There are some fashion stories that envelop you in glamour and present you with sartorial ideas which feel daring and bold. This is not one of those stories. That's not to suggest it's not worth your while to stick around, I just want to be clear that I'm not reinventing the wheel here. But what I do have to share is the one item of clothing – a top, to be precise – which has revolutionised my wardrobe. I'm not even being hyperbolic.
Said item is a black polo neck. I know, I sound about as exciting as a Zoom meeting but it really has proved invaluable. It has breathed new life into my wardrobe – as soon as autumn arrived, I didn't have to stash away my summer dresses, I simply layered them over this £16 top.
www.marksandspencer.com
Stretchy, lightweight but extra warm, I wear this under everything, from dresses to white shirts with jeans. It makes getting dressed during the colder months easier than ever.
Mine is from M&S and is the perfect thickness. Light enough to wear under other layers but still keeps me warm. Given that I wear it almost every day, at £16 it's the most cost-effective item in my wardrobe.
It's also practical. Mine is technically a thermal top so means I avoid feeling freezing all of a sudden as the seasons change. I wear it underneath half-buttoned white shirts tucked into high waisted trousers; I also wear it under pinafore dresses with knee-high boots and, as mentioned, fairly summery dresses (as you can see above).
As I, along with most people presumably (and hopefully), become more aware of the need to shop mindfully, my favourite thing about this seemingly uninteresting item is that it ensures my wardrobe isn't particularly seasonal any more. I can wear almost everything all year round. As I type, I'm wearing a floaty cotton midi dress over knee-high boots and my polo neck.
So, reinventing the wheel I am not. But I may have just reinvented your autumn/winter wardrobe. You are, of course, very welcome.