Sophie Milner

5 Ways to Wear Velvet

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… and not look like a 5 year old at a school disco.


 The latest installation of my AW16 trends mini-series set out to answer the burning question everyone has this season: how do you wear velvet without looking like a 7 year old at a school disco? Totally valid question, of course, seeing as the last time I wore velvet was in fact at a school disco (one time I was 10 in a black velvet flared catsuit, prior to that as a 6 year old in a pink crushed velvet skirt and top two-piece) It’s the kind of fabric that elicits mixed reactions because of its plush, over textured feel. You’re more likely to associate it hanging in curtain-form in the Chelsea manor house of some Russian Oligarch – it’s just always been a little too decadent too be cool.


Yet the fabric has lost its stuffy, over-opulent rep after appearing in practically every AW16 show. Yes, it’s still luxurious and plush, but it’s taken on a sportier, sexier, and more playful direction through bomber jackets, slip dresses, and little skirts. Navy is the perfect hue to buy velvet in – the texture gives more depth to the shade than you can rarely get with any other fabric – so this Missguided bomber jacket was a new-season no-brainer. It keeps things casual with an urban element, whilst still feeling super luxe – it almost wants to scream LUXE CHAV. In another world this jacket would have been worn by the Queen Bee of a small town high school, accessorised on Friday night with a tonally-coordinating bottle of blue WKD.  But I’m not so sure how sexy the reality of that is. So now, it gets teamed with Vetements-style jeans (this ASOS pair are a firm high-street favourite dupe of mine) and some pointed block-heel pumps – a mismash of opulence, sporty, and elegance. Shouldn’t work, but somehow does.

Check out the video above to see the other ways I styled the trend!

Photography by Rebecca Spencer

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