Five ways to wear coral: Pantone's colour of 2019

The sprightly hue is set to throw shade over its rosy counterpart: millennial pink

La La Land/Summit Entertainment (Rex Features)

Pantone’s colour of the year has been announced as “Living Coral”, a peachy pink shade that is as strident as it is scintillating, at least, it can be when it’s worn right.

Saturating the spring/summer 2019 runways in September, the buoyant hue came in hot via souped-up suits at Peter Pilotto and pouf-tastic gowns at Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

Coral is set to take the sartorial scene by storm come January, but as all fashion fiends will know, when it comes to embracing trends with aplomb, timing is everything.

Early adopters of the colour-du-jour will rein supreme while late bloomers will trail behind in, quite literally, a dismal fashion.

So get ahead of the game by priming your wardrobe with our pick of the best coral pieces available to buy now.

The boot

A strong boot can elevate a simple workwear look from basic to bombastic, but in a good way. In satin coral, this Tibi option demands attention like a precocious teenager walking into their 16th birthday party on a horse-drawn carriage. When offset with paler pastels or monochrome, as we’ve demonstrated above, it will ensure that whatever is happening from the toes up is a sartorial success.

Tibi satin ankle boots, £333, Joseph high-rise straight-let jeans, £205, Rixo tiger-print sequinned chiffon wrap top, £260, Kenneth Jay Lane gold-plated earrings, £45.

The jacket

We suggest adding a pair of thick black tights to this look, unless you have a penchant for traipsing through winter temperatures with bare legs. This Mango quilted coat might bring sunny optimism thanks to its coral colour, but it will only keep you so warm.

Maje distressed denim mini skirt, £160, Mango water-repellant quilted coat, £79.99, Staud mini croc-effect leather and PVC tote, £160, Timberland boots, £180.

The dress

This Stine Goya gown is a rather glam twist on a dusky shade that is usually reserved for casual clothing. It can work a treat though, particularly when the opulence of the garment is matched with the extravagance of gold-soaked jewels and accessories. But don’t get carried away and start donning your highest heels - stumbling and fumbling in silk is not a good look.

Stine Goya ruffle-trimmed silk gown, £497, Cult Gaia mini gold-tone clutch, £486, Accessorize ring with Swarovski crystals, £15, By Far cutout metallic leather mules, £290.

The lipstick

Sometimes all you need for your daily dose of coral is a swish of lippy. Here, daffodil yellow and snug-fitting leopard print do the talking, but NARS’ Catherine lipstick adds a stroke of much-needed sass.

NARS audacious lipstick in Catherine, £26, H&M warm-lined chelsea boots, £34.99, Ganni roll-neck leopard print mesh top, £90, Topshop satin bias midi skirt, £29.

The jumper

The candyfloss shade of these corduroy trousers from Gucci are enlivened by this & Other Stories coral sweatshirt. Proving that colour clashing is far from the faux pas it’s made out to be, these two hues come together in blissful aesthetic harmony – though you’d have to try pretty hard to make Gucci flares look anything less than beguiling.

& Other Stories pendant crystal earrings, £17, H&M trainers, £17.99, & Other Stories oversized sweater, £25, Gucci cotton-blend corduroy flared pants, £640.