The Times Magazine 59Ditch Dungarees Keep Boiler suits
Remember the dungarees phase of lockdown?
It hit shortly before Barnard Castle. And like
the latter, it was all you could think about at
the time but hasn’t crossed your mind for a
while. Keep hold of boiler suits – these are
very much still in play.
Ditch Prairie dresses Keep Wrap and
shirt dresses
What a strange blip it was that stylish women
dressed like the Amish for much of 2018/19.
Show up to the pub in one now and you’d be
mistaken for a pair of curtains. Keep, on the
other hand, any dress that shows off your waist,
can be unbuttoned lower when the lights are
dimmed and doesn’t look as if it comes with
its own giant religious-order pants.
Ditch Denim jackets Keep Army jackets,
shirt jackets, leather jackets
I am saying this because my denim jackets
have survived two house moves and I still
haven’t worn them for years. Box yours up for
now; if you toss it completely, you’ll probably
want it again next week.Ditch Bombers Keep Blazers
Blazers of all stripes – except, actually, the
striped ones – should serve you well for the
foreseeable. After so much leisurewear in
2020, I found myself craving the structure of
a tailored jacket. Wear with jeans for a front
row fashion editor look, or use to smarten up
a swishy dress. A double-breasted blazer plus
miniskirt is very much the shape of things to
come next year. Bombers, on the other hand,
feel a bit shapeless.Keep Every pair of jeans you own that fit...
Forget the “skinnies are over” diktat. What
you need is a portfolio of jeans: cropped
wide-legs and flares to wear with ankle boots
now and trainers/loafers in spring; skinnies
to wear inside tall boots; high-waisted straight
legs for feeling current. Blue denim should
be bright rather than stonewash or indigo;
I’d always go black for cropped flares and
skinnies. Add one white, not too tight, pair
in the mix too. If you insist on being cutting
edge go for full-length flares or bootcuts, but
these are optional....apart from anything low-slung (ditch)
If flesh shows when you bend down, then the
waistband of your jeans is too low and, in all
likelihood, not doing you many favours. It’s
time they went.Ditch Hoodies Keep Cardigans
Perhaps you were sceptical about the vogue
for “chic hoodies” – well done on your
prescience if so. Just looking at mine now
makes me feel ill. Slip into your most Miss
Marple-ish cardie instead.Ditch Pearls Keep Gold hoops
Pearls will be back; it just that gold hoops
feel more modern at the moment. Choose
from thin, chunky, big or lobe-hugging, but
anything too fussy – stones, jewels, danglers- can look a little dated. Add a gold link
necklace if you fancy an update.
Ditch Heeled boots Keep Bovvers and bikers
I appreciate heels are sacrosanct for many but
flat ankle boots – bikers, DMs, Chelseas and
hiking-esque versions – are here to stay. The
exception with heels is Cuban or cowboy
styles – there will be lots of these creeping
into the shops, so dust off any you own. The
footwear memo – for now, at least – is as
stompy as possible.Ditch Stilettos
Or at least ask yourself if you’ve worn yours
after lockdown lifted. If the answer is no, you
never will again.Ditch Satin skirts Keep Leopard print
Two of the big trends of the past five years,
these, and both a little overexposed because
of it. While there will always be a place for
leopard print in your wardrobe, you should
probably dial it back down to one item per
outfit. As far as the satin skirt is concerned,
keep for summer at a push.Keep Tank tops
I once gave a great tank top to the charity
shop and rue it every time they come
back round.Ditch Black trousers Keep Black trousers
If they’re slim-fit cigarette pants keep them;
if they’re the wide and flappy style, you’re
better off without them. The time for swathing
your lower half in over-ample material is now
over; you’ve just spent 18 months under a
duvet. If you have the bum for them, get
a pair of Gen Z retro-comes-round-again
stretchy bootcuts. Now just try to stop
humming Freed from Desire by Gala while
wearing them. Impossible.Keep Masks
You don’t need me to explain this one. nKeep: boiler suitsKeep: fake furKeep: puffer coats