So here's a question for you: what should you buy in August? Seriously, WHAT. We bet you're racking your brains. Because it's a seriously hard month to nail your shopping list. You've already bought your body weight in string bikinis and flimsy summer dresses that last show your bum when you bend over, but you're not quite ready for the woolly coats incongruously flooding the high street.
Yeah, OK, you don't _tech_nically have to buy anything. But you want to, because you've been paid and you deserve a little treat. So we've found your ideal payday splurge. Trans-seasonal (these will work in winter and spring), trend-less (unlike, say, an emoji cashmere onesie) and with a slice of nautically chic sass, these Navy Wool Twill Trousers, £460, by Stella McCartney at Harvey Nichols will take you from soireé to sports - as well as being the the snazziest thing in your wardrobe by like a bazillion points.
Here's how you can wear them four ways:
Fully embrace the nautical
Very Clemence Poesy meets Beatrix Potter, no? A longline stripey coat is a good, light alternative to your seen-everything, covered-in-everything trench - whilst a laser-cut cotton crop and the slingback detail of the shoes offers some girlishness to match the androgny of the tailored trousers and loafers.
Lace Trim Crop Top, £28 Topshop, Striped Duster Coat, £125 ASOS White, Topshop Kye Black Sling Back Loafers, £58 Topshop
Try a chunky knit and tractor tread soles
Stick to the Stella aesthetic with these chunky, tractor-tread sandals and roll the trousers up for a more casual look. How do we sell a chunky knit? We don't. A chunky knit is never a bad thing and even in this current spate of boiling weather, is ideal to chuck over a bra or bikini top.
Detailed Knit Sweater, £45.99 Zara and Leather Sandal with Track Heel, £69.99 Zara
Dress down a shaggy coat with sneaks
Amidst the swathes of technicolour faux fur doing the popular rounds right now, take a subtler root with a shaggy oatmeal cardigan. Statement enough to look different, but muted enough to take a bold tee from Etre Cecile and some zingy Roshe Runs. The trousers? The neutral but ever chic staple holding all that shit together, of course.
Shaggy Cardigan, coming soon from Designers Remix, Presque Stripe Cotton T-Shirt, £75, Être Cecile at MATCHESFASHION.COM, Roshe Run Trainers in Navy and Lime, £70 Nike at Urban Outfitters
Add some bejewel to your sporty
Try a new rust coloured take on the sporty camisole, as rendered by Zara - but prettified with Kurt Geiger's gem sandals. Twin seam stripes are thrown off by the dorky, dolly footwear. This is the ideal workworthy summer uniform before the temperature drops, so take advantage - NOW.
Strappy Top with Contrast Lining, £29.99 Zara, Monochrome Leather Clutch, £250 McQ Alexander McQueen, Bangle, £10 Gogo Philip
Photographer: Agata Pec
Stylist: Grace Joel
Model: Harriet at IMG
Make-up: Bea Sweet
Hair: Tiffanne Williams
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.