Daring to Wear: The Cropped Flare...

I figured the cropped flare was one of those trends that, like phallically-symbolic inflatable accessories and sofa-print trouser suits, only worked on a runway - until fashion FOMO hit, as is its wont - and I discovered this high-waisted pair... which I now love more than full-length flares and skinny crops combined. Thankfully, I was already all over the perfect midi-boots... and I'd snagged an invitation to "design" my own bespoke belt at Elliot Rhodes' Covent Garden emporium the very day they popped through my letterbox - "burgundy, mock-croc and straight out of the '70s thankyouplease".

Jeans: H&M, Blouse: Dorothy Perkins, Boots: Truffle Collection at shoebou, Belt c/o Elliot Rhodes

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3 Ways to Wear... Flared Dungarees

If you're going to do dungarees with flair this season, then you really have to do them with flare. Stradivarius (one of Zara's "little sister brands") has pulled out all the stops with this pair, combining slinky '70s styling notes with a curve-friendly high-waisted fit. How are you wearing yours..?

Putting on the Glitz

Dungarees: Stradivarius, Top: H&M, Boots: River Island

Red Alert

Dungarees: As Above, Top: Dorothy Perkins, Jacket: Primark (Past Season), Boots: Truffle at shoebou, Bag: Boohoo (Past Season), Bag Charm: New Look

Layer Cake

Dungarees: As Above, Jumper: Zara, Boots: Primark

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Life in Lurex

Had enough of a break from the flared co-ord sets? Good, then let's crack on... I'd had my eye on this lovely lurex tunic/trouser combo since spotting it in the Daily at London Fashion Week during one of my Vita Coco Latte-fuelled between-shows phone-charging sessions in the Brewer Street press lounge, only to find the last remaining set on H&M's Oxford Circus shop floor already ravaged by thread pulls... A few weeks later, birthday spending money burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to throw caution to the wind and order it anyway. At the end of day one, I did have to spend a good 15 minutes carefully pushing and pulling all the newly loose threads around the hems into some semblance of order, in order to render myself presentable for a second day, but I'd still challenge you to find a better day-to-night ensemble on the high street right now...

Top and Trousers: Both H&M, Boots: River Island

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How to Wear... Velvet Flares

Disco divas, it's time to ditch the shiny skinnies for a new trew... And, as I see it, velvet flares boast two main selling points to put them strides ahead of the rest of the party trouser pack - (1) their extreme snuggliness - and (2) their unapologetic "dug from the dressing up box" extravagance - yes, they make me feel a bit like a Bee Gee, but that's half the fun.

At £12.99, you can afford to take a chance on these H&M beauts... and throw in their co-ordinating turtle-neck for good measure. Having misspent an inordinate proportion of my youth in Juicy-dupe trackies, I didn't think I'd ever "do the double" again, but hey, if you're gonna go there, why not go for broke..?

But they're so cosy (and so much fun), it would be a crime to save them for Crimbo... enter my new favourite chunky knit... daytime velvet, sorted.

Flared Trousers and Turtleneck Crop Top: Both H&M, Jumper: Zara, Boots: Primark (Past Season)

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