DOUBLE ACT
Why choose just one star of the show when two standout pieces will complement each other beautifully? They can also be worn separately, doubling your outfit choices, so you get maximum mileage from each look. You can thank us later…
Get maximum impact by pairing two standout styles
A blouse is perfect for work, whether that’s in an office or for a Zoom conference at the kitchen table. But choose one in ultra-elegant silk with long sleeves, and suddenly it has many more uses up its, well, sleeves. A demure neckline nods to this season’s Victoriana trend and, when you pair it with a swishy midi skirt in an eye-catching spotty print, you’ll want to wear this long after work has finished. It’s as perfect for cocktail bars as it is cocktails on your own kitchen’s bar stools.
Blouse, £80, 6-22; skirt, £140, 6-22; shoes, £110, 3-9, all Boden. Earrings, £70; rose gold bracelet, £150; rose gold ring, £80; silver ring, £90, all Pandora
With a suggestion of cricket jumpers, rugby shirts and golf-style polos, the sporty knit is a part retro, part grown-up take on ‘back to school’. Technically a triple act rather than a double act, the best way to wear it is with an open-necked striped shirt underneath and an oversized check skirt. Clashing, yes, but that’s what preppy is all about.
Jumper, £175, xs-xl; shirt, £90, 6-18; skirt, £145, 6-18, all Gant. Earrings, £70; bracelet, £60; ring, £90, all Pandora. Boots, £190, 3-8, Dune
Bouclé, tweed or check, whatever fabric you choose for a blazer, make sure it’s tailored and textured for an investment piece that will last for years to come. Autumn’s new longer length blazers will skim your hips and are perfect paired with wide-leg cropped trousers. Have fun playing with different lengths – it will score you double style points.
Blazer, £325, 6-16; sweater, £110, xs-l; trousers, £150, 6-16; boots, £295, 3-8, all L.k.bennett. Earrings, £70; bracelet, £60, both Pandora
Hands up if you live mostly in jeans and a top? No judgement here. But the genius of this casual look is that it’s easy to dress up with smart accessories. Embrace your jeans and a forgiving sweater and upgrade them with dressy knee-high boots and a fedora. It’s details like these that can really elevate the basics.
Jumper, £125, xs-l; jeans, £95, 6-14; hat, £60; boots, £350, 3-8, all Reiss. Earrings, £70; ring, £90, both Pandora
The trench coat is one of those well-loved pieces that comes back season after season. And for good reason: it goes with anything, flatters every body shape and will add a touch of ‘smart’ to any casual, off-duty look. Want to elevate your jeans-and-jumper weekend outfit a bit further? Team the ensemble with a pair of classic brogues, too.
Thanks to the extra time we’ve been spending in our gardens this year, our love affair with all things flowery is going nowhere. But the change in seasons has welcomed a bouquet of moodier blooms and darker florals in elegant pleated styles. Worried that flower prints are a bit twee for you? Team a sophisticated floral dress with some chunky flat boots to add a tougher edge.