Shades of grey were last shown as a fashion statement at the turn of millennium. Whether it’s silver, elephant, gunmetal, slate or charcoal – it’s back with a vengeance as a softer alternative to black. Tailored skirt suits, shift dresses, and overcoats in rich charcoal tweeds seem to echo those lady-like looks of the ‘40’s; while faded grey denim skinnies and mélange grey jersey knits take us right back to the ‘80’s. Although it is often thought of as conservative in nature, grey is anything but boring this season. It’s how you mix your pieces up and accessorize your grey items that will give this neutral colour its new lease on life. Find out how below:

• Add the gloss – match grey items with patent bags, belts or shoes of any colour.
• Add the warmth – pair grey up with warmer shades of brown and caramel instead of just black and white.
• Add the brights – primary colours yellow, red and blue work especially well with grey, creating a softness that black cannot duplicate. 

Your look is not complete this season without the odd grey item. Add the oomph and celebrate the return of this classic neutral.

Whether it’s casual or smart, glamour or retro rock – grey will work in your wardrobe. Think mélange knits, rich tweeds, wool blends and mock croc when it comes to selecting your grey items. Department stores like Dillard’s and Nordstrom are sure to have something to your liking.

Your bags need to be accessible and protected from damage. Shoving them into the bottom of your cupboard not only makes you forget what you have, but damages the bags. Tucking them away in hard-to-reach-places is tidy, yet impractical. On the other hand, bags are bulky and you are probably running out of accessible closet space as it is.

I ran into this problem recently but managed to find a good solution. I ordered a “handbag rack” from ImprovementsCatalog.com. The rack hooks over the top of a door. It also has a hook at the bottom that is attached to a piece of elastic so that your bags are kept in place as you open and close the door. The rack can hold up to 8 bags of just about any size and will cost $9.99. It is orderly, out of sight, accessible and visible. My handbags and I are happy.