The colour wheel way of dressing...

You remember colour wheels. The principles of colour simplified to a single circle. Primary and secondary side by side. We are taught about complimentary colours, the ones directly next to each other, and contrasting, the opposites. When it comes to observing street style and trying to find the trends that tie those fashionable and cool individuals together I have found the following to be true: bold colour clashes instantly make your outfit an attention grabbing affair. The best way to approach this dressing system is to keep the colour wheel handy. Try to wear at least two bold colours a day, if you fancy really pushing the boat out add a third.

How? Chances are you already have some of these colours in your wardrobe in some form or another. You should own at least one bright coloured pair of tights already. If not, they are the best place to start. Invest in a blue, red and a yellow pair. With tights it’s best to stick to the primaries as they can create a good base for adding and clashing with. Tabio do the best tights in my opinion. At £12 they aren't cheap, but they last for years, and never ladder.

If not tights then a bright pair of jeans – not neon mind you, just bold. Uniqlo do a great range. After this it is all down to accessories. Invest in a pair of red shoes, a green bag, a purple statement necklace and an orange hair band (not recommended if you’re a red head). Also a bright blue jumper or even better, a yellow one. If you only buy one colour it should be yellow.

It sounds awful, and obviously you wouldn’t wear it all together. But once attempted its far easier than clashing prints, which can end up looking a little too boho-teenage rebel. Start off with clashing accessories and then once you’re feeling the vibe move on to clothes. Block colour clashes are for the brave, but also require subtlety. Remember to keep the rest of your outfit grey or black to prevent people from requiring sunglasses to look directly at you. As summer approaches ever so slowly, the blacks can be replaced by nudes and still the colours will keep your outfit alive. Trust me, it’s the way forward.

How to be Bromley with style...

I have noticed a very strange trend in the suburbs of South East London (North Kent) and as it doesn't have an official name I suppose the only way to describe it is the "black French knickers and 50 denier tights but no skirt and no shame" trend. I couldn't quite believe my eyes the first time I saw a girl in such apparel, I thought that there must have been some sort of wardrobe malfunction. There she was walking down Bromley high street on one of the coldest days of 2008 wearing a white t-shirt, grey jumper, thin black tights and black knickers. Now this isn't a trend a la Sienna Miller, who famously wore some giant granny pants over her tights. This girl was wearing her black French knickers under her tights and appeared to have for all intents and purposes actually forgotten to wear a skirt. As she walked past, I turned to see her bum cheeks on display for all of Bromley to see. Imagine my surprise a few weeks later when this began to emerge as a trend of sorts. More often ascribed to going out wear the knickers, tights and no skirt seems to have become a Bromley staple, and as I am informed by people from other suburban towns, it seems to have taken quite a hold all over the home counties. It also has become clear that you don't need to have a rear of the year in order to wear this trend, pear shaped, large, small any and all derrièrs seem to be clad in this exhibitionist trend. So for those who feel brave enough to try i am suggesting the Bromley look, but with a pinch more class. I suggest the Suzi (pictured above) from agent provocateur as it provides maximum coverage but still displays enough bottom, Charnos 40 Denier tights (from www.tightsplease.co.uk) and enough confidence, dutch or otherwise to walk down the street and face the questioning stares. Good Luck!