If you have picked up a magazine, or indeed been into a clothes shop over the last year, you will have seen that blazers are everywhere. I think that for many of us that don’t work in an office, blazers can be a garment that we overlook- maybe a bit too formal, or a bit stiff for more casual environments. I know that I don’t have many blazers in my wardrobe. However, my interest has been piqued over the last few months as I see more and more people looking fab – and casual – in one. For a more informal look, the trick is to treat the blazer more like a jacket (or lightweight coat) so you are looking for fabrics that are heavy and textured- either a heavyweight wool (like this one) or herringbone/tweed (like the one that mum is wearing). The fit needs to be roomy enough to fit a chunky knit underneath and jeans keep the look relaxed. As we move into spring (hurrah!) this is probably all you would need but whilst it’s still chilly, a coat over the top looks tres chic.

Another great scarf from & Other Stories! This one is comprised of a very fine knit (so not silky in texture). It is black and soft yellow so it matches beautifully with the pale yellow jumper from Arket. I often mention getting the shape of your knitwear right when wearing over an over-sized shirt – this jumper would be perfect. It is boxy in shape so it wouldn’t pull on the shirt at the bottom. The shape is also perfect for that all ubiquitous ‘French tuck’ (tucking just the front part of your top into the waistband of your trousers). I used to love the French tuck (it is a great way of creating a bit of shape to an otherwise loose fitting outfit) however I am averse to anything that looks too overly contrived and so when every model on every website of every brand has the French tuck, it can start to feel a bit, well, tucked out.

These jeans are by Kin at John Lewis and are such lovely quality. They are made from a thick denim, fit neatly on the waist, loose in the leg and taper at the ankle. For those of you that have been following Graham St for a while, you will know that I love this shape very much! Even if you don’t have the slimmest of waists, it creates the illusion of one as the stiff denim goes in and out in the right places. The black of the denim is so dark that these jeans could definitely be worn for a smarter occasion in the evening too. They would look lovely with a blouse tucked in and a belt, and black pumps on your feet.

I have gone for pattern overload with this jumper and matching cardigan. Lots of print is great but the trick is to keep the rest of your outfit more neutral. Having said that, I have thrown a striped shirt in for good measure but as I have mentioned before, you can treat stripes as a ‘neutral’. The knitwear is from Boden. I have noticed quite a few lovely bits on there recently (they have come a long way from their jersey wrap dresses of old). This jumper and cardigan are comprised of a really pretty colour combination, baby blue and ochre, perfect for Spring! Boden’s delivery and returns service are excellent, as is their customer service generally, which is a massive tick in the box from me. Try and hold out for their sales as there is usually a good discount to be had if you’re patient!