessorise each piece differently depending on the occasion’, Maram reminds us.
