Our fashion director Avril Mair answers your style conundrums and solves your sartorial headaches
Can I still wear a midi dress? I’ve read it’s all about trousers this season, but that makes most of my wardrobe redundant.
Of course you can. It’s such easy, one-step dressing that no designer diktat is going to finish it off. But do add a waist this time, and ditch anything droopy, tiered or ditsy-printed – the prairie look is done.
What one item should I buy to make my wardrobe sing for spring?
Something green. Every shade of khaki and olive featured in the A/W 24 shows; buy now and you’ll still be ticking off the trend next year. This mint-green Bottega bag is high on my hit list.
Is there a way for someone who’s colour-averse to somehow embrace it? I wear so much black and would love to experiment, but just can’t get to grips with anything bold or bright.
Black is great. There are good reasons so many of us reach for it: it’s tasteful and timeless, and there’s a lot to be said for curating a wardrobe where everything works together. But sometimes, even Coco Chanel wanted to lighten up a bit (she chose navy, FYI). This season’s tonal-dressing trend, based around the idea of head-to-toe neutrals, is made for the kaleidoscopically challenged – it could be camel, cream or grey, which has the best hashtag among the street-style set: #groutfit. Basically, everything you’re wearing needs to be the same shade, more or less. Go on, try it.
I’ve been invited to a very stylish wedding and am at a loss as to what I should wear. Also, it’s 2024: do I really need a hat?
I’m never sure why dressing for such a happy occasion is seen as so difficult – unless you have to curtsy when the wedding party walks in, the rules of what ’s appropriate have been bent out of all recognition. Wear a sleek trouser suit if that ’s your thing (but choos
