Want to dip your toes into neon dressing, but not sure where to start? Rescu. has the key – clash, clash, clash….
It looks like a dangerous trend – but with some space-age sleekness, you can make neon work for any wardrobe.
The key to making neon work in a modern working woman’s wardrobe? Avoiding fuss or frills. Stick to sleek shapes, and don’t be afraid to mix and match.
We love using a neon colour-pop to brighten an outfit: neon heels, sunglasses, watches or shoes. There are some classic shapes out this season: 1940s inspired neon shoes, delicate neon bracelets and some truly spectacular jewellery.
Use it to update your workwear – wear it with an open shirt, tailored trousers and bright lipstick, but never clash different shades of the same colour and examine your face in different lights to see how it works.
If you want to incorporate it into your wardrobe beyond accessories, be brave. It’s a far cry from the sickly-sweet pastel shades which have been playing it so safe this season.
Pick a big statement piece – a vivid pink shirt, for instance, or fluoro trousers. Make sure the material is luxe rather than cheap: dyed silks, knotted chiffon, good wool. We’re loving the idea of a bright Chanel-style coat in neon blue or yellow, thrown over a casual outfit and clashed with another shade of neon accessory.
Neon is curiously addictive – once you start putting it into your outfits, it’s difficult to scale back. If done correctly, two shades of neon in the same outfit can look spectacular. Look for neon prints on shirts and dresses – Henry Holland’s ranges of T-shirts online and Zara’s electric shirts are a good place to start – and go for eclectic, eccentric looks. We’re loving neon florals.
If you’re not feeling brave enough, go for a neon scarf tied around a bun in your hair, for an injection of fluoro brightness – or liven up the entire look with a brilliant glow-in-the-dark manicure.
Pay attention to the palette of colours you’re layering – it may not be the right time to pair that delicate wash of blue with a bright neon, because it will just get drowned out. You have to either compete with clashing colours, or let the neons have the field.
Good places to neon-shop: ASOS online, Sass & Bide for their neon boho necklaces, D-Squared’s neon sunglasses, and Deborah Marquit’s neon lingerie at Net-a-Porter.
Our current neon heroes? Jessica Biel, who showed up to Comic-Con in a white dress with neon yellow heels, and Hilary Tsui, actress, boutique owner in Hong Kong and current star of J.Crew’s Hello World project, where Scott Schumann shot taste-makers around the world. Her fearless neon clashing is an inspiration.
Image: Hilary Tsui by Scott Schumann.
