Elevate your casual style this January
It’s that time of year when we pack away the sequins and the glad rags and all we can think of is being comfortable and cosy but without compromising on style.
January is when leisure wear and matching sets really come into their own and there is so much you can do to elevate your casual style.
We are so lucky to have so many great Irish brands delivering on the cosy and stylish brief and one such brand is Queen, the label which is the sartorial baby of Cork woman Sarah Burke.
Queen is an exciting new Irish brand that aims to redefine contemporary fashion.
The collection features cool, versatile sweatshirts that offer both style and comfort which is a big tick for me. Each piece is designed to be dressed up or down, making them perfect for any occasion.
The colour palette is a mix of easy to wear neutrals such as ivory, grey and navy that work well with some black leggings which of course are a wardrobe staple. The brand also now offers a super on-trend burgundy sweatshirt and better still each jumper has a matching beanie to really elevate your look.
Sarah herself knows the importance of looking and feeling good and as she said, “as a mom of two, I never in a million years thought I could do something like this - but with the help of others my dream became a reality. Queen has been a long process with a lot of things in my way (that’s life) however as my tagline goes ‘Real queens fix each others crowns’.”
“Even on the toughest of days there was always a queen there to pick me up and remind me that yes I can do it. The brand name was inspired by my Queen B, my grandmother who I sadly lost in July 2023 whose best piece of advice in her 94 years was ‘to work hard, very, very hard’.
“Everyone has someone they look up to or admire—a queen in their own right. This figure can be a person of inspiration, strength, and guidance, reminding us of the importance of support and empowerment in our journeys. We aim for Queen to bring you the comfort, coziness and confidence you deserve. Each one of us has our own unique strength, value, and dignity. We are all queens in our own way. With the support of my husband, family & friends, I’ve made my dream a reality.”
Casual style is all about the smart layering so use a gorgeous sweatshirt and leggings as your base, I love to keep this neutral so use your black, greys, creams or navy for this depending on which neutrals suit you best. I’m personally a big fan of black or creams if I want something a bit lighter.
I recently bought an oversized wool blazer from the H&M sale which is warm enough to replace my heavy winter coat and then I’ll add a little bit of colour with a chunky scarf, wool knit tied around my shoulders or a knitted beanie hat.
My favourite pops of colour are pink, green or burgundy which of course work perfectly with the neutrals and give a luxe feel.
Add some slouch sport socks and a crossbody bag for a look that might be casual but doesn’t sacrifice any of your style. Finish the look off with some trainers and you’re ready to go.