Cometh the hour, cometh the woman

Just a few sneak glimpses of the outfits sported in particular by Romola Garai have been enough to send the fashion world into swoons, eagerly anticipating an iconic style statement in the manner of Mad Men, the sleek US drama set in the advertising world of the 1960s, which has made fashion icons of its characters Don Draper and Joan Harris, played by the voluptuous Christina Hendricks.

Judging by the clinging, block colour, smartly-fitted outfits that Garai is wearing above, she too is set to become a style icon, and the series also stars Anna Chancellor, already spotted in a nifty little suit, so she too will be under fashion scrutiny.

What is striking is how pertinently the clothes anticipate the coming autumn/winter fashions, almost providing a preview to some of the key stories of the season.

For a start, there are the colours that will become predominant this autumn – ruby red, vibrant teal, emerald green and a mustardy citrine.

These shades can be worn as accents or accessories or, as for this spring and summer, as block colour, either alone or contrasted in blocks of separates – a ruby skirt and a mustard jumper, for example, as seen left.

Although bold, these new coloured are slightly knocked down from the vibrant brights we have seen this summer, and as such represent a strong and slightly more sophisticated take on the colour block theme.

Back them, in the 1950s, fashion evolved, keeping the feminine fitted lines of the 1940s, emphasising the waist, but beginning to introduce more opulent and voluminous fabric, and brighter colour, as the austerity of wartime receded.

Fashion pretty much evolves now too, for all that we are told how quickly trends change. True enough of street trends, but the bigger story is far less transitory.

The coming season’s retro re-interpretations cover the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, and it’s the feminine silhouette that’s most important, the nipped-in waist, the hourglass shape, all evoking the glamour of former decades.

Meanwhile, The Hour is great news for snappy male dressers too, with Ben Wishaw’s slightly dishevelled, tweedy, preppy look certain to become one to emulate.

As ever in fashion, don’t be afraid to mix it up, in terms of retro, unless you really are taking part in a period drama and need to look authentic. Thoughtful and contemporary interpretations are what drive fashion forward, and are key to creating a personal style, so keep the head-to-toe retro looks for vintage nights and events only.

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