WHY IT WORKS
QI find trouser suits so unflattering, but they seem to be the only thing warm enough in the winter. Please tell me there’s another option.
AIt’s hard to get away with wearing a maxi length to work in the summer as it can tend to look like you’ve underdressed or are on your way to the beach. In winter, though, there is something so satisfying about a good swish of a skirt, and a fulllength hemline is a life saver for those (like me) who struggle with finding the right fit of trouser but don’t always want to show their legs. I don’t mean full length ball gowns but ankle-skimming day wear – I live in a Jcrew long A-line tartan skirt at this time of year, which I wear with a polo neck or white shirt, long coat and boots. It’s cosy enough to keep me warm but also great for meetings.
The key to this look is boots – ankle, knee high, high heel or flat, whichever is your personal preference, they will all suit. Yes, you might have to pick the skirt up as you walk up stairs, and be especially cautious on an escalator – I still haven’t recovered from my maxi skirt being ripped from my body at the top of the escalator at The Clothes Show Live when I was 15. But in my opinion, some small risks are outweighed by the style potential of maxi length. Ganni has good longerlength options; this black and navy panelled skirt would look great with a slim knit or, if you need to cover your tummy, a boxy fit top. If you appreciate a good print, like I do, then choose a bold one with a darker colour running through it so that you can pair it with a matching knit in that shade. Raey has a lovely floral option.
Long dresses in a day-appropriate fabric are so easy as you just have to throw them on. They generally hide a multitude of sins and can be dressed up with a tailored jacket for meetings. A shirt dress is the easiest way to wear longer length, as it is a flattering cut and can be smartened up with a leather belt and boots. Don’t be put off by the summery blue of this Finery dress – it will look stunning with black and last you all the way through to wearing it with bare legs. For more of a statement I love Marella’s monochrome striped dress, and Michael Kors has a pretty chiffon option: just remember to watch out on the escalator. To ask Isabel Spearman your workwear questions, email isabel.spearman @telegraph.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @isabelspearman
For the trouseraverse, full-length dresses and skirts offer an elegant – and warm – option in winter