Whilst sometimes challenging (read: often torturous), I regularly extol the virtues of a heel.

It’s great being a few inches taller – so much so that I’m often known to exclaim “This feels like my natural height” (and with a size 9 foot, maybe it is).

I’m not entirely sure who I’m trying to convince though* because truthfully, I’m much happier in a flat shoe.

So this is the serendipitous thing – all those designers that I love have come on-board this season (and last season… and next season) with a full-fashion endorsement of flat shoes. Yay!

One of my favourites is the black and white loafer. It’s like a little tuxedo for your feet and looks super cute either dressed-down with a sweat top and your boyfriend jeans, or dressed-up with a black cropped pant or tailored skirt,

Need no more convincing?

Follow the link below for my edit of the best black and white loafers you can buy right now…

* Ok, ok… it’s me.

I love a cropped pant. Fashion designers call these a 7/8 pant (no science here – they’re just that little bit longer than a 3/4 pant). They look really great and are so versatile, working equally well with heels as they do with flats and sneakers (no frantic, running out the door, last minute hem adjustments required).

The trick to pulling this off though (and not looking dumpy) is all about proportions.

Your pants must be a straight and slim (but not too tight) cut, so that the diameter of the hem on your pant is around half the length of your shoes (hence narrower hems work better with heels). The crop also needs to allow around a 5cm gap from the bottom of your pant hem to the top of your shoes, for that perfect pant to exposed-ankle ratio.

Like what you see? Grab your rulers and follow the link below for my edit of the best crop pants you can buy right now….

The trench coat is an enduring classic – another one of those things that we fashion-folk world call a ‘wardrobe essential’.

It is non-seasonal, always flattering and terribly stylish. I love the way you can add it to any outfit and you will immediately look more ‘French’ (in a fantastically ‘I didn’t try too hard, I just threw this on’ kind of way).

The trench is open to many a creative interpretation – no matter what your personal style is, there is a trench coat out there for you:

Pink? tick!

Lace? tick!

But my personal favourite is of the longer, looser variety like in the picture. Elegant, effortless and dramatically ‘swishy’. And you get extra points for getting you coat length to perfectly match your skirt length – one of my favourite styling tricks!

Follow the link below for my edit of the best trench coats…

Pink is the new white (which was the new black). Are you still with me?

So often, upon finding out that I’m a fashion stylist, women will ask me:

“What should I be wearing this season?”

To which I generally reply with something like:

“It’s not that straight forward. Trends aren’t as a strict as they used to be. The internet has made people open to so many more influences such that at any time you could be wearing anything from checks to kaftans and still be ‘on trend’.

But pink is big.

It’s the softer, dreamier shades that are getting the most traction though, so steer clear of the hot pink, fuchsia and candy hues. What you’re after is pieces in petal, blush, ballet, rose or shell  pink. Just insert this rosy hue where before you would have worn white and you’ve got it.

And what works best with all these pretty shades?  Why, the Le Dix Cartable S leather tote in black of course –  Alexander Wang’s first design since taking over the reins at Balenciaga.

Follow the link below for some ‘pink-speration’ and all shopping details…