The 50 Best Women's Fashion

2. Comptoir des Cotonniers
Wherever you stand on this, jumpsuits are 2008. Reiss has a loungey black silk number channelling Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface and there are a few utility-style denim options about which, unless you are particularly rangy, may leave you looking like a plumber. Tip: don’t buy in orange. This laidback shorts suit gets my vote.
Where - (020 7792 9580; www.comptoirdescotonniers.com)
How much - £86

3. Marc by Marc Jacobs
Wonderboy Marc Jacobs has taken the dull navy office skirt and transformed it into a sexy must-have. His double-breasted pencil skirt is a cotton and silk blend with two-tone buttons, and the perfect solution to looking smart and serious without compromising on style.
Where - Net-a-Porter (www.net-a-porter.com)
How much - £180

4. APC
Both Liberty’s head of buying Caroline Greer and Carola Long recommend this highly desirable trench coat from chic French brand APC. Caroline likes the classic design in beige: “It’s the most versatile piece in any wardrobe and great for the changeable British weather.” Carola’s pick is a shorter mac in a dusky pink shade. A true investment piece, this one, which will never fall out of fashion.
Where - Liberty (020 7734 1234; www.liberty.co.uk)
How much - £215

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs
Stripy tops are perennially stylish. Carola has picked out this beautifully cut longsleeved T-shirt from Marc by Marc Jacobs. “A smart take on the classic Breton t-shirt, this silk top has ribbon bows and gold buttons along the top of the back.”
Where - Matches (0870 067 0838; www.matchesfashion.com)
How much - £175

6. Paul Smith
This beautiful “Bloomsbury” floral cardigan, available in two colourways, has been flying off the shelves. If you’re worried that flower prints + cardigan = dowdy, Leith Clark recommends pairing with a navy skirt or high-waisted shorts and throwing a blazer over the top. There are some lovely printed T-shirts as well, which look cute underneath plain dresses, pinafore-style.
Where - 020 7379 7133; www.paulsmith.co.uk
How much - £311

7. DKNY
A stunning silk dress to make all your girlfriends green with envy. Coral might seem like a bold look to go for, but it brightens up the sallowest of skins. That said, the best accessory to wear with this one would still be a Riviera-style tan.
Where - 020 7499 6238; www.dkny.com
How much - £200

8. Acne
With so many styles and colours to choose from, locking down that perfect pair of jeans can be a nightmare. Ease the pressure with jeans-obsessive Leith’s advice and head for Acne. Her favourites are the boyish “generic girl” jeans in pale “cloud wash” blue. Soften the look with a pretty girlie blouse – there are lots of polka dots and feminine floral prints in shop windows this season.
Where - www.acnejeans.com
How much - £150

9. Laura Ashley
Buy this striking tulip print skirt for an instant fix on those days when you can’t decide what to wear. Carola points out that both the shape and the colours are easy to wear, and it is a more grown-up take on the many – some quite ditsy – florals that abound this season. Team with a jacket and wear to the office.
Where - 0871 230 2301; www.lauraashley.com
How much - £45

10. Banana Republic
The fashion world is going wild over the launch of US chain Banana Republic over here last month. What’s so special about an upmarket Gap – the label is owned by the same company – selling well-cut monotone basics? It’s down to the quality. Women are now prepared to pay a few quid extra for something that lasts more than two washes. Is this the start of a backlash against bargain basement Primark prices? Let’s hope so.
Where - 020 7758 3550; www.bananarepublic.com
How much - £55

11. Jaeger
Whoever guessed a label so deeply associated with middle-aged, middle-class mothers and dowdy business women would reinvent itself so radically? Carola picked out this top from Jaeger London, which showed at London Fashion Week earlier this month for the first time. There is also a belted dress with three-quarter length sleeves in the same sunray appliqué design as this top, at £299.
Where - 0845 521 0495; www.jaeger.co.uk
How much - £150

12. Future Classics
Pets are as prized as babies right now, and you don’t have to be Paris Hilton to be out and proud about owning a chihuahua. Wear this cashmere and rhinestone sweater tongue-in-cheek with some outsize accessories or layer over some thin cotton vests and T-shirts. Stocked in Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
Where - 020 7734 2039; www.queenofevil.com
How much - £99

13. Massimo Dutti
Embrace tie-dye fever in this one shoulder dress from Spanish chain Massimo Dutti. Tie-dye is hot news for 2008, but if it gives you flashbacks to the heady days of Global Hypercolour t-shirts, try sticking to simple, two-tone tops and dresses in cotton.
Where - 020 7851 1280; www.massimodutti.co.uk
How much - £45

