Time for women to wear the trousers!
HOW TO DRESS LIKE A GROWN UP
OVer the years, I have come to believe that the trouser suit possesses genuine super-powers.
Pulling on a matching jacket and pant suit instantly transforms the harried and stressed- out into the sleek and in-control. No surprises, then, that designers revisit the trouser suit endlessly.
But there are pitfalls. Primary among these is that designers re-invent — and this is where we all run into trouble with a so- called ‘classic’. Sorry, but it’s a myth that suits don’t date.
With that in mind, this is a good time of year to invest in the look of the season. Think of it as the grown-up version of ‘back to school’.
Actually, I should say looks, of the season, because this autumn/winter you’re invited to pick from two trouser suit shapes: slim-fitting or loose and subtly masculine.
While the slim-fit silhouette is easy to spot, what designers mean by ‘oversized’ is the new take on the Nineties power suit, as imagined by everyone from Calvin Klein to Victoria Beckham (right).
On the High Street, too, generously cut trousers are being topped with over-sized, double-breasted jackets.
Big and powerful but with a pleasing bit of slouch going on. Much more forgiving than a shrunken shape if you have curves anywhere.
YOU can try a gentle nod to the trend with the great crepe jacket (£ 59) and wide-leg trousers (£35) from M&S Collection ( marksand
spencer.com). Personally, I like its ‘ just relaxed enough’ appeal: comfortable, but not glaringly fashion-forward.
Shrunken or over-sized, you can also find an amazing array of suits on the High Street that have been given a good ‘party-over’.
In fact, suits are the answer for any woman who — like me — doesn’t love fussy evening dresses.
The uterque navy suit with eyelet detail ( blazer, £ 145, trousers, £95, uterque.com) is a great idea for cocktail hour, plus both the jacket and trousers will work as statement separates.
Or the slouchy, piped black number from M&S (jacket, £35, palazzo trousers, £25), teamed with the right heels is a glam PJ- style way to do evening. If you’re really game for a stand-out trouser suit, try a pattern, particularly a Prince of Wales check.
Try Zara’s double-breasted jacket with lined buttons (£69.99, zara.com) complete with loose, fluid cropped trousers (£29.99). You know what I love about a cropped trouser in winter? It looks great with heels for evening, but you can keep your ankles warm for work by pairing with a longer- line, subtly heeled boot. They’ll look fantastic together.
For anyone who’s after a sleeker take on the trend, the single-breasted jacket, £52, and tailored, slim-fit trouser (£32) from Next ( next.co.uk) ticks a lot of boxes.
So, as you can see, the 2017/ 2018 trouser suits definitely aren’t just for the boardroom. I plan to live my dream of channelling David Bowie in the Life On Mars video in a teal-blue suit (jacket £49, trousers £30, topshop.
com). I’ll add a T- shirt and white trainers for day, heels and big earrings for night.
So embrace that back-toschool feeling even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a ‘suits’ kind of woman before. See you in line!