10 rules for picking the right outfit

Stylist Charlie Anderson, the former fashion director of tatler whose clients have included Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, offers her expert advice . . .

1 NEW IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

Resist the urge to panic-buy. If you do splash out, up- date an existing outfit with shoes, jewels or a hat.

2 WEAR A PROPER HAT

NOT a fascinator or a saucer, but a proper wide-brim affair. Or a pillbox hat a la jackie Onassis — the wife of President Kennedy always had

impeccable fashion sense. A good hat will crop and frame your face, showing it off beautifully. And opt for veiling: it flatters faces whatever your age. Past 50, it has the same anti-ageing effect as a soft-focus lens.

3 DIG OUR YOUR JEWELS

VINTAGE brooches and hair jewels are very now, and the joy of being a little older is that you’re likely to have inherited something special. Wear it — unless it’s a tiara, of course. No guest should wear a tiara unless they’re five years old.

4 FLAT SHOES ARE FINE

FASHION is currently in love with flats, and there are so many on the High Street, from bejewelled ones to embroidered numbers and beautifully plain ballet flats.

The only unbreakable rule: make sure your shoe, whether high or low, is a closed-toe.

5 OPT FOR BELOW THE KNEE

MOST weddings, to begin with at least, are demure affairs, so follow royal protocol and stick to dresses and skirts that fall on or below the knee. With modesty currently a f ashion byword, shorter skirts are looking dated, irrespective of how old you are.

6 THE 10-DENIER TIGHT

UNTIL May, sheer 10 or 15 denier black tights look chic and are incredibly flattering. By June, bare legs are acceptable.

7 DON’T WEAR WHITE

WHATEVER colour the bride chooses — and nowadays it really could be anything — it’s still not wise to wear white. Cream is just about acceptable, but only for the mother of the bride.

8 . . . BUT BLACK IS FINE

ESPECIALLY if you’re in a statement hat, fabulous jewels or bold jacket. Just don’t look funereal.

9 AVOID PASHMINAS

THEY’RE so Nineties. Opt for a dress coat. A decorative one will keep you warm and look elegant.

10 FORGET SPANX

A WELL-MADE dress will support any figure using fabric thick enough to hide dimply bits. You want to be relaxed and enjoying yourself, not struggling to breathe.