Scarves. Rather than an afterthought on your way out the door, make sure your scarf adds to your outfit, helping to bring together the sum of its parts. If like me you have a fairly extensive collection of scarves, pick out either the exact colours from your outfit or go for similar tones. For example, mum’s scarf picks up many of the colours she is wearing, whereas I have gone for complementary tones in the same palette. Harmony, not discourse is the aim of the game.

I should probably mention here that one of the easiest routes to chic winter dressing is for your coat and scarf to match exactly. It is a super simple style hack for women on the go. So, if your coat is navy, wear a navy scarf, if it is pale blue, then wear a pale blue scarf. Time is not always on my side, I am often thinking of simple ways to look stylish but with minimal effort..

If you want to go all out, then wear a jumper in the same colour too. Maybe that sounds like a lot but trust me, it looks chic every time (particularly in navy, grey, cream and beige).

The scarves we’re wearing here are by the brilliant Tartan Blanket Co. They are becoming certified B-Corp which means that as a business they are meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. 2% of every purchase will go back to helping the planet and those in need.

They also have great designs which are fairly priced. Their new Spring collection (of which mum and I are wearing) is made up of the most beautiful and vibrant colours. Perfect for a cover up on crisp Spring mornings or chilly summer evenings.

For those of you that have followed Graham St for a while, you will know that mum and I love a little jacket. So easy to throw on and look ready to go. This softly padded jacket is by a lovely brand called Nadinoo. Nadia, the founder and designer, makes clothes that are simple and comfortable to the highest standard, with a creative process revolving around a core commitment to be as kind to the earth as possible. If you visit Nadinoo’s small but beautifully presented shop in Oakham, Rutland (the smallest county in the country and the last to have a MacDonalds) you are likely to find Nadia cutting and sewing the pieces by hand. It is a shop that always smells delicious.

This dusty pink jacket is reversible, with a gorgeous gingham fabric inside. At a time when many of us are trying to buy less, to be able to wear the same jacket in two distinct ways is fantastic.

Genevieve Sweeney knitwear is designed and produced in the UK. It is another brand that is committed to doing things differently, keeping slow fashion as the driving force behind the business and design choices. The jumper that I am wearing here is astonishingly soft. It has a turtle neck and a turquoise band at the cuffs and on the hem. It is little details like these which stand Genevieve’s designs out from the crowd, as well as her excellent sustainability credentials.

I have showcased some really fantastic brands in this post, who are not only creating lovely garments but are also trying to minimise the impact the manufacture of their clothes has on our planet. It is not always easy to buy well and avoid fast fashion, as better tends to mean more expensive. But on the other hand, throw away fashion represents such false economy. I am an advocate for buying less, and buying better. However, if you cannot afford to invest in these brands then I believe that the best way to shop on the highstreet is with the same level of consideration. I know I spend as much time thinking about whether I need a £19.99 top in my wardrobe as I would a £150 one.

Buying second hand is also a very affordable way of reducing your impact on the planet. There are some absolutely amazing sites these days from Vinted to Reluxe fashion. I would like to write a whole post on vintage fashion at some stage so I will leave it at that for now.