How to strike right cord for autumn

GETTInG dressed in the dog days of autumn, before the clocks go back, can be a challenge. It’s still not quite cold enough to break out the opaques, but bare legs and floral frocks feel freezing and look wrong.

So hurrah for the corduroy revival — the perfect solution to transition dressing. Made from cotton, pieces in this versatile fabric let your skin breathe but feel cosy and can be layered with T-shirts, turtlenecks or cardigans.

When I was a young girl, my favourite skirt was a needlecord Laura Ashley number. With that nostalgic thought in mind, I’ve just invested in a rose-pink Boden needlecord dress.

It’s just as wearable as my beloved childhood skirt but given a grown up spin with smocked cuffs and tie belt.

This sums up the reinvention of cord. It has left behind its long association with geography teacher’s jackets and is now supple enough to be drawn into an elasticated wristbands, puffed shoulders, or fall gently in folds to the calves in a midi dress.

Cefinn’s scarlet frock (£290) is a case in point, and versatile enough to take you from work meeting to wedding. As you might have guessed — beige is out. the new cord is all about jeweltoned pieces and floral prints.

Forget the flapping, unstructured flares of 50 years ago, the wide-leg cords of 2022 have gentle trumpet legs and elastane so the fabric moves with your body and, crucially, makes your bottom look good.

Empowered to go head-to-toe? try a trouser suit such as Yolke’s bold threepiece in cobalt.