Ten Looks from the Front Row, Decoded

The front row is a particular kind of theatre. You are dressed to be seen, but also to sit still for forty minutes in a draught. These ten outfits managed both.

1. The long cardigan over a shirt dress. Soft on soft, with a belt to give it a waist.
2. Wide trousers and a fitted knit. The proportion that never goes out of style.
3. A leather jacket with a satin skirt. Rough against smooth, always.
4. A single colour, head to toe. Cream, in this case, with different textures.
5. A man’s coat, worn long. Borrowed, deliberately oversized, belted if necessary.
6. Flat shoes with everything. The most striking shift of the season.
7. A scarf as the only accessory. Large, wool and knotted loosely.
8. Denim on denim, with a difference. Two shades, never matching.
9. The tailored shorts. Worn with tights, boots and total conviction.
10. The old favourite. A coat or a bag that was clearly ten years old and looked all the better for it.

The pattern is that nobody looked new. The most admired outfits looked as though they had been put together slowly, over time, from things that were loved.