I am fond of February. It means January is over, which is cause for celebration already. The end-of-season sale rails have gone, so shop windows are again a source of new ideas. The weather is still rubbish, obviously, but the light is coming back: with a pinch of luck, you may even see daylight on the way home from the office by the end of February. The first snowdrops are nearly here. I like Valentine’s Day, which I know is deeply uncool of me, but I like pink and I like chocolate, so what’s not to love?
But February can be a challenge to dress for. The novelty of snuggly knits and shiny boots has well and truly worn off at this point, and maintaining enthusiasm for cold-weather dressing is a chore. Please keep reading for a puffer coat update and a fresh layering formula, not to mention a top-tier edit of the most delectable and affordable treats I’ve scouted from February’s shelves. No time to waste, my friends: another good thing about February is that it’s only 28 days long. Let’s hear it for a month that’s not just short, but also surprisingly sweet.
***
Sunglasses that will make you as cool as Bob Dylan
Broski sunglasses
€66.90 at Le Specs
£70 at Ssense
Is it too early in the year to be thinking about sunglasses? Not if you’ve seen A Complete Unknown. I came out of the cinema obsessed with finding the perfect black shades, as modelled by Timmy Chalamet as Bob Dylan. Well-designed quality sunglasses tend to be eye-wateringly expensive, but Le Specs, a brand worn by everyone from Justin Bieber to the Duchess of Sussex, are a great place to look. These Broski sunglasses have a vintage-inspired silhouette without looking retro. They come in tortoiseshell, too, but it’s the Black Smoke Mono colourway I’m into.
***
Is it Loewe? Or is it M&S?
Red rose bag charm
Tell you what, I’ll give you a clue: it costs £12.50. But take a look at this Red Rose Trio bag charm and you will see what I mean. It’s a keyring, it’s a bag charm, but most importantly, it looks like it costs about 20 times the price tag. The cherry one, also £12.50, is cute too.
***
Valentine’s Day hoop earrings to fall in love with
Gold heart hoops
When is Valentine-themed fashion not too cheesy? When it’s these heart-shaped hoops. Tuck your hair behind your ear … and drop a subtle hint. I’m not saying they aren’t cheesy – I’m saying they are just the right amount of cheesy. Not just for 14 February, these hoops are definitely a keeper.
***
The supersize puffer coat
Superdry Maxi longline puffer coat
After months of people-watching while dog-walking – does this count as multitasking? – I’ve figured out why some people look fabulous in a puffer coat while others (me) just look like a generic dog walker. The coat has to be really big, and really long. This is counterintuitive, because puffer coats are large anyway, so our natural instinct is not to go any bigger than we have to. But they look so much better – so much better – if they’re oversized and ankle length. Especially good teamed with cool shades (see above). This Superdry coat is ideal.
***
An excellent big bag
Leopard print tote
Wow, a column I wrote recently hailing the return of bags in which you can fit all your stuff sure did strike a chord. I’ve been deluged with messages from readers who feel all the love for a capacious carry-all. So I thought I’d share this beauty, which I love for its main character energy and snug fit under the arm. And yes, it has a magnetic closure and an inner pocket. It was available in cow print (fun!), which has now sold out – you can never go wrong with leopard, though.
***
An idea for new ways to layer
Wool cashmere blend waistcoat
I spotted two chic layering combos recently, and the common factor was simple round-neck sleeveless knits with buttons all the way down the front. I complimented the wearers – and asked for deets, obviously. Number one: a black cashmere button-through knit (£85 at M&S) that was worn over a boho-energy cream blouse, so there was a peek of ruffle at the neck and the soft billowy sleeves were exposed.
Number two: the pink version above, worn over a sleek black cotton polo neck. That one was £95 from Jigsaw and also comes in a lovely jade green. It feels late to buy a winter piece but I feel as if I’ll also wear this in summer, over a T-shirt.
***
Possibly the coolest clutch bag/makeup pouch ever made?
Perello leather pouch
£295 at Anya Hindmarch
£295 at Liberty
Can I justify this? No. Do I want it? Damn right. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this delicious Anya Hindmarch pouch since I saw it. I am obsessed with Perelló olives and I know this would bring me joy for ever. It’s big enough to be a clutch for evenings, or a makeup bag, or to keep essentials from sinking to the bottom of a handbag. Not an olive girl? How about a Stabilo Boss Coin Purse (£295) or a Nurofen sunglasses case?
***
A lingerie brand to get on your radar
Camelia wired bra
Do you know Bluebella? I feel like not enough women know about Bluebella. This female-founded, London-based lingerie label makes beautiful underwear that is special without being too heavy-handedly erotic, if you know what I mean. It also looks great under clothes, which is something a surprising number of underwear brands don’t think about. Best of all, it’s reasonably priced. There’s a store in Covent Garden, if you are in London to take a look. The Camelia bra is a balconette silhouette that works well under scoop necklines.
***
Are your pilates socks 2025 enough?
Pilates and yoga grip socks
£12.99 at Belsize Activewear
£12.99 at Amazon
Asking all the big questions, am I right? But, seriously, you’ve ditched trainer socks in the rest of your wardrobe – please tell me you’ve ditched trainer socks in the rest of your wardrobe – so why are you still wearing them to pilates? I’m wearing these grip socks now. Do keep up.
***
Wrist warmers. Discuss?
Cashmere wrist warmers
Can we agree that “smartphone gloves” just don’t work? Therefore, wrist warmers and fingerless gloves are surprisingly practical in the modern world of emailing-from-the-train-platform. These Brora wrist warmers are a major treat – but they are cashmere, knitted in Scotland, and they are the actual ones that Claudia Winkleman wears in The Traitors.
