THE JOURNAL
Way back in the mid-2000s, a now-defunct company by the name of Sky Travel cooked up an algorithm that it claimed would tell us the most miserable day of the year. Plug in the length of time since Christmas, divide by the woefully low temperature, throw in a few broken New Year’s resolutions, multiply by the fact that Mondays are universally rubbish, carry the one – and you more or less arrive at a date that, this year, falls on today.
Obviously, it is absolute pseudoscience – yet somehow Blue Monday seems to have stuck around. But how about this year we try a different approach: rather than wallowing further in our post-festive funk, let’s reclaim and celebrate the so-called saddest colour on the spectrum (which, frankly, did nothing to deserve its gloomy connotations). We at MR PORTER will happily kick things off in in the best way we know how: by curating an edit of cerulean, teal and turquoise pieces to be found in various corners of our site. From Bottega Veneta boots to Maison Margiela knits to Balenciaga sneakers, these are the January blues we would happily do with a little more of.
01.
The high-brow SAINT LAURENT bomber
The colour of this SAINT LAURENT bomber takes its name from the French painter Mr Jacques Majorelle, whose electric blue Cubist villa in Marrakech was lovingly restored by Monsieur Yves himself. In short, this jacket is not just flatteringly cut and head-turningly handsome, but a salute to high-fashion history.
02.
The streamlined visvim tennis shoe
Take note: a head-to-toe tonal outfit can easily be elevated from dull to dazzling by way of a bold, brightly coloured shoe. These visvim leather sneakers, whose punchy palette is pared down somewhat by the contrast white soles and streamlined silhouette, should certainly do the trick.
03.
The luxe Loro Piana overshirt
Impossibly plush fabric might be Loro Piana’s forte, but cashmeres and merinos need not always be cast in off-white, brown and beige. This overshirt is crafted in Italy from the supplest of suedes, but is no less luxurious in an unexpected shade of teal.
04.
The Elder Statesman’s tie-dyed cushion
The Elder Statesman may be best known for its rainbow-coloured knitwear, but it’s keen to kit out our homes in equally sun-soaked fashion. Fans of the brand’s joyous garments will be pleased to discover its penchant for the finest cashmere extends to its soft furnishings. This tie-dyed cushion is made from nothing else.
05.
The bright Moncler puffer
If the Moncler label weren’t assurance enough, we’re here to inform you that the benefits of this quilted shell jacket are two-fold. For the wearer, it delivers an impenetrable bubble of warmth, courtesy of a generous down stuffing. For passers-by, a welcome relief from the sea of blacks and khakis that are inescapable this time of year.
06.
The colour-block AMIRI high-tops
Grungy Californian label AMIRI offers its cult panelled leather sneakers in both high-top and low-top styles, not to mention an array of patterns and palettes. No points will be awarded here for guessing today’s colour of choice.
07.
The quilted KAPITAL cotton jacket
Kudos to the man who sees the words “quilted patchwork bandana-print” and remains unfazed. Glancing at this invitingly snug cotton jacket by Japanese streetwear brand KAPITAL – and then outside at the weather – we’ll be surprised by anyone who doesn’t want to dive into it like a duvet.
08.
The rainproof Bottega Veneta rubber boot
The brains at Bottega Veneta have pulled off an extraordinary feat this season, somehow crafting a glossy rainproof boot so sleek, contemporary and cool it could turn even the most devoted sneakerhead onto the charms of a Wellington. Who says fashion isn’t a forum for miracles?
09.
The subversive Maison Margiela jacquard sweater
Maison Margiela sees your 2000s-inspired distressed jeans and raises you a distressed jacquard sweater. The brand’s characteristically subversive spin on the old-fashioned Fair Isle knit may elicit stares of bewilderment on the golfing green, but it will earn you brownie points in all the circles that matter.
10.
The two-tone Marni tote bag
11.
The Post Archive Faction retro ripstop jacket
The voluminous, cloud-like profile and neon hue of this nylon-down jacket lend it a wonderfully nostalgic quality that harks back to the best of the 1980s. It is the work of futuristic South Korean label POST ARCHIVE FACTION and has all the snazzy, high-tech touches to prove it.
12.
The streetwise show-off Balenciaga sneaker
It’s tempting, after dropping a small fortune on a snazzy pair of sneakers, to keep them stowed away safely, lest they attract any scuffs or scratches. These bright blue, attention-seeking Balenciagas are not only in desperate need of an audience, their sturdy rubber soles mean they’re perfectly primed for city streets, too.