This month's high-street hottie
If there's one wardrobe staple no self-respecting fashionista should be without from autumn through to spring, it's a mac. After all, you can never tire of playing at being Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's whenever you venture out in a downpour, can you?
The rules? Well, it's got to be belted - or at least fitted at the waist. Yes, you may be wearing several layers underneath your mac in the dead of winter but a cinched-in waistline will still give you a sexy silhouette: remember, it's Holly Golightly, not Columbo, we're aiming for here!
Double-breasted versions with stiff collars look smartest. Pockets add detail but should never be bulging. Keep your gloves in your handbag when they're not on your hands! And the length? Super-short can look super-sexy - but knee-length is probably most practical. A skirt hemline peeping out from beneath your mac is so not attractive.
But that's where the fashion rules stop. When it comes to colour, you can opt for a classic Audrey-style beige: try Marks & Spencer's Per Una Debbie Stitch Mac (£69.50; www.marksandspencer.com).
Or check out the myriad of other shades available on the high street. M&S also do a drop-dead gorgeous satin mac in fabulous dark turquoise or magenta. H&M has a great mac in pillar-box red for just £34.99 (go to www.hm.com for your nearest store). And both Monsoon (www.monsoon.com) and Topshop (www.topshop.com) offer gorgeous purple versions.
As with all the best wardrobe staples, what's great about the mac is its incredible versatility. It goes with just about anything so you can wear it straight from desk to do - or dress it down with jeans and a jumper for weekend shopping trips. And if you feel the sudden need to up the glamour stakes, just pair it with sexy heels, satin gloves and red lipstick for instant sex appeal.
