Like many women, comfort is currently at the top of my style tick list; I have no desire to be all trussed up. So I’m not surprised to see the return of the easy ‘jeans and a nice top’ combo; I just had to recondition how I thought about it.

For example, I wouldn’t wear low-rise skinnies with skyscraper heels and a slinky top (too early-2000s cosplay). But I would do a backless top (£155, Harmur) with wide-leg denim (£59, Arket), barely-there kitten heels (£49, Office) and gold chain bracelets (£175, Missoma). There’s a touch of noughties nostalgia that makes me want to dance around my handbag – but with a grown-up, sophisticated edge. 

I don’t really do fitted tops or anything that shows lots of flesh. For me, a ‘nice top’ is all about fabrications: a shirt made from butter-soft, toffee-coloured leather (£249, Whistles) or minimalist silk (look to Equipment for great ones).

I’d amp up this pared-back look with lots of layered gold jewellery – hoops, necklaces and stacks of bracelets – starting with a simple polished earring by Maria Black (£71). Then I’d add 90s stilettos (£89.99, Zara) and ankle-grazing black kick-flares (£55, Topshop Boutique) to show them off.

To me, light silky fabrics and sleeve detailing are the key components of a “dressy top”. This pleated, crinkly-crêpe floral blouse (£100, Ganni) is perfect – but it could easily feel too summery/daytime-y for November.

To avoid that trap, I’d wear it with mid- to dark-wash denim (like these cropped indigo Gap jeans, £49.95) and luxe accessories that you’d never see at a picnic in July. Charles Keith’s navy velvet stilettos (£49) and Chylak’s mock-croc, feather-trimmed tote (£215, Net-a-Porter) will add an elevated evening feel to any look.