Emma Sells

It happens every season without fail. An item crops up on the catwalks, a little bit out of the ordinary perhaps but it catches your eye. The model looks fabulous, cool, effortlessly put together (disregarding, of course, the team of stylists who have painstakingly put together her look backstage). How hard could it possibly be to wear? By the time it hits the high street, the fashion magazines have touted it as the hot new look and as soon as you spy one you disappear to the changing room as fast as your legs will carry you. Sadly the results are not quite as expected. Down right disappointing, in fact.

This is partly because most of us are not freakishly tall human coat-hangers who can carry any look off without looking completely ridiculous. However, nobody ever felt fatter because they were wearing a turban but how many of you rushed out to buy them in the winter? About three of you? Exactly. The biggest problem is that what looks fabulous and inventive in the fantasy world of fashion spreads doesn’t always transfer well onto the regional high streets of this world. It’s hard to keep your sartorial cool when your boyfriend starts laughing as soon as he sees you and drunken men in the street heckle you about your fancy dress choice. Trust me, I’ve been there.

This season’s rogue item is the all-in-one. In theory it’s a great idea – like a dress, you should be able to just throw it on with the perfect accessories and be good to go. In practice, however, I have a feeling that it’s going to take a lot of effort not to look like an escaped prisoner/apprentice mechanic (all be it in very up-market overalls). I have seen it work –in real life and everything. Just the other week there was a girl standing outside of my local wearing a vintage jumpsuit, looking every inch the cool kid. However, it’s only fair to point out that I leave in the East End where irony rules and the more outrageous your wardrobe choice the better you blend in. Anyway, in the interests of helping you lovely readers I will be selflessly trialling this trend, in public, during London Fashion Week to find out whether it’s possible to carry of the all-in-one without looking (and feeling) like a complete idiot. Want to find out what happens? Come back next week…