Get the layered look – and beat the weather!
Well, the weather’s really gone nuts this month, hasn’t it? The other day, I went out all muffled up in a coat and scarf, only to find that by lunchtime, summer had suddenly descended and everyone was strolling about in T-shirts. Not wanting to be caught out twice, next morning I swapped the coat for a jacket, and guess what? Britain had been suddenly temporarily relocated to somewhere east of Siberia.

We seem to be getting all four seasons at once, and I don’t know about you, but my morning routine doesn’t really allow for a detailed consideration of the weather forecast before I even start getting dressed. Then there’s the fact that even when it’s cold outside, offices are often heated to sub-tropical temperature, so if you’re warm enough on the way to work, you’re sweltering when you arrive.

What’s needed are adaptable outfits that can cope with Siberia and Sorrento in the same day, and that means layering. Two or even three thin layers can be as warm as one chunky knit, because they trap warm air between them, and if it warms up, you can just peel one off. The key is to avoid the bag lady look by making sure the base layer is something close-fitting, like a vest, T-shirt or camisole, so there’s a bit of structure.

Gap is always good for this kind of look, and they’ve got some great short-sleeved and cap-sleeved fine knits that layer beautifully over their long-sleeved T-shirts. If you’re thrown by the idea of wearing long sleeves under short ones, try keeping the colours close together rather than contrasting – it’s a less scary way into the look. Another idea is to wear a jersey camisole under a shirt with a suit – it really freshens up a formal outfit, as well as adding a bit of extra warmth.

For the coldest days, you need some lightweight knitwear that can be layered over a shirt or T-shirt. Cashmere’s perfect for this time of year, because it’s warm but not weighty, so you can slip a coat or mac over the top without feeling like the Michelin man. M&S has a fabulous cashmere empire line cardigan, in grey, dark pink or a really pretty spring green, and I’ll also be looking at the Japanese store Uniqlo, which has branches springing up all over the country. They have a fantastic cashmere range at amazing prices (currently from around £20 for a sweater) and their spring colours are beautiful.

My other tip for the great British winter is to always carry a hat. Apparently 50% of body heat is lost through the top of your head, so if you’re caught out wearing that spring mac when you should have been wrapped up in your warmest coat, a hat can make all the difference. Accessorize has some great knitted berets that you can just squash into your handbag; with one of those and an umbrella, we can be ready for whatever the British weather throws at us!