Although this was meant to be all about the berry tones I was wearing this weekend, the photos are as much about the crazy hailstones that happened mid shoot…!
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We started to shoot my head-to-toe berry tones outfit on Sunday afternoon, but we realised very quickly we were going to get rained on.
Rain, which almost immediately turned into hail… Great, big, fat hailstones.
Okay, so maybe they weren’t golf ball-sized, but they were the size of blueberries and came down in a torrential downpour – that’s a pretty rare occurrence here. They soon covered the driveway AND my outfit (see how the wet splodges on my hat match my freckles in the close up!), all in the time it took me to run and take cover.
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SHOP THE LOOK:
So as you can see – one minute dry and calm, the next minute (below): hailstones a-plenty! I’ve saved some of the outtakes of me realising it was coming down and running for cover for my annual bloopers and outtakes post that always goes out on 1st January, so you won’t miss seeing my horrified reaction.
Anyway – the outfit! These berry tones are colours I haven’t worn in a while, and I’ve almost certainly never done them head-to-toe like this. I’ve had the oversized sweater for years (this stunning purple Winser sweater is almost identical), and it’s one of those awkward-to-style pieces because of it being a knit with short(er) sleeves. But its huge size mean it won’t do much to keep your middle warm anyway, so layering is a must. The berry tones are very strong so I went with grey/beige neutrals for the hat, bag and light sweater underneath.
The purple knit was made for my (also old) knee-high platform boots which I knew would work under the loose fit of the magenta cropped trousers* (that I first wore back in May with a riot of bold summer colours). I’ve featured the boots in my ‘Ways to Wear’ section at the end of the post… my aim is to try and add this feature to every single outfit post if I can. It means I’m definitely rewearing all of my wardrobe and shows you how bold pieces and colourful accessories are just as versatile (if not more so) than black.
I think my epitaph should be “Orange (or any other bright colour) is the new black” ; -)
Do you feel the love for all these berry tones? Or have you had any hailstone showers recently that can rival ours?! Comment below…!
P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Hat: La Redoute (similar)
Sweater: Asos (this one is almost identical)
Trousers: JD Williams*
Boots: Zalando (similar, and I love these)
Bag: Accessorize (love this one)
Earrings: Accessorize (love these)
OTHER PURPLE SWEATERS & PLATFORM BOOTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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4 ways to wear knee-high platform boots…
Here are some of the other ways I’ve worn my platform knee-high boots so you can see the different ways they can be styled:
Original posts: Top left / Top right / Bottom left – this post / Bottom right
Pin for later!
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Oh wow I love those colours together, I’d have never thought to wear a berry colour with anything other than black/grey. Love your style
Author
Thank you Toni! Funnily enough I only ever think of black and grey last…!!
Oh yes! I love these berry colours – juicy and luscious. You always do the BEST colour combinations. I also have a fondness for the ‘fedora and poncho’ interpretation from 2015….appeals to the hippy child in me!
Author
Thats’s so nice of you, thanks Erika! I really should pull out that ‘poncho’ (it’s really just a big scarf) again…
I do love a berry palette – as always you find a way to make multiple tones look so effortless! Obsessed with the platform boots now too! I will never forget the first time I experienced hail after I moved to Scotland – I was so stunned/terrified and hid under a doorway! I had never seen anything like it!
Author
Thanks Steff – I bought a brown pair after wearing these again after rediscovering my love for them!
I really love these jewel tones on you! <3
Author
thanks so much lovely Kailey!
Great outfit. I love this outburst of colours. And your freckles are sooo cute.
Greetje
Author
Aww thanks Greetje – unusual colours for me but I love them altogether like this!
I love all this gorgeous color.
Author
Thank you Amy! Unusual colours for me but I think they look fabulous together…
I love berry shades and they look so pretty on you! Crazy weather! I can’t tell you how many times sudden downpours or wind have made taking outfit shots an adventure…lol
Debbie
Author
Thanks Debbie – the British weather has been ESPECIALLY challenging this autumn/winter (she says whilst looking out onto yet MORE pouring rain) 🙁 x
I can’t wait to see your bloopers post this year!!!! Gorgeous colours and gorgeous you. I adore you with freckles and as you say, they match the hat!!! xxx
Author
Aww thanks Liz – I have some classics lined up for January 1st!!
Such luscious berry colors! Love them all. Great inspiration, once again, Catherine. Hailstones?!! Yikes! Crazy weather all over…
xx Darlene
Author
Aww thanks Darlene! Yes I’m pretty sick of the British weather right now, hail was actually a welcome change from all the rain 🙁
Gosh I love these colors together. It is a pleasure for the eyes.
Author
Oh wow thanks Nancy! x
Berry tones are my favorite! Love how you styled this outfit and luckily you survived the hail storm! Thanks for hosting and have a great week!
-Katie
Author
Thanks Katie – I haven’t worn berry tones in ages, I should wear them more…!
You look great in this shade of berry. I think this might be “your color”. I find there are so many berry shades from year to year, clothing designers are always changing shades. I never thought to just wear them all together. Looks good. (In general I avoid purple, but these tones are good alternatives.
Author
Thanks Liz – it’s a very warm berry/purple colour… I very much avoid cold purples too, but berry, magenta and plum are nice alternatives x
I love that shade of purple (is it called Royal purple?) and of course you look amazing with your incredible hair colour Catherine. You reminded me of my felt hat too so thank you, I’m going to dig that out of the closet now!
Author
I’ve not heard of Royal Purple, MT, looking it up…
[talk amongst yourselves]
Looked it up – no help, loads of different purples came up in a search, lol!! #eyeroll
Maybe it IS Royal Purple, I might call it Plum. As long as it’s a warm purple and not a cold purple then I’m happy!
Thanks hon x
Loving those luscious berry tones!
Author
thank you Gail – I agree, very lush! x
This berry outfit is just so fun and whimsical! I love it! Also, these are among some of favorite colors. And yikes on the hail!
Michelle
Author
Thanks Michelle – I don’t wear them often, but maybe I should! x
Love that color. I really like that feature of showing how you wore a certain piece. Great for ideas and to show us that our wardrobes should be versatile.
Author
Oh I’m so glad you like the feature, Mireille – and thank you! x
Sounds like an exciting photo shoot! That’s A LOT of hail!
Your outfit looks gorgeous, loving those colors on you!
Thanks for hosting the linkup!
Ellibelle’s Corner
Author
Hehe it was quite hilarious once we’d got over the shock, Ellibelle!! Thanks hon x
Some of my favourite colours here Catherine. I love the jumper! xx
Author
Thanks Laurie, I really should wear it more…!
Catherine, I love these beautiful colors together! I recently styled a head to tote outfit in shades of eggplant. I haven’t shared it yet on the blog but it reminds of this color palette. So pretty! And those are some crazy hailstones!
Shelbee
Author
Thank you Shelbee – the hailstones made for some funny outtakes 😉