WARDROBE MISTRESS AT HARVEY NICHOLS

Last night Colin McDowell and I hosted a special readers evening at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge. We talked about trends and shared fashion gossip then invited people to ask us questions. It ended up being a live Wardrobe Mistress session. Here is what the readers wanted to know.

Q I’m on the short side. What boots should I wear to make my legs look longer?

A Regular ankle boots will shorten your leg and give you a stunted look so go for a low cut bootie, or shoe-boot, which shows your ankles. A platform, however small with give you extra height and have that elongating effect. I love Christian Louboutin’s fringe fronted booties and no, they are not comfortable, no high heels really are.

Q I’m over sixty. Where should I shop on the high street?

A Not everything in Zara is right for you but if you choose carefully, you will come away with some great pieces. The tailoring is especially good. You can find fabulous coats and jackets and the classic mac is one of the best on the high street. Zara also have a really nice pair of narrow trousers in-store at the moment. Jigsaw has some good things now. The brand was descending into droopy, dreary hell, but it has upped the fashion quotient. I also really rate Cos. The clothes are grown up, well designed and made from good quality materials. They also have a fashion edge. It is especially good for T-shirts, knits and trousers. www.cosstores.co.uk

Q Why do designers make expensive clothes that can only be worn by very young women? Older women, who could afford the clothes, might not be able to wear them because so many of the dresses are sleeveless. When you are older, you feel self-conscious about your arms. What do you suggest?

A Go and look at Donna Karan. Her clothes are very considerate and woman friendly but are also very sophisticated. For autumn/winter, she has some slinky dresses that have long sleeves. www.donnakaran.com   Claudia Croft