Yes I know it’s tastelessly early.

I did think of playing journalistic chicken and waiting for someone else to mention it first, but one thing that growing older teaches you is that preparation is what it’s all about.  (Yes I know, there’s inspiration and perspiration too…)

Only eight weeks from now we’ll be welcoming 2015, and between now and then you’re going to have to scrub up and Go Out several times.  Some of my wish-list garments are already thin on the ground and, while it’s tempting to try to save some money by holding my nerve and waiting for the Pre-Christmas Sales, I know that by the time discounted product becomes an option I’ll be otherwise engaged, finding last-minute presents, and shopping for food.

So here’s my Fantasy Festive Fashion League 2014.

I do like a bit of lamé, and this gold skirt from Net-a-Porter is beautiful – a real talking point.  Styled here with a black silk shirt and accessories, the skirt is clearly the HERO piece in this ensemble (see HIERARCHY on the RULES page for more on this subject).

This skirt from Coast is a mid-market alternative:

It works well with this good value silk shirt from And Other Stories, where you will also find plain, button-front silk shirts in black.

If you prefer to keep the focus up top, then Hobbs has another lamé option…

… which would look great teamed with a fitted and flared maxi skirt, for example this from Coast:

Alternatively, you could opt for palazzo pants like these bargain chiffon pants from Marks and Spencer:

These are the overall winners of this post.  Made from a double layer of synthetic chiffon (opaque through the body but slightly diaphanous at the margins), they are cut well so that they lie flat, and are sensuous and fluid in movement.  At £35 you really can’t go wrong.  They don’t look great in the video – or in the photos! – as they are a bit short for the model, but they are available in longer lengths.  I’d wear them with flats to ensure generous length and a little bit of drape.

Spend your savings on a fat belt to cinch the waist – for example this beautiful, minimal piece from Sportmax:

 

Today I’m excited about the Design Principle REPETITION. The reason is that I’ve found a great combination that demonstrates how the ‘whole is greater than the sum of the parts’.

Take a look at these Cos earrings (shown front, back and side)

And imagine wearing them with this Marks and Spencer coat:

They are nice earrings (Cos sells minimalist jewellery with great impact), and the coat is nice too… but when you put them together you’ll look like a really well-designed package!

It’s about creating a rhythm to your appearance: evidence of a sophisticated intelligence at play.

So, if you have a garment with an original design detail, try to combine this with other elements that repeat or reference that detail. In this case the close proximity of the two parts (by which I mean that your ears are near your neck!) and the distinct roles/provenance of the parts, reinforces the visual game you are playing.

Careless abandon can be a great look if executed with flair, but using Design Principles to style your wardrobe is generally the best strategy if you are a bit older. A young woman who is too prescriptively dressed can appear a bit staid, whereas for you and me this approach to assembling outfits results in a look that is really together and impressive – the sophisticated woman raised up to her full height!

A caveat: it is really important not to start adding in other bits of jewellery. The clear pattern of repetition will be diluted by the introduction of other items not in the same vein. Keep it simple; keep the focus is on our ‘trick’.