How to wear velvet: 13 outfit ideas to give your winter wardrobe an indulgent boost
In the words of Hugh Grant's utterly charming prime minister alter ego in the ultimate festive feel-good film, "Love actually is all around." And when it comes to our current Christmas crush, our seasonal soulmate, it is velvet that has us totally besotted.The plush fabric trend is by no means exclusive to the festive period (in fact, we consider it an appropriate all-year-rounder), but there is something about its soft-touch, ultra-luxe finish that lends itself perfectly to this time of year.MORE: How to wear feathers: 9 outfit ideas to give you some serious style inspirationREAD: 8 times the little black dress was worth its weight in style goldHistorically velvet was typically made from silk, but these days its signature smooth surface is achieved via a short pile weave made from either linen, cotton, mohair, wool, or various synthetic fibres.Because of its lustrous, plush finish, velvet is frequently used to exude glamour within runway ensembles or red carpet outfits. Schiaparelli SS23 haute couture show Schiaparelli for one came through with exquisitely feminine silhouettes in its SS23 haute couture show, featuring hourglass shapes and Bardot necklines that felt strongly reminiscent of Princess Diana's iconic Christina Stambolia 'revenge' dress – crafted from plush black velvets.READ: Winter wardrobe: how to add colour in 7 simple waysRELATED: 'Tis the season for cocktail attire: 8 pieces that exude festive glam Chanel FW22/23 haute couture showAgain, the cinched-in waist was championed at Alexandre Vauthier, with the collection boasting vibrant red 1980s-esque tailored suit co-ords, whereas at Chanel the velvet agenda showcased stunning lines and added a cleaner, more vivid sense of drama.Decadent suits and elevated evening dresses both make for the ideal opportunity to incorporate some velvet into your style repertoire this season, but we also encourage you to branch out. Belted shorts with dazzling adornments, voluminous one-shoulder tops and slinky midi skirts are all deserving of a look in too. Hello! Fashion shares our favourite ways of styling velvet this season:The one-shoulder top The wide-leg trousers The peplum jacket The oversized blazer The burgundy suit The colourful co-ord The luxe shorts The puff-sleeve dress The double-breasted suit The chic black ensemble The embroidered midi The suit alternative The baby doll dress Like this story? Sign up to our Hello! Fashion newsletter to get your weekly 'Fashion Fix' delivered straight to your inbox.HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.
