it’s all in the finishing touches

Many an outfit can be transformed with the right accessories. They can also help to bring something very last season right back on trend.

A prime example of this is the belt. Previously this is not an accessory I concerned myself with as I didn’t see the point in something you didn’t see however now with the rise in popularity of the cinch belt I am certainly a belt convert. Take any empire line top, tunic or dress of spring/summer 2007, add a coordinating cinch belt and it changes the whole look of that outfit. Also you can take a plain tee and make it look much funkier with this simple additional of a belt.

Another great accessory is the bag. I love how much this can change an outfit. Something quite formal can be dressed down with a big slouch bag and something quite simple can be glammed up with a sequin clutch.

And finally, give a little room in your accessory drawer for the wide array of patterned and coloured tights available. A great way to make summer outfits more suitable for our changeable weather, whilst still looking stylish.

Dressing up for spring

Spring is a confusing time fashion wise. What should you wear outside when the weather is so unpredictable? How can you keep warm and still look good? It is all too easy to feel that the sun will never appear, and fall into the trap of thinking that dull weather means wearing dull clothes to match. However, it is possible to choose practical outdoor clothing that will keep you warm outdoors, and still look stylish. There is no need to either hide away in dark tones, so that you blend in with the grey skies, or shiver in bright but flimsy clothes more suited to the summer.

The ever-popular raincoat is absolutely perfect for the variable spring climate. Obviously, it is designed for wet weather, but also keeps out the cold. The raincoat, however, combines practicality with style. For that Parisian touch, accessorise with a beret (best avoided if it makes you look more like Benny Hill than Audrey Hepburn). Black is always stylish; try swapping the belt for another, contrasting one (if you buy a belt for this purpose, take the coat with you so that you can be sure that the belt will fit through the loops). A plain raincoat can also be jazzed up with colourful accessories, such as gloves, but you could consider a coat in a different colour, such as bright red, which would certainly cheer up a dull rainy day.

There can be cold winds in spring, and this is where scarves come into their own. Not only are they useful as a fashion accessory, but also add a practical touch. If by some miracle the sun comes out, they can be easily removed and stored in your bag, without taking up much space. Avoid the heavy winter version; instead, choose a lighter alternative. These are fabulous for a stylish spring outfit, as the variety of scarves available is endless. They can also be very inexpensive, which means that you can have a small collection without spending a fortune. In addition, scarves are a versatile item and can be tied in many different ways, or even used as a belt.

Hats are also a great way of keeping warm and are a much underrated accessory that deserves more attention. Most people can find a style to suit them, and it is well worth going to a hat department and spending some time trying on different styles to see what suits you. At the other end of the body, boots still have their place in the winter wardrobe. Wear with fitted trousers or jeans on days when it looks like rain, or under wider-legged trousers on dry days. If knee-length boots are too warm for your legs, ankle boots will still keep your feet dry on rainy days.

Novelty or classic cufflinks?

Novelty cufflinks are the new novelty tie and offices up and down the country are full of men wearing shirts cuffed together by Micky Mouse or Bart Simpson. Whilst these cufflinks may seem like a good idea and a great way to show off your wacky character, in reality they really don’t cut the mustard!

Although being the office joker can be fun, this is best shown through whitty banter and the odd joke here and there. Many a decent shirt has been let down by completely inappropriate accessories!

No – it’s a fact that classic cufflinks are still the way to go. Nothing quite shows the elegance of male dress like a decent pair of cufflinks. Whether it’s gold or silver, a simple yet elegant pair of cufflinks works wonders in finishing of a man’s dress.

And so, remember next time you are getting dressed – classics are the way to go. No more Micky!

Wet weather wellies

Healthy children are active and boisterous by nature, even in the worst weather. They need footwear that can stand up to the rigours of rough and tumble play and keep their feet protected.  Wellington boots have been around for ages. Commonly known as ‘wellies’, they used to be produced only in black rubber. They were very inexpensive and so affordable by all.

Nowadays, besides being manufactured from vulcanised rubber, they are also made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which makes them quite cheap to produce.  They are not designed to be worn as an everyday shoe so come in a very basic one-shape-fits-all style. They are easy to keep clean, requiring just a quick wipe over with a damp cloth, and they never seem to wear out; for this reason, they are great to hand down from one child to another. With prices today starting at around £5 for a pair, they are extremely good value for money and guaranteed to keep the feet dry in the heaviest of rain.

These days wellies are still cheap but the choice of design is huge.  Besides still being available in black or khaki, they also come in bright colours and patterns.  Some of them have faces on the tops of the toes; a popular one looks like a frog.  Some of them have a cuff at the top that can be turned over to cover the top of the boot. They have thick hard-wearing soles and reinforced toes.

Wellies are ideal in wet weather and great for splashing about in puddles and streams. They are made from hard-wearing but flexible rubber which makes sure they are comfortable, and they have plenty of room inside to be able to wear a thick pair of socks.  It’s very important to remember that wellies do not provide any warmth to the feet so they are not practical to wear in really cold weather. Some of them have an in-built lining but these will still not protect the feet from the cold.

Wellington boots were first popularised in the time of the 1^st Duke of Wellington; he wanted his everyday 18^th century boots to be made waterproof and hardy enough for battle, yet comfortable to wear when relaxing.   Wellingtons, as they came to be known, were the height of fashion at the time, especially amongst the aristocracy.

Wellies are quite lightweight so are ideal for those days when the journey to school has to take place in heavy rain. They are easy for children to carry and, because they are so flexible, they are easy to squash down to fit inside a school bag. Wellies are also fun – children find it irresistible to jump up and down in puddles when they are wearing them, knowing that their feet won’t get wet. All in all, they are great for children and good value for their parents.

Pay for premium

If you are really serious about hiking a premium jacket is certainly worth the extra cost. A good hiking jacket has two main requirements. Firstly it must protect you from the elements. This could be rain, wind, hail and snow. Secondly it has to protect you from your own body moisture (sweat) and not hold it against your body. To do these two vital jobs the material the jacket is made from has to be lightweight, waterproof and breathable. The inner lining should be made from a soft fabric that is gentle to the skin and does not rub or itch.  The underarms on top quality jackets are normally ventilated and allow air in whilst remaining watertight.

Most hiking jackets have removable hoods and many have lots of concealed zipped pockets that are handy for keeping other essential equipment such as maps and your mobile phone. Some jackets have a reflective trim for added safety.

Cheap fashion jackets tend to be bulky and heavy rather than lightweight and are not as weather resistant. You may find that it leaks especially around the zip. Also the fabric is less likely to be breathable and if the weather turns warm you may find yourself feeling clammy, sweaty and uncomfortable.

Whether you decide to spend a lot of money on a really high quality jacket probably depends on how often you plan to go hiking and if you intend to go in colder weather. If it is something you intend to do on a regular basis as a pastime it is definitely worth the extra money to buy a high quality jacket rather than a cheap one. You may be able to buy a good one online and save yourself a few pounds but check that it is a genuine make and not a fake.

You will be glad you paid the extra money if the weather turns bad.

Webtogs are a new company which sells outdoor clothing and camping equipment. They sell brand-name footwear, Berghaus jackets, tents and rucksacks. They also have a ‘carbon neutral delivery’ policy in place. With your order you can pay an extra 25p, that Webtogs matches, which goes to Carbon Footprint to offset CO2 emissions.