Why purple is the unexpected colour to wear now

The Telegraph's Girl On A Budget columnist, Krissy Turner, vows to add purple to her autumnal palette, and encourages you to do the same...

While I’m all about white jeans, pale pink shellac and a bright slider during the warmer months, as soon as autumn rears its gloomy head, my wardrobe does an about turn. Cue the resurgence of my burgundy clothes and camel coats that have been patiently waiting for that chill in the air that typically means I won’t be touching a pastel until early March.

Up until a few weeks ago, I was pretty set on my favoured autumnal shades. That was before I tried on an oversized lilac mohair knit by Ganni. At £330, it’s a big investment for us girls on a budget, but my new knit is now central to my new season look so worth every penny in my opinion. Rather than looking out of place in this breezy weather, the icy lilac hue deems it perfect for right now, and it’s so cosy I don’t need to wear a coat.

Pleated velvet culottes, £19.99,  Zara;  Mohair knit, £49, & Other Stories; Suede ankle boots, £60, River Island

This knit isn’t a one-off, either. Since pricey-jumper-gate, I’ve been spotting the shade everywhere, and it seems purple, in all of it’s luxurious varieties, is having a moment. If you’re keen to expand your autumnal palette (as I unknowingly was) it’s a great colour to invest in.

The darker shades may be the safest first step for the skeptical; if you can’t bear to part with burgundy, go for plum hues which offer a similar feel and are less ubiquitous.

You’d think the paler colours would be the most difficult, but just opt for a jumper (try this soft wool one from & Other Stories) and wear it in the same way you would any other. See them as a cooler and less overtly feminine alternative to pink. 

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Lavender and amethyst tones look particularly good with grey and navy. A coat in either colour would be the ultimate commitment to the cause and this Mango wool one with large lapels would look great with an oversized navy roll neck, dark denim and white ankle boots.

Speaking of which, Mango should be your first port of call for lilac. It also a chic pussybow blouse, above (£35.99, Mango) that would look lovely layered with a darker jumper, and a chunky round neck knit (£39.99, Mango) that could pass as a doppelgänger for my Ganni one.

Jewelled earrings, £15, Warehouse; Striped shirt, £69, Kitri; Wool coat, £79.99, Mango

Uterque, though a bit pricier, has a gorgeous pair of violet velvet ankle boots (£120, Uterque) that would work for day and night as they have a slightly higher but still walkable heel.

These divine velvet culottes from Zara tackle the purple winter challenge beautifully; they have a matching long sleeved top (£19.99, Zara), which remind me of the purple one from Quality Street - a look I hadn’t imagined I’d want to emulate but I’m not ruling it out.