14. Madein Heaven
On its revival in 2005 by Chloe Lonsdale, Vogue pointed out that cult denim label Made in Heaven makes “jeans that will bring out the Jane Birkin in you”. These cute, pale-blue culottes are no exception. The shiny buttons are gold-plated and sailor pants are a key trend this spring/summer. Leith Clark is a huge fan: “Sailor pants! Those are it,” she says. Also available in a full-length jean.
Where - Matches (020 7221 0255; www.matchesfashion.com)
How much - £105

15. Urban Outfitters
Denim is big news every season. This petrol blue skirt by Lux is a winning choice for several reasons: the on-the-knee length is flattering; the stretch fabric forgiving; and the buttoned-up high waist lends it a sexy corset-style look.
Where - www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk
How much - £40

16. Hanii Y
Prepare to splurge a little, and Hanii Y’s über-feminine spring range won’t disappoint. The pretty and practical collection includes a great black tulip skirt, a printed silk tunic that would work alone or over jeans, and this gorgeous updated biker jacket with threequarter length sleeves, a round neck and drawstring waist.
Where - Net-a-Porter (01473 323 032; www.net-a-porter.com)
How much - £675

17. Katherine Hamnett
Doyenne of T-shirt activism Katherine Hamnett has re-released this simple vest dress from her Spring/Summer 1988 collection. The coral colour is hot hot hot this season and “Love” is written in water-based, environmentally friendly ink – intended to fade after one wash to give a vintage effect. Hamnett only uses organic cotton.
Where - www.katherinehamnett.com
How much - £40

18. Whistles
This super-soft cashmere wool wrap is an ideal spring cover-up. You can wear it as a long cardigan or wrap it around your body and tie at the back or front to keep out the cold. Alternatively, drape dramatically over your shoulders and don some big sunnies, like a 1950s screen siren. Available in navy, grey and cream and lovely pastel shades of blue and green.
Where - www.whistles.co.uk
How much - £89.95

19. River Island
This flower-print shirt dress is not entirely dissimilar to a Luella number doing the rounds this season. You can’t see the detail here but handfuls of sequins embellish the red, black and blue print and there is a deep pocket on either side below the waistband. If you don’t like this print, check out the wide selection online.
Where - 020 8991 4759; www.riverisland.com
How much - £29.99

20. La Redoute
These chic cotton shorts are really quite small and not, I repeat – not – to be teamed with blue or purplish legs and worn anywhere other than a beach, park, festival or nightclub. If, however, you’re planning a trip to sunnier climes and have great pins, they are very well-priced and have an “I spend my days lounging around on a yacht” feel to them.
Where - www.laredoute.co.uk
How much - £17

21. Prada
A fairy tale of a skirt this one, painted in an enchanting print following the current vogue for painting onto fabric as if it were canvas. The skirt is lime green and a full, organza ball-of-candyfloss affair: every little girl’s dream, just don’t let your toddler get her hands on it.
Where - www.prada.com
How much - £910

22. Joseph
“A blazer in a neutral colour such as navy, cream or grey is spring’s answer to the ubiquitous tuxedo jacket,” says Carola. This light linen number in navy with a slim pinstripe and cream lining is a great example. It’s very light so you can layer some thin knits underneath, depending on the temperature. It will look great with jeans or cotton trousers.
Where - 020 7610 8441; www.joseph.co.uk
How much - £345

23. Top Shop
Cheeky trompe l’oeil prints have made the short leap from the catwalk to the high street with ease. This whimsical sailorette T-shirt from Topshop is a dead ringer for the Marc Jacobs one but, of course, a fraction of the price.
Where - 08449 840 264; www.topshop.com
How much - £14

24. Fred Perry
This preppy tennis-ball cardigan is part of a collection for Fred Perry by Jamaican-born Jessica Ogden, who launched her own label in 1993. Carola picked this piece out of the capsule collection for its fresh, sporty feel. Ogden got her inspiration for the collection from looking through the Fred Perry archive, particularly the 1920s designs.
Where - www.fredperry.com
How much - £125

25. Paul & Joe Sister
A pretty and flirty wrap dress with a wide belt tie. The diagonal stripe pattern, though a little reminiscent of a school tie, sobers up what is otherwise quite a revealing and cleavage-plunging sunny-weather number.
Where - Asos (www.asos.com)
How much - £140

