This winter, embrace the sardonic butcher and combine elements of the sinister with the sexy to create a warm, timeless, autumnal palette. Perhaps it’s the recent endemic of vampire paraphernalia flooding the common consciousness, or perhaps is just the fact that it looks so darn good, but ox blood is the hottest colour for the coming winter. Pair with bronze metallic or peachy pink for best results.

Australian labels are taking on this trend for winter with bloody vehemence, and none bleed as profusely as Sydney darling Arnsdorf, whose winter collection ‘No One Belongs in My Suicase More Than You’, oozes with red raw glamour. The must have item from this collection, a versatile wool coat that has four arms rather than two (a characteristic Arnsdorf quirk), is beautiful, warm and well crafted (I bought it, so I know!) and a true investment for the cloudy days to come. If you love the coat but would prefer something a little more cost effective, Arnsdorf also have wool shorts, cardigans and cute tops in the same deep shade.

Lover has also employed the use of the ritualistic colour in their pagan influenced collection, ‘The Harvest’. A shawl-like woollen sweater paired with chino shaded pants and a sexy velvet dress are key pieces from this collection, and as any fashion aficionado knows, it is imperative to invest in at least one Lover piece per season. Australian rising stars Romance Was Born have also splashed their winter collection in ox blood, also applying the colour to a sexy, body con style, 80s inspired dress.

For the more adventurous, Ellery has created some super sexy plastic suspender style pants tinted in ox blood, perfect for the more daring ladies amongst us. Willow has also joined the avant garde with a sparkling jumpsuit that harks back to disco diva but is pared back with signature Williow refinement to add and element of elegance. If experimentation isn’t your thing, or if you’re just not completely convinced on the ox blood trend, try infusing your wardrobe subtly, with a piece like Michael Angel’s skirt, which allows you to buy in without completely committing.