How to dress like a grown up with Shane Watson: Why I’ll never fall out of love with jumpsuits...
- Shane Watson shares advice for embracing this season's jumpsuits trend
- She suggests pairing with jewellery and heels for wearing after a day at work
- British style expert reveals a selection of High Street stores offering the look
Yes we are talking about jumpsuits. Again. Because, if there were an award for a fashion that’s made the journey from ‘item worn by edgy young people’ to ‘grown-up women’s wardrobe staple’ then the jumpsuit would get it in 2021.
The jumpsuit hasn’t just come a long way in the past couple of years, it’s broken down doors and muscled into every situation. Now you can wear a jumpsuit to a party, the office, or to a wedding (not the same one, of course). In a small branch of Whistles the other day I counted six styles, all geared towards a different occasion.
Not to show off, but I’ve always loved a jumpsuit — the most effortless ‘dressed up without being dressed up’ option that’s ever come along, in my opinion.
Back in the late 1970s, I was wearing a khaki flying suit; in the 1980s it was purple wool or parachute silk. I never lost faith when they crashed out of the fashion charts and, during the lean decades, I made a point of hunting them down, even buying them in twos, knowing I’d wear one out and need another.
Shane Watson takes inspiration from Heidi Klum (pictured) for embracing this season's jumpsuits trend at any occasion
Well, no need for jumpsuit stockpiling any more. My collection currently stands at seven, including two bought recently from Me+Em. One is a khaki utility jumpsuit: soft, belted, with two breast pockets and ribbed cuffs. The other is dark blue superfine cord.
And I’m now eyeing up a wide-legged, floral one that’s both more summery and dressier (£295, meandem.com).
Jumpsuits are like dresses — each has its own niche appeal and you soon find you need more than one.
The only downside to this jumpsuit takeover is that there are a lot of them out there that look alike. Your best bet for now is to avoid black, and while khaki is always a good choice, try cream or light pink for a change.
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For me, strictly utilitarian — collarless, loose fit, and rigid fabric — is out. I like my ‘utility’ soft and skewed in the direction of sexy. Otherwise, I have six rules:
1 Foremost, fit: we’ve covered this, but to repeat, a waist — usually gathered at the back, not a drawstring — is essential. Without it, you’ll look like you’re wearing a onesie and your husband will take against it. Check your rear view: a jumpsuit that looks good from the front often looks bad from the back, usually because it’s too fitted.
Jumpsuits must not be tight or too short in the body. You think you need them to be fitted around the hips, but the opposite is true: this look depends on just the right amount of looseness.
2 Beware fancy dress. A while back I bought a snug-fit denim jumpsuit that was super flattering but made me feel like a wannabe extra in Austin Powers. Never wore it.
3 Hardware. A biker’s jacket makes me look hard and old. The same applies to jumpsuits bristling with zips. A concealed front zip or buttons are infinitely more flattering.
4 Fabric. Lyocell or Tencel work best for summer and are less crushable than cotton. And summer is the time to try a print. How about navy with a white lightning bolt print (£59, sonderstudio.co.uk) that will work ‘from nine ’til wine’?
5 For smarter occasions jumpsuits dress up incredibly easily, providing no zips are involved. Short sleeves work, but I like them best with wide-legged styles. For an evening jumpsuit, think Garbo: no pockets, no zips plenty of swoosh in the legs. Iris does one in cream and green print (£195, irisfashion.co.uk).
Talking of prints, Heidi Klum was seen in a floral jumpsuit by Zimmermann (now £489, net-a-porter.com, above). Mad money, but it did remind us that a pretty jumpsuit can take you to a wedding with heels and a hat. For something similar, try a Diane von Furstenberg red floral wide-leg one (£270, theoutnet.com).
6 An extra tweak. You won’t make an entrance in a navy linen number. If your goal is not to blend in (and it is), try a puff sleeve or bold colour . . . something different.
