In the winter months, I crave the comfort of repetition. I want to make a vat of soup to keep in the fridge and have a bowl for lunch every day. I long to discover a TV drama that I have somehow missed and have seasons to catch up on so that I can watch an episode every night. Hibernation, essentially.
Then, after months of that, the clocks go forward and – like clockwork – I get an itch for novelty. Yesterday I went to refresh the water in a vase of flowers on the mantelpiece; 15 minutes later all the stems were piled up around me on the floor and I was curating a whole new arrangement. Change is good! In the mood to shake something up? Out with the old. In with the newness! Read on for some hot-off-the-press thoughts.
Suede loafer
£55 at Marks & Spencer
Grisella loafer
£89 at Dune
The in-the-know high-street trophy of the year so far has been the M&S dupe of the Saint Laurent Penny Slipper loafer. The loafer of the moment is chocolate brown suede with ruched sides, likethis £820 version at Saint Laurentor this £55 M&S pair that is sold out online. I am told a restock is imminent, so hit that Notify me button. I’ve also sniffed out another incoming version: look out for the soon-to-land Grisella loafer at Dune.
Cotton blend relaxed hoodie
£49.50 at Marks & Spencer
A great hoodie is surprisingly hard to find. Most of them are a bit sad and basic. I was in M&S scouting for loafers (see above) and came across this one. It has a generous hood that sits flatteringly around the face, no messy drawstring, a satisfyingly saturated colour and is plush without being heavy or stiff. It is also available in classic grey marl, though the tomato red is deeply enjoyable.
Denim Jacquard dress
£115 at French Connection
This denim Jacquard dress from French Connection is the sort of dress Carrie would have worn in an early-noughties Sex and The City episode. The contrast between a vintage-style silhouette and modern fabric is very cool, and the construction feels elevated, with a neat bodice, elegant skirt length and adjustable straps. Carrie would have paired it with Manolos and a gold name necklace, which would still totally work. Equally good with flat pumps, silver hoops and a sweater around the shoulders.
Mary Jane ballet shoes
£12.50 at Asda
I make no apologies for featuring my favourite flat-shoe style two months in a row. I am obsessed. To recap: a pilates pump is a cross between a ballerina flat and a Mary Jane, with a simple low profile and a strap across the front. I came across this bargain version, which is perfect in its simplicity. The black is sold out in most sizes, but silver is a great summer option.
Enid embroidered jumper
£112 at John Lewis£112 at Boden
I have so much love for a sexy jumper. Not easy to find, which is why “sexy jumper” sounds a bit like an oxymoron. It is extremely useful to have dressy tops that are special enough for the evening but don’t give you goose bumps, so I am very much here for any sweater that has a slightly more interesting vibe than “sensible and warm”. There’s a cream version of this with lemons and strawberries on it, but I like the way the cherries vamp it up a bit. I’d wear this out for dinner with a black cami underneath.
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Fine stripe pyjama shorts
£35 at the White Company
I adore these shorts because they make me feel like Gwyneth Paltrow when I’m pottering around the kitchen making coffee on a weekend morning. I won’t get into my longstanding obsession with Being More Paltrow here, suffice to say I firmly believe her to be an overlooked cultural oracle. Anyway, these shorts are cool and wholesome and so much more elegant than walking around in a T-shirt and knickers. In pure cotton seersucker, these will double up as holiday shorts, too.
Berkeley top
£125 at Reiss£125 at Next
Reiss is a bit misunderstood. I think we tend to see it as a high-street store that seems expensive, when in fact it’s more like a designer label that’s surprisingly affordable. The Atelier range is named after the in-house design atelier at Reiss, which is chock-full of designers poached from luxury labels. The fabrics are high-end and the tailoring is incredible. And not all of it is super-pricey. I love the rope-tie detailing on this cotton jersey top with drop shoulders, which will look great with wide-leg trousers.
Black cardigan with black beaded bows
£35.99 at Zara
Cream cardigan with black ribbon bows
£35.99 at Zara
The Chanel show at the most recent Paris fashion week was a love letter to the bow. There were silk hair bows, crystal earring bows, bows on socks and on belts and on shoulders. It was pure fashion fantasy – but there are bows in the real world, too. Especially at Zara! Two bow-trimmed cardigans here, with concealed press studs below fancy bows for buttons. Which one is your favourite?
Pebble necklace
£24 at Accessorize£24 at Debenhams
I haven’t worn a colourful, string-of-beads necklace for years. And suddenly I want to wear one again. Just saying. This one from Accessorize, on a gold-plated chain, is rather lovely. I’m bookmarking it while I have a dig around in my jewellery box as I’m pretty sure I bought something very similar from a beach market in Ibiza years ago.
Yarrel chore jacket
£135 at Finisterre
The classic chore jacket, or shacket, is a modern style classic. The menswear shape doesn’t always suit women’s bodies, though. On me, to be honest, it gives my silhouette all the elegance of a loaf of bread. Finisterre is sort of a small, British version of Patagonia – outdoor clothes, made sustainably. This Yarrel chore jacket is made from organic cotton with metal rivet buttons, internal and external pockets, and a female-friendly hip-length hem.