Olive Winter

A cold snap has hit Melbourne in the last week or so, heralding winter. The lovely thing has been the clear and sunny weather, although that is also what has made it extra cold, there being no insulating cloud cover.

When I look around the streets of Melbourne, the predominant colours people are wearing are black, grey and navy, with the odd flash of scarlet, or white; it’s a sea of drabness and even this sober shade of green would improve it. While olive is never a colour I will reach for – I wore it every day when I was a schoolgirl, our uniform being olive and grey – I love winter … fashions though. (Spot the pun.)

These elegant swathes of pleated chiffon by the House of Worth are from the Mille et Une Nuits collections of 1950–51. I can just imagine how crisp and delightfully swishy these substantial skirts would be, which surely is a testament to the illustrator.

Enjoy your June, whether you’re rugging up under leaden skies, or lucky enough to be basking in sunshine (wearing brightly coloured clothing).