The future of fashion in orange

Forget those old Tango ads - a splash of orange will add a zest for life to your autumn wardrobe, writes Lee Holmes

Christopher Shannon A/W 2014 (Getty)

Is orange really the new black? Apparently so, and not just according to Netflix. The autumn/winter shows were resplendent with the national colour of the Netherlands – Orange-Nassau is the hereditary name of the Dutch Royal Family after all. From Christopher Shannon to Topman Design, from sherbet pastel to highlighter neon, orange adds a visual punch to what is usually a season awash with grey and black.

From Christopher Shannon to Topman Design, from sherbet pastel to highlighter neon, orange adds a visual punch to what is usually a season awash with grey and black.

But how exactly does one dress in orange without looking like Mr Tickle? Well, firstly it should be taken as a given that donning anything as bold as a pair of orange trousers is perhaps one of the greatest fashion faux pas known to modern man. Instead, the simplest way to wear orange is to be found in the accessories department – with bags, wallets and watches providing just enough of a knowing nod to this lively hue.

If you do prefer to wear your colourful credentials upfront, a citrusy tie will add a much-needed jolt of colour to grey tailoring. You probably shouldn’t, however, wear orange with anything black at this time of year – unless you’re anticipating early Halloween revelry.

If this all seems too much faff, then stick instead to an orange-infused fragrance. Eau D’Orange Verte by Parisian fashion house Hermes is a timeless scent that will leave you smelling faintly of heavenly citrus, rather than veering you into Tango’d territory. However you wear orange this season, one question still remains: does this count as one of your five a day?