Cobalt puff-sleeve satin blouse with black leather trousers

The blouse is cobalt satin with a crinkled surface, a plain round neck and sleeves that balloon from the shoulder and narrow to a fitted forearm, the leg-of-mutton shape at its most committed. The body is cut close and finishes in an asymmetric point that sits over the waistband. The trousers are black leather, high-waisted and straight, with a centre seam down each leg and a horizontal seam at the knee that keeps them structured rather than slouchy.

It is a dinner look that also survives an office, which is the point of a blouse this loud over trousers this plain. Wear it with a pointed boot, the sleeves left full, and nothing on the neck to compete with the shoulder. The smartwatch and the bead bracelet are the only accessories.

The room was falling apart. The blouse was not. One of us has standards.