Harper's Bazaar UK March 2023

It’s impossible not to feel a lifting of the heart at this time of year, when the pale-green shoots pierce the earth, buds swell on the trees, and the dull palette of a winter garden is suddenly lifted by the emerging purple crocuses. My wardrobe undergoes a similar seasonal transformation, as heavy fabrics and deep shades give way to a lighter, breezier mood; there is a particular skirt I own, embroidered with tiny roses, that never fails to act on me like a sartorial elixir of joy. It seems appropriate, in our March fashion issue, to explore this particular power of clothes to inspire emotion, so on page 202, we ask style-setters from Amanda Harlech and Roland Mouret to the actress Hayley Atwell about the piece of clothing that changed…

HAYLEY ATWELL The actress has shone on both stage and screen, with Marvel’s action heroine Peggy Carter and Isabella in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure among the panoply of roles on her résumé. In ‘Narrative threads’, she discusses the power of costume to bring a character to life. The fashion epoch you’d like to revive ‘Anything goes: if you want to wear a bum bag or a cravat with mismatched socks, knock yourself out.’ Where do you go for a night on the town? ‘Facing Heaven in Hackney is unfussy and delicious. Apart from a great meal with friends, I like to try new things – next on my list is the roller disco Flipper’s in Shepherd’s Bush.’ Your most treasured belonging ‘A photograph of my grandmother in Kansas City as a teenager. She’s goofing…

1 THE POWER MOVE For a relaxed take on suiting, try matching your trousers with your top (the brighter, the better). A typically maverick Vivienne Westwood jacket finishes the look to perfection. Wool jacket, £1,300, Vivienne Westwood. Mock-neck jumper, £240; slim-cut trousers, £180, both Alpha Tauri. Calf-skin bag, £7,020, Hermès. Leather boots, £750, Malone Souliers 2 THE FLUID FORM Float into a promotion in Akris’ flowing, berry-hued look, which proves shoulder-pads are no longer a prerequisite for career success. Silk top, £ 1,350; matching skirt, £1,270, both Akris. Gold-plated earrings, £245; matching bracelet, £220 (both worn throughout), both Giovanni Raspini. Suede bag, £1,370, Brunello Cucinelli 3 THE CRIMSON COAT Select scarlet as your statement-making shade this spring, starting with this exuberant trench. Silk coat, £595, Herno. Linen top, £1,100; matching shorts, from a selection, both Tory Burch. Calf-skin…

Statement skirts Swish your way to sartorial success LYDIA SLATER Editor-in-chief ‘Whether patterned or plain, a simple architectural column or a fresh take on the New Look, a standout skirt is an effortless way to make an impression this season, and can be dressed up or down for maximum versatility.’ HOW TO WEAR IT ‘I’ll focus on creating contrast through the silhouette, wearing jackets or jumpers with long, slim styles, and pairing a full skirt with a simple T-shirt by day, or a crisp white shirt for the evening.’ Ever after Eternally elegant styles for the perfect trans-seasonal wardrobe HOW TO WEAR IT ‘I’ll choose pieces I want to wear for ever, focusing on luxe fabrics and exquisite quality. “Buy the best you can afford” might be a fashion cliché, but this really is a season for investment.’ AVRIL MAIR Group luxury…

‘EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, I’ve had an opinion on what I wanted to wear,’ says Ditte Reffstrup, the creative director behind the cult Danish brand Ganni. Today, she is dressed head-to-toe in her own designs: a frilly, oversize Peter Pan collar, a navy cotton jumper and iridescent gold jeans – all pieces that nod to her vision of ‘Copenhagen cool’, a kind of mismatched ease where practicality meets frivolity. As a child growing up in the small Danish fishing town of Hirtshals during the 1990s, Reffstrup would insist on choosing not only her own clothes – ‘I would hide under my bed until my mother let me’ – but those of her two older sisters, too. ‘I’ve always loved dressing people up,’ she says. ‘I was the one who told…

What single accessory can I buy that will make me look like I’m in the know on the front row? A statement bag still says it all – but after seasons of so much shrinking that the only thing that fits is a pair of AirPods, designers have blown up classic shapes to an almost surreal size. Nicolas Ghesquière’s wildly oversize pouches and luggage-tag bags might be the most fun you could have with luxury leather goods. How can I introduce a summer mood to my outfit without compromising on warmth? Given we’ll probably be wearing puffers and wellies past April, I’d suggest some styling tricks that nod to a new season rather than removing any clothes. Elbow-length gloves were an unexpected catwalk hit at Chanel and can already be found…