26. French Connection
Spring is a perennially difficult season to dress for given the unpredictable weather. These shorts are a good halfway-house option if you pull on a pair of black or cream opaques underneath. The smart tailoring and linen/wool mix make them a smart choice for the office, too, and you can wear them throughout the summer without tights once the weather hots up a little.
Where - 0845 557 3285; www.frenchconnection.com
How much - £50

27. Sonia by Sonia Rykiel
A full Fifties-style skirt in a daring cobalt blue. The skirt is knitted cotton and pleated, adding extra weight and swing, so be sure you’re up for flaunting those hips. Wear with a plain cotton vest or T-shirt and ballet pumps.
Where - Matches (www.matchesfashion.com)
How much - £135

28. Topshop
This “shiny” short-sleeve parka ticks all the boxes for changeable spring weather. OK, you might get your arms wet, but there are some risks a girl has to take for fashion. The colour, shape and nylon sheen are spot-on and you can scrunch it up and pop it in your handbag when the sun comes out.
Where - 08449 840 264; www.topshop.com
How much - £50

29. Public Beware
Let me count the ways you can wear this super-soft cotton tunic: over jeans and a T-shirt (plain or striped) would be the obvious choice, but cinched in with a wide belt, tucked into high-waisted jeans, with leggings and a blazer or even tout simple for the truly daring/toned. Genius.
Where - ASOS (www.asos.com)
How much - £45

30. ASOS
A cute twist on the enduring nautical trend, anchors are everywhere this year. This printed cotton sweater is a budget nod to the idea and lightweight enough to wear alone on sunnier days. There’s no guarantee it will catch the eye of Captain Jack Sparrow, though, I’m afraid ladies.
Where - ASOS (www.asos.com)
How much - £25

31. Milk & Honey
The Australian label Milk & Honey has stacks of cute items like this cream-and-white zigzag print sleeveless dress. It looks deceptively simple, but is adorned with small but distinctive details like the silver zip on one sleeve, and the ruched elasticated seams under each arm, across the chest and at the hemline, which gives it a flattering cocoon shape.
Where - www.ilovemilkandhoney.com; www.frockingbird.com
How much - £75

32. J Brand
Liz Hurley might be able to juggle white jeans, a baby and stiletto heels, but it’s a tricky combination to pull off for us mere mortals. Thankfully, white jeans can now contribute to a younger, funkier look. Channel the Seventies by teaming this Love Story cut with chunky wedges and over-sized sunglasses. Trainers work, too, but you’ll have a hard time keeping the hems clean.
Where - Net-a-Porter (www.net-a-porter.com; www.jbrandjeans.com)
How much - £170

33. See by Chloé
Not for shrinking violets or the bandy-legged, but this flirty mini in fashionable psychedelic colours is a very girlie nod to the Seventies feel underpinning many collections this season. Liberty’s head of buying Caroline recommends wearing it with a long, oversize white T-shirt for a chic daytime look. You’ll be hard pushed not to fall for the whimsical floral pattern.
Where - Liberty (020 7734 1234; www.liberty.co.uk)
How much - £160

34. Cos
Patent is big news this spring, and this grey jacket is less harsh than the usual black, and is much easier to carry off without looking like you’re a, ahem, working girl. Cos opened on London’s Regent Street last spring and is a smart, sassy older sister to the H&M brand – still affordable, but characterised by simple, capsule pieces.
Where - www.cosstores.com
How much - £119

35. BooHoo
Candy stripes and a Victoriana bib front – don’t say we don’t treat you well. Don’t make it any more fussy than this, though, just team with blue jeans and flat pumps. Even expensive T-shirts lose their shape after a season of wears, so buy a few up-to-date but inexpensive tops to celebrate the beginning of British Summer Time.
Where - www.boohoo.com
How much - £10

36. Jonathan Saunders
Caroline recommends this knit dress for its “body conscious yet forgiving classic shape and soft colour palette. This pushes the boundaries in knitwear and can be worked for day or evening”. If the pricetag makes you feel queasy, head straight to Topshop for whom Saunders has designed an (almost) cheap as chips collection of printed long T-shirt dresses and bodycon stretch tops.
Where - Selfridges (0800 123 400; www.selfridges.co.uk)
How much - £730

37. Dorothy Perkins
Simple safari-style dresses are very versatile. Dress up with heels and a bit of bling, or throw on tights and boots for the office or a shopping day. Dorothy Perkins’s stone-coloured dress is an über bargain; you’ll be able to find a play on this trend to suit you in most of the high-street stores.
Where - 0844 984 0261; www.dorothyperkins.com
How much - £28

