Keeping it chic at Christmas

Photo: Gerard Darel.

There's enough brocade around this season to deck out Poshington Manor. That's Laurence Llewelyn Bowen's pad, in case you were wondering. Autumn/winter fashion is all texture, embellishment and drama. And yet, and yet....at a dinner party the other night, I noticed that every single woman was wearing a combination of black, gold and grey. The chintz had been chucked, the frou-frou forgotten, we'd all decided to keep it chic. I was embracing 24-hour-style in my favourite go-anywhere outfit: a graphic print, silk Modern Love jacket (bought at their sample sale), slim black pants and Liz Taylor earrings. The only photo I have of said outfit is from the Mumsnet BlogFest (that's me on the right), never did get round to writing that up. Suffice to say it was nerve-wracking and fun. Caitlin Moran was superb. And I had a lovely lunch:

Oh and by the way, my feet aren't really the size of skateboards. It's the camera angle on the old Acne Pistol Boot. Here's a quick snap of my lovely Modern Love jacket:

And did you see fab photographer Ellen von Unwerth at the British Fashion Awards? She was embracing the black and gold theme too.

Photo: Getty.

Another go-to outfit this season incorporates the Diane jacket from Lucza, jeans and flat Chelsea boots. Which I like to think adds a whiff of Ines de la Fressange's Parisian Chic to my life.

Photo: Lucza.

So, I guess what I'm saying is wear something you always feel right in. Having a fail-safe item of clothing to turn to is more comforting than knowing you've got a lift home and a lie-in. There's no point getting dressed up to the nines if it makes you feel self-conscious and stupid. As architect, John Pawson says, 'The state of minimum is not one of austerity nor deprivation, it is clarity of space.'*

What will you be wearing this Christmas?



* Taken from my Grown-up Guide To Parties.