Crinkled silk tunic with wool panels and wide-leg trousers

A two-piece in one fabric and two textures. The tunic is a boxy short-sleeved cocoon in navy crinkled silk shantung, gathered into a knot of pleats at the centre of the waist so the front hangs in two long asymmetric points. Charcoal felted wool is set in as panels: a band on each sleeve hem, a wedge down each side seam and the whole of the back hem. Underneath, wide-leg trousers in the same crinkled navy silk, floor-length and uncreased.

This is what to wear to walk a market on an overcast morning when you want to look considered without looking dressed. Flat shoes, a hand free for the coffee, the sleeves short enough to show both arms. In spring it goes over a vest; in autumn the wool panels earn their keep and a long coat goes over the lot. The trousers also work alone with a plain black knit.

I bought nothing. I was, as usual, the most interesting thing on the street.