38. Dries Van Noten
Caroline knows a luxe trend when she sees one and tips these beautiful silk trousers from Dries Van Noten, who has turned Seventies Palazzo pants into a highfashion must-have with his deep purple and pink rose print. Easy to wear by day or night, or, even better, curled up on your sofa.
Where - Liberty (020 7734 1234; www.liberty.co.uk)
How much - £365

39. Topshop
You know you grew up in the Eighties if… this denim rara skirt gets you humming Culture Club. Good legs can always get away with such short skirts, though opaques might be appropriate, depending on where you fall along the lamb-to-mutton-ometer.
Where - 08449 840 264; www.topshop.com
How much - £30

40. Miss Selfridge
A sweet, bib-front swing jacket with three-quarter-length sleeves. The 50/50 cotton and linen mix is a good weight for a spring to summer jacket, without the risk of it crumpling too easily.
Where - www.missselfridge.com
How much - £50

41. French Connection
Crisp white cotton is a spring wardrobe staple. Of the many Gypsy-style shirts around, this square-necked, short-sleeved example is my pick of the bunch. The fit is loose but the pleats gathered around the neckline give it some definition, helping the top to keep its shape as the day wears on.
Where - www.frenchconnection.com
How much - £45

42. Preen
West London hipsters Preen has made wacky forms and futuristic shaping its stock in trade, and this multicoloured sweater is no exception. Bright and casual in peach, pale grey and orange, and great for livening up faded denims. The variation in colours and fabrics does wonderful things in terms of slimming and accentuating where appropriate.
Where - Browns (020 7514 0040; www.brownsfashion.com)
How much - £265

43. Comptoir des Cotonniers
“The spring/summer catwalks were abloom with floral patterns, from sci-fi petals at Balenciaga to softer meadow flowers at Stella McCartney,” says Carola. She has picked out this “Balmoral” floral dress, which you can team with a thin belt and strappy gladiator sandals.
Where - 020 7792 9580; www.comptoirdescotonniers.com
How much - £137 

44. Full Circle
Cotton twill trousers that feel reassuringly soft for such a structured item. The legs taper gently and the high-waisted cut (with space for your pocket watch) will cinch in any spare inches. Wear a size too large to allow a little space around your hips, with a billowy shirt or plain T-shirt.
Where - 020 8753 034; www.fullcircleuk.com
How much - £65

45. Jigsaw
This skater skirt is cut to curve and hug in all the right places, so it is still appropriate if you’re out of your teens. The red brocadeesque print (also available in silver) has a luxe feel to it, too.
Where - 020 8392 5600; www.jigsaw-online.com
How much - £79

46. Richard Nicolls for Topshop
This blazer is part of wunderkind Richard Nicolls’s second collection for Topshop, which launched recently. He has been on the London fashion scene for eight seasons now, and the Topshop collection brings his idiosyncratic but decidedly wearable takes on classic pieces to the high street. This jacket in the palest of salmon pinks looks good enough to eat.
Where - Top Shop (08449 840 264; www.topshop.com)
How much - £85

47. Giles Deacon for New Look
A new “Gold” collection by Giles Deacon has hit New Look stores. Agyness Deyn is a huge fan and you’ll probably have to fight off a fair few shoppers to nab your chosen piece, too. The ruffle dress in several shades of pink in blocks is sure to be a big seller and these simple T-shirts make the most of women’s curves.
Where - New Look (www.newlook.co.uk)
How much - £18

48. Vanessa Bruno
Vanessa Bruno wheels out her trademark effortless utilitarian cool with this 100 per cent silk dress in a stunning cobalt blue, detailed with a draped frill front, short frilly sleeves and a tie belt. The pockets might look functional, but given they’re in silk, treat them as a very pleasing aesthetic touch to keep your investment in good nick.
Where - Browns (www.brownsfashion.com)
How much - £265

49. Mango
Simple beige slacks are a indispensable wardrobe staple for those with a hint of the preppy about them. There are some great high-waisted versions around this season. This pair from Mango are a good cut and bang on price-wise.
Where - 020 7434 3694; www.mango.com
How much - £18

50. frostfrench
It doesn’t get much more girly than this. Design duo Sadie Frost and Jemima French don’t believe grown up fashion has to be serious and dull and the frills in sixties-inspired pink and white gingham on this “Mathilde” sweater are spot on. For spoil sports who draw the line at wearing pink, there is a navy and black version.
Where - www.frostfrench.com
How much - £120