Wallis lookbook – Minimalist elegance

I was very excited to be invited to a preview of the upcoming Autumn/Winter collection for High Street favourite Wallis. Wallis is always a brand I look forward to seeing, and in recent years that have produced some excellent collections that have been full of classic design, but with a twist. Now attracting a younger audience, as well as the young at heart, Wallis has become a must visit destination on the High Street.

For the new season, there is a decidedly minimalistic look that uses a sparse palette of black and white, but with shocking flashes of red to add a touch of spice. Taking a whole host of icons, from Bianca Jagger wearing Le Smoking, to Carrie Ann Moss in the Matrix, and then adding flashes of Angelina Jolie and Charlotte Rampling in The Night Porter, this is a strong collection that is a return to pared back elegance after a summer of pastel and print.

The red pieces are also the standout pieces for me. The stunning red full length dress is so chic, and would be a perfect choice for Kate Middleton – it has a touch of Roland Mouret style to it. The 1950s style coat, from the 1923 archive collection, could also be inspired by Kate’s love of coat dresses, the full skirted 1950s silhouette is just so elegant.

Another stand out piece is the winter white coat with the fur collar that is a real Snow Queen piece. This is another piece from the 1923 collection that is based on Wallis Archive pieces. I love this piece – it is just so timeless, and would look as great over jeans as it would over an evening dress.

Whilst we are waiting for these pieces to come in store, Wallis has some fabulous new additions that are online right this minute. Here are my current top five picks.