Want to brighten up your winter look for 2015? Take a look at the best pastel pieces and frosty cosmetics with Jaine Blackman

Now that the turkey leftovers are finally finished and the popping of Champagne corks is a distant memory, thoughts turn to the new year ahead.

For fashion fans, that means the start of the new season drops, but Oxford weather dictates that it’s way too soon to even think about abandoning our coats and scarves just yet.

However, while it may be cold outside, that doesn’t mean you have to steer clear of cool colours.

If you’re aching to shake up your style, pastels provide a blast of fresh air, and you can easily slot in pale pieces if your usual colour spectrum doesn’t encompass much beyond black and grey.

Get a head start on the spring beauty trends too, with pretty pastel make-up and nail colours to complement your new season reset.

A FRESH COAT

The quickest and easiest way to inject a pastel punch into your winter wardrobe? With a cool new coat.

And if you think a mauve or pink jacket should only be worn to a wedding, or will invite comparisons to Her Majesty, think again.

Sporty collarless or trench styles in ice blue or mint green are far from frumpy, as long as you layer them over fine knits and slim cut trousers.

If your complexion doesn’t suit such washed-out tones, a peach duster coat is the answer. Wear it over rolled up indigo jeans, cute ankle socks and baby pink court shoes for a dressy (but still warm) day-to-night look that's pastel perfection.

* Y.A.S. Blue Cocoon Style Coat, £110, available February (houseoffraser.co.uk)
* SimplyBe Peach Duster Coat, £65 (simplybe.co.uk)

CLEAN LIVING

For a full-on pastel party, layer up sugary shades but make sure you adhere a minimalist ethos at the same time, to avoid unfortunate bridesmaid territory, with too much floral and frills.

For the office, swap your usual burgundy or black woolly jumper for a baby pink or blue number. Wear over a loose-fitting white shirt and add a contrasting pastel skirt or pair of trousers. Nude heels or camel brogues complete the look.

Pastel trousers may seem a bit scary this early in the year, but if you pair them with darker tonal colours (a forest green knit with mint trousers, for example) and fuss-free pastel accessories, you'll still look seasonally appropriate.

* Blue Sweater, £25; Perfect Fit Skirt, £35; White Long Sleeved Blouse, £19 (damart.co.uk)
* Topshop Cropped Peg Leg Trousers, £40 (topshop.com)
* Very Nude Enamel Circle Bangle, £12 (very.co.uk)

PRETTY PERFECT

For a more feminine take on the trend, focus on pinky hues and delicate dresses. A soft rose-coloured midi skirt is a lot more versatile than you might think.

By day, dress it down with a tucked-in blouse or long-sleeved fine knit and flats, then take it up a notch for evening with a sequinned top and cropped blazer.

Likewise, a lacy long-sleeved dress in cream or pink is a great transitional piece, because it looks great now with black opaques and ankle boots, but you can style it up with a gold belt or bright jewellery later in the season, when it's safe to reach for the lower denier tights.

* M&S Collection Coat, £65 (available March); Limited Edition Top, £25; Limited Edition Skirt, £39.50; Shoes, £25 (available February) (marksandspencer.com), pictured
* Very Nude Lace Skater Dress, £59 (very.co.uk)
* Coast Painted Necklace, £35 (coast-stores.com)

Oxford Mail:

SHADOW PLAY

If the mention of pastel make-up conjures visions of cakey lilac eyeshadow straight out of the 80s, we don’t blame you. But it is possible, with a little know-how, to wear pale hues with subtlety.

Inspired by the clothes on the catwalk, Burberry’s spring make-up collection is full of beautiful but delicate colours. Start with a wash of Wet & Dry Silk Shadow in Tea Rose then blend Rose Pink from the eyelid, for a pretty alternative to a dark, wintry smoky-eye.

For something a bit more bold, the 9 Shades To Enjoy In New York palette from GOSH offers plenty of options for playing with pastels. Set off a pink outfit, for instance, with a blend of the minty greens, or use a brush to apply the turquoise shade at the inner corner of the eye.

* Burberry Eye Colour Wet & Dry Silk Shadows, £22.50 (burberry.com)
* GOSH 9 Shades To Enjoy In New York, £9.99 (superdrug.com), pictured

Oxford Mail:

PALE POLISH

Add the finishing touch to your winter pastel palette with a slick of nail varnish.

Yellow clothing may not suit all skin tones, but Mavala’s Lemon Cream polish is a subtle citrus hue that complements icy blues and greens perfectly.

For a hint of shimmering colour, the Enchantment Collection from Morgan Taylor features four glistening off-white shades shot through with pastel tones, like the minty green Hocus Pocus or the soft lilac Who-Dini.

Or go one step further and combine a couple of colours for an alternative French manicure. Whatever your colour choice, a pale polish will tie your pastel outfit together nicely.

* Mavala Mini Colour Nail Polish in Lemon Cream, £4.75 (boots.com)
* Morgan Taylor Enchantment Collection Nail Polish in Hocus Pocus, £10.99 (SallyExpress.com), pictured

Oxford Mail:

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