Pantone's colour of the year might be Peach Fuzz – a soft power shade that’s as sweet as the fruit it gets its name from – but another school of thought is offering an alternative theory for exactly which colours will hit in 2024. Early adopters include Rihanna, Jenna Lyons and the crème de la crème of Hollywood. And the hues in question – high-octane when paired together but achievable with what’s already hanging in your wardrobe – are really the most basic of them all: black and white.
Top-to-toe monochrome was the official dress code for the promo trail of Feud: Capote vs The Swans. Demi Moore has taken the black-and-white memo to heart, wearing a stunningly chic series of black and white looks from Balmain, Carolina Herrera and Fendi.
At Paris Couture Week, Rihanna wore a thoroughly modern take on a butter-wouldn’t-melt black skirt suit by Dior, accessorising with optic white point-toe pumps that said, ‘I mean business.’ Also in attendance was Sabrina Dhowre Elba, who wore a billowing white cape, accessorised with sculptural gold ‘ears’, at Schiaparelli.
The Jacquemus show’s step-and-repeat was also a lesson in monochrome (Jenna Lyons’ black trouser suit buttoned over a white shirt was the stylish way to do starched workwear).
Meanwhile, at Copenhagen Fashion Week, show-goers put forward a smart-casual case for wearing monochrome, arriving in top-to-toe black except for a crisp white tee.
It’s this approach – wearing a lot of one colour and a little of the other – that will make your outfit pop. Sticking with the white tee, why not pair it with white jeans (wide-legged) and a black leather jacket (oversized)? For something office-appropriate, you could try a black trouser suit with a slim-fit white polo neck. And don’t forget that you can always cheat by wearing pieces that contain black and white (Maje’s smart knitted jacket will go with practically every pair of trousers you own). To sharpen the look even more, dig out any monochrome accessories you’ve got lying around – white sunglasses, black kitten heels – and add them into the equation (Demi Moore’s white pumps had a black toe-cap if you want to wear both colours in one).
Peach Fuzz might do it for some people. But for something with a little more bite, it’s got to be black and white.
Shop: The Best Black-And-White Pieces For Monochrome Outfits
www.cos.com
COS' ribbed organic cotton top is the casual way to do monochrome, although it might look surprisingly crisp under an oversized trouser suit.
www2.hm.com
Contrast stitching takes an ordinary black shirt to extraordinary new levels, while the oversized cuffs give it a little something extra.
www.hush-uk.com
Hush's ecru dungarees have a relaxed cut that makes them super comfortable to wear, day in, day out.
aligne.co
With its round necklace instead of a plunging V, Aligne's cinched waistcoat is an incredibly chic take on this classic piece of tailoring.
www.charleskeith.co.uk
Charles & Keith's ladylike pumps have a modest heel but a patent finish and silver buckle that are guaranteed to win smart points.
demellierlondon.com
DeMellier's Tokyo handbag comes eight colours, but the off-white stands out for being simple yet effective. This bag won't carry the kitchen sink, with a single zipped pocket - but that would hardly be the point of a shoulder bag now, would it?
www.guess.eu
Made of jersey, this polo neck maxi dress clings brilliantly to the body, while being miraculously comfortable to wear.
uk.maje.com
This black-and-white knitted cardigan will go with so many items that are currently hanging in your wardrobe.
Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).