Our fashion director Avril Mair answers your style conundrums and solves your sartorial headaches
I’ve been invited to a very glamorous party to celebrate a friend’s milestone birthday. What should I wear to stand out?
Everyone opts for the safety net of black for evening occasions, but choosing bold colour is an easy way to make an impact. Why not red?
It’s the colour of the season, and you can’t fail to look fabulous in a retina-searing shade – keep accessories simple and jewellery minimal, though.
A quick note on sustainability: nobody wants to buy anything to only wear once, so look to rental services – Matches has partnered with Hurr to offer a super-chic edit. This Roksanda look will make you the belle of any ball.
Help! Where can I get a good, smart top for work?
A crisp, white shirt is the simplest route to new-season style. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is the muse of the moment, and discreet 1990s glamour was all over the S/S 24 catwalks. Pair with a pencil skirt, wide-legged jeans or long, loose trousers in black, grey or camel. Easy does it.
Where can I find great-fitting black trousers that aren’t too expensive? I don’t like shopping and haven’t got time to trawl the high street. For a high-end look on a high-street budget, my go-to is COS – it specialises in well-made wardrobe staples that are minimal enough to allow you to inject some personal style. Trousers are a strong point: its website currently offers no fewer than 31 pairs in black, from neat crops to boyfriend shapes. Otherwise, if you’re in London, Me + Em – also known for great tailoring – has partnered with the concierge service Harper to allow you to try before you buy, delivering a selection to your home so you can see what works before committing.
I need new jeans. What’s going to make me look fashionable but not try-hard? I’m 40. There’s a fine line between looking like you’re in touch with fashion and looking like a victim; denim is a particularly tricky area to navigate. But when both Chanel and Dior showed jeans on the S/S 24 catwalk, it’s time to get it right. The must-have shape at the moment is the horseshoe (bear with me here), which is a kind of barrel leg that ’s slim on the hips, cropped at the ankle and a whole lot more flattering than you might imagine. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a fan of Alaïa’s upmarket version, but mere mortals should look to Citizens of Humanity or Free People, both of which offer a great black pair.
