Mary Portas: the best looks from her TV series

Shady Mary: She wore strong blue – brilliantly at odds with her signature carrot-red angular bob – teamed with staple black (hello fabulous pouffy skirt) more than once during this quite unmissable series of Mary Queen of Shops. Our style heroine looks ever so regal here in said clothes/hair clash, marching out of her London HQ. Note: Mary always walks with purpose. She would no doubt consider any other mode of pedestrian behaviour to be a complete waste of time and money. Love the shades, big gold watch and dog combo too – when Mary isn't being Queen of Shops, she's surely being Queen of Statement Accessories
Photograph: BBC

Next season now Mary: Portas works in fashion – to quote her: “I made my name in high-end fashion retail” – so we expect her to have crystal ball oracle-like fashion qualities. And she doesn't disappoint. Despite having filmed this series some time ago, her second on-screen look during the final episode featured a minimalist camel coat. People, this is a key forthcoming autumn/winter purchase (see this month's Vogue). It also looked quite fabulous with the chunky knit grey jumper dress, two statement rings and a gold pendant. This outfit sums up Mary's unofficial style mantra too: bold but simple, sharp not shouting
Photograph: BBC

White Mary: At least twice this series, a simple, well-cut sleeveless shift appeared. In both instances it was neatly cinched with a wide contrast belt under the bust and layered over a grey long-sleeve top. Of course, this being Mary, each wrist boasts a statement cuff – crucially worn, fashion pickers, over the top of her sleeves. Earlier, this outfit was styled with a cropped metallic leather jacket that had something of the Desperately Seeking Susans about it – but forget that, this outfit's grand finale was all about a pair of snazzy tights and some mighty Margiela booties
Photograph: BBC

Snazzy tights part 2: In the glorious multi-coloured Denny and Dazzle episode (my favourite eventual makeover), Mary drives up to their house, exits car … whereby there's much panning of camera to her ankle-boot-clad foot followed by a reveal: she is wearing a pair of striking Jaffa-orange tights. You've got to love a bit of bold hosiery that almost matches your hair. This orange-with-orange approach was also shown to full effect last night when Mary shimmied into an orange fleece. This was one of those TV moments where the only correct response is to bounce up and down on sofa, shout: “We love you even more, Mary” while twittering like crazy. Elsewhere in this outfit: simple grey dress, pendant-on-a-rope, sunglasses and slim leather jacket with concertina collar combine to full fashiony effect
Photograph: BBC

Pointy Mary: Love this grey jersey jacket with its peak-like shoulders boasting a leather front fastener, pleats and a lovely swingy shape. The bottom half of the outfit is sensibly left to breathe – simple, plain, dark and with stompy heels. The burst of colourful beads naturally gives the neckline a fun boost
Photograph: BBC

Mary Queen of Prints: In one of the finest scenes of the series, Mary has her angular hairdo washed, her long booted legs neatly arranged in front of the basin while she chats/interrogates the women next to her before turning attentions to the hair washer. She's not given a towel, so she drips across the shop floor and is duly rather cross. Her hair is then blown dry by salon owner John Peers. But it's blown into an “average bob” not a “choppy” one. Oh dear. The Vivienne Westwood print dress with big link necklace meanwhile was another series outfit highlight, keeping true to Mary's bold approach
Photograph: BBC

If the scarf swooshes: Mary has many, many scarves – a lot are by Louis Vuitton, and a lot are leopard print. They always add a final theatrical flourish while softening up some of the harder lines of Mary's wardrobe. Plus of course they keep her warm and jolly when she's bombing down the motorway. Top scarf wearing moment: “See that shoe with a snail on the front – it is just the most hideous sight I've ever seen in a shop window.” If while watching you weren't so sidetracked by the words that followed this sentence, which included “utter” and “shite”, you may have spotted another nippy leather jacket appearance and those sand-coloured Pierre Hardy Gap chunky-heeled boots that sold out like hot cakes earlier this year. Oh do keep up
Photograph: BBC

Country Mary: No OTT tweed-deerstalker-type tomfoolery for our Mary when she hits the pheasant shoot, to show a pair of village shopkeepers how to get down with the locals. Cue her resplendent in Hunter wellington boots, leather jacket, a long blue silk shirt and black trousers. Respect
Photograph: BBC