The joy of velvet (it’s not just for the party season)
Image: Boden
My wardrobe has its fair share of fancy: I love Lurex, am a sucker for sequins and have enough silk shirts to rival the Grand National. This festive season, I’ve become a pushover for plush velvet. There is something about this luxurious fabric that adds a decadent spin to any occasion. Velvet is slouchy, sumptuous, special enough for cocktail hour – and great for lounging around in. If you’re looking for relaxed velvet separates I can highly recommend NRBY’s collection*, the infinitely wearable silk-blend velvet shirt has seen a lot of action over the holidays, and has been accompanied on the sofa by the label’s silk-blend velvet drawstring trousers (the poshest jogging pants in town).
Contrasting textures: The Beast, NRBY velvet shirt and vintage cords
And of course, velvet is not just for the party season. Sumptuous separates or a Cocktail Suit offer plenty of options that work well into the new year and beyond: try a velvet jacket with jeans and boots, velvet trousers with a jersey roll neck and printed blouse. Mismatching textures and layering items is the way to make everyday essentials look extraordinary. Think Lauren Hutton meets Phoebe Waller-Bridge, keep it slightly androgynous and step into 2020 like an absolute style star.
Happy New Year!
*The NRBY items were sent to me as a gift. Please note affiliate links in this post may generate commission.
Discussion (18 Comments)
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Thanks, Evie. Funny you should mention velour – I’ve just bought a top in the COS sale.
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Mrs Tonia says:
First my best wishes for a happy healthy and productive 2020 to you Alyson and all readers of TNMA in different parts of the globe. We need to be cautiously optimistic at the start of a new year and decade.
As ever you show a Super selection of clothes here. Exactly what I’ve been wearing recently but none new but from my “shopped wardrobe”.
Damson coloured velvet trousers like you describe yourself in, worn with black velvet top, diamanté necklace and black cashmere cardigan or velvet brocade blazer. Or last night black panne velvet tunic dress with big diamanté brooch and tiger striped wool shawl. Like you I’m going to move these pieces into daytime wardrobe to add texture. Have an olive green top which is versatile too.
Why not add this fabric into the mix with other flatter ones. -
mary says:
My new office is warm and I bought a couple of velvet shirt/tunics to replace wool. I like them paired with jeans and boots.
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maudie says:
YES!! Velvet, silk velvet, velour and la creme de la retro creme – crushed velvet. Bling in some cheap and cheerful brooches and I am in dressing up (or down) heaven. Father Christmas husband brought me the most gorgeous retro 20’s print cotton velvet dressing gown – I like to call this one ROBE!!! – from my favourite shop in East Dulwich which I am currently swooping around in – full of the joys of a child that has just found the dressing-up box. I am more than ready to ease in a bit of casual-glam for the grey January days. Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you!
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Anna says:
Happy new year, Alyson and everyone else. Wonderful velvet ideas and I love your shirt. Have just written to to NRBY to see if they deliver to Australia – for our autumn/winter….
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Fiona Hutchinson says:
I have been wearing some gorgeous velvet over the Christmas period and one piece was a lovely green blazer. Your tip of wearing it with jeans is so helpful as it is too nice not to continue to wear it all year round! Do you have any advice for washing/cleaning velvet?
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Elizabeth says:
This is a post after my heart. Oh how I love velvet ever since my late 60’s (1960’s) purple velvet trousers I’ve always had a velvet item or two in my wardrobe.
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Steele says:
Elizabeth, you just gave me a happy flashback to my own beloved purple velvet flared trousers (early 1970’s). I had a matching silky poet-style blouse and thought I was the coolest thing around!
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Isobel says:
Ditto, early 1970s, only mine was a long skirt of wine-coloured crushed velvet, worn with either a ‘peasant’ top or a halter top. Happy days!
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Mary says:
A bit off topic, but I had to remark–since I’m not on Instagram–how absolutely gorgeous you looked in the Stella McCartney jumpsuit. Really grand. I know it had to be painful to return that loaner.
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Thank you for giving velvet/velveteen/velour all winter long a green light. A pair of black velvet pants dresses up anything, even a t-shirt, and those colors…!
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I love the idea of “dressing down” luxurious items with more casual wear. You always have such great ideas for doing this, Alyson, and we get so many more options to wear those items that might have languished waiting for a “special” occasion.
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MaureenC says:
I’m very partial to a bit of velvet and one of my prize possessions is an early 1960s black silk velvet swing coat that I bought in a jumble sale in the 1980s for fifty pence. I’ve subsequently had it properly repaired and I jettisoned the fox fur collar when I bought it! The amazing quality of that velvet has spoilt me for cheaper fabrics though I have been tempted by some of the current offerings which I’m stalking in the sales.
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maudie says:
Oh gosh – whatever happened to the wonderful jumble sales – I miss the rummaging for treasures so much!
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Anne says:
Thank you! I bought a green velvet jacket in October inspired by your styling tips. It looks great with jeans. And, similar MaureenC, I have a thrift shop-purchased black velvet evening coat with wide sleeves and a big rhinestone covered button fastener. That one has been with me since the early 80s and looks like it could be from the 50s.
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Val says:
Velvet and velveteen are gorgeous! But beware garments made with a lot of synthetic fibre. They look cheap, ride up and the colours can be harsh. Hems don’t hold a proper crease. Silk and cotton blends behave nicely and the colours glow. It’s unfortunate that along with all the fast fashion available, there’s lots of ersatz velvet out there now. Prices are low, but it’s a false economy.
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Sara Lubowitz says:
I have my mums Ally Capallino Velvet swing tops, which are lovely to wear. My mum got Married in 1994 in handmade navy blue velvet dress. I might just get it tailored to my size!
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Happy New Year Alyson! Thank you for your inspiration and motivation in the past years…looking forward to where TNMA takes us to in 2020! I ♥️ Velvet…and velour!