Why they’re ideal: The trend for chunky ugly sandals shows no sign of abating and I am, naturally, delighted to be reunited with my Birkenstocks. But I m also at the point where I d like a little grace and elegance to return to my summer footwear portfolio which is why I m searching out less cumbersome styles. The ideal is these Massimo Dutti sandals which leave no room for chipped toenails or hard skin so prep before wearing, but the result will be sleek, plus black goes with anything - especially a light, Bank Holiday weekend tan.
Extra features: There are some happy mediums between clompy and barely-there. A cross-over design offers great support without being overwhelming. These options from Joseph and John Lewis might be at opposite ends of the price spectrum but can be worn for summers to come with dresses, jeans or shorts. If you like the trekking sandal look but don t want to go too Millets, then Boden s Philomena is practical yet pretty.
Our new column is here to help you get dressed again.
7 May 2021 • 5:00am
Cotton-muslin dress, £325, Marina Rinaldi
It’s been the year style has been put on ice in favour of track suit pants and slippers. But now it’s time to refind your fashion confidence and dip your toe back into something braver. In our new Wardrobe Whisperer column, our team will find a solution for every style crisis.
This spring I have seen some lovely long dresses and it fills me with hope. I’ve been looking for three years! I’d like something cotton, high-necked and long- or three-quarter-sleeved. I am about 5ft 9in and like loose, flowing designs. Each time I find something that might be possible, the maximum size is 14 or 16 – I am a 26 or 28 and it seems well-made, classic dresses are not available. In moments of desperation, I think about hunting for a dressmaker. Can you help?
How wedding guest style has changed, 10 years on from Kate and William s big day
It has been 10 years since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding. Oh how wedding guest style has changed
28 April 2021 • 5:00am
Guests at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011: Lady Helen Taylor, Sophie Countess of Wessex, Carole Middleton, Princess Beatrice, Samantha Cameron and Princess Eugenie
Credit: Getty Images
The thing about wedding photographs is that, naturally, they tend to stick around on the mantelpiece for a very long time. One guest’s lapse of fashion sense – perhaps a spur-of-the-moment decision to don an eyrie-esque hat – can end up immortalised on another family’s gallery wall.
There s nothing wrong with rocking the Seventies trend, even if you did it the first time round
Clogs and flares are in, here s how to wear them at any age
Alyson Walsh in a 70s inspired blouse
Credit: Neil MacKenzie Matthews
Hello 1970s, my old friend. Flared jeans, clogs, a floral print blouse – I’m really digging the retro look right now. And I’m not the only one; apparently online searches for clogs and bell-bottom jeans have increased by up to 45 per cent over the past year. There’s nothing wrong with rocking a little “seventies vibe”, even if you did wear it the first time around. I’m all for upholding the fashion classics – there’s a reason why infinitely wearable items reappear time and again.