Burgundy and rust pleated satin top with zip tweed skirt

The top is pleated satin cut down the middle: burgundy on one side, rust on the other, joined under a neckline of crossing straps that leave two small keyholes. The puff sleeves are gathered into a tight cuff at the wrist, so all the volume sits at the shoulder. Below it, a charcoal herringbone tweed pencil skirt with an exposed gold zip running diagonally across the front; open, it shows a fan of pleated charcoal satin.

It is an office-to-dinner outfit that skips the office. Late lunch that turns into an early dinner, a table near the bar, a notepad for lists nobody else will read. Autumn and winter, with fine black tights or none, and a pointed pump. The two colours on top are warm enough that the grey below never looks dull.

The zip is decorative. Mostly.