How to build a stylish, Aprilproof wardrobe

Beer gardens are back, but the sun isn’t. Lisa Armstrong explains how to curate chic but cosy outfits for the unpredictable British spring

2021-04-14 -

You can always tell the Brits, says an American colleague, they’re the ones in denial about the weather – bare-legged in January and wearing summer dresses in March.

I salute that gung-ho spirit. But for those of us who feel the cold, the right insulation is crucial – especially now that we’re about to spend more time outside, meeting friends on pub terraces or eating al fresco at restaurants. In other words, don’t put your thermals away.

That doesn’t mean we have to wait until July before we crack open the sandals or permit pastels. Dark, wintry colours year-round can’t be good for the soul. The light outside can be fleetingly dazzling, and that requires some corresponding outfit colour, even if the temperature is hovering just above freezing. Khaki, taupe and brown are all good base layers – less sombre and harsh than black – and they’ll make any brights or pastels you team them with pop.

Don a tea dress, by all means, if that’s what you feel like, but take your showerproof anorak and a well-cut fleecy jacket with you. Layering outward-bound items with more feminine or tailored ones can look modern and smart if you stick to coordinated colours and consider proportions carefully. Belstaff and Barbour have windproof- and rainproof-contoured jackets that accentuate waists and look slick whether you’re wearing them with jeans or a chiffon skirt. A less tailored effect can look equally sleek, provided you get the length right – anything that cuts you three-quarters of the way down the thigh makes legs look shorter.

If chiffon sounds optimistic, given the chill factor, snug it up with the right shoes and tights. Black tights can look too wintry, but snagtights.com currently has lovely woollen ones in just the right shade of mid-grey. There’s even a pair called Rainy Day, £6.99. Should you run into problems (a hole on the first wearing, for instance), the company will replace them.

If it gets really Baltic out there, pop some sheepskin insoles into your shoes or boots (£12, celticandco.com). Or invest in some fabulously luxe-y socks. A rainhat that can fold into your pocket is a given. If you can’t shake off the kind of cold that nips at your bones, have a hot bath and chuck your most fragrant oils in it. Becoming a lotus eater is an April survival tactic.

With more brands getting the stylish-waterproof memo, there are plenty of ways to create a chic but functional outfit. Here is a selection of the best pieces around.

1. A waterproof bag or rucksack saves contents from turning into a sodden mush. Definitely worth having on an uber-april day.

2. Boots that reach just past your shins will be more comfortable under trousers than taller boots, but will also work with midis and maxis. If you wear shorter skirts, go for a longer boot that reaches at least to the knees.

3. A padded gilet that makes a chic statement on its own but can also slide under or over

jackets and accommodate jumpers is the ultimate April-proof piece. This navy belted one from cos.com looks as though it floated straight off an Italian catwalk. The ultimate value for money spring buy – wear it with denim or a long-sleeved evening dress the next time you get to an open air concert.

4. The redoubtable rains rainwear combines impermeable fabrics with that tree-hugger undone Scandi style we’ve come to know and love. Its latest collaboration with Whistles comes with extra city-slicker chic. This jacket, available in navy, beige or khaki, has a straight rather than baggy cut and you can wear it over other layers without looking like a puffin.

5. The right coatigan should pull a look together, without weighing too much. I find all-cotton ones fail to hang nicely or feel cosy. A mix or pure wool works better.

A belt is a bonus. This one’s not cheap, but thanks to the three-ply lambswool, feels soft, hangs beautifully and will elevate jeans and a white T-shirt into something far more than the sum of its parts. It’s sustainably made in Donegal. Check out the side slits – it’s all in the details.

6. Like all classics, the trench isn’t straightforward. For maximum wear, it should allow for layering underneath – it’s not warm on its own – or come with a detachable lining (the excellent Macintosh do but they’re expensive so it’s worth looking on ebay et al). A trench shouldn’t be too roomy. And it should keep the rain off. Not all do. This, £169 from hobbs. com, currently has

£80 off.

7. A foldable hat is cute, too. Whistles has one from £25. If you want a bigger brim, visit uk.rains.com

8. Tailoring can be problematic in spring as it doesn’t always lend itself to layering. A sleeveless jacket can be surprisingly useful as a buildable component over knits, and later on, T-shirts or blouses. This waistcoat, in a gowith-everything khaki, is ultra flattering, because of the belt. It also comes with a matching skirt.

8. For years my silk scarves languished at the back of my cupboard – neckerchiefs just don’t suit me. But, as I’ve recently discovered, they come into their own in spring, when a thick wool or cashmere scarf can be too bulky. Warm, featherweight and easily tucked into a collar, they could have been invented by one of supercilious techie types instead of (allegedly) Queen Nefertiti in 359BC. Power to her.

10. I don’t think I’ve regretted any jumper I’ve ever bought. This dip-dyed cashmere one is the perfect, spring-proof piece – a fresh pastel that also incorporates navy and warmth.

11. I’ve yet to attempt socks with skirts and dress in public but I’ve seen them on stylish women in their seventies – so it can be done. And even I wear socks with sandals, if I’ve got trousers on. Socks like these must be fabulous, though, and are £25 from penelopechilvers.com.

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