Workwear to formal wear; and ankle boots are back

Your fashion conundrums solved. This week — how to go seamlessly from work to a restaurant. Plus: ankle boots are back.

TWAM-20150411 EMBARGO FOR TWAM Glynis Traill Nash Dinkus wide pic : TWAM

I’m looking for a dress to do double duty from desk to dinner. Any suggestions?

Finding the ideal dress for any work or social situation is an eternal quest. Some, such as Leona Edmiston (leonaedmiston.com), base their business model on it — although her latest super-feminine designs are probably more in the dinner-date category. If you like workwear on the minimal side, I’ve got something that fits the bill: Jac + Jack’s Perry dress (in black; jacandjack.com). It’s made from ponte knit, which gives a streamlined silhouette; it is midi length, perfect for the day job, but with the addition of great heels it will whisk you off for cocktails in a heartbeat. It will even extend to weekend wear worn with Adidas Superstars or similar. Now that’s a wardrobe workhorse.

Is there a must-have shoe for this season? As we approach winter there is one that stands above all others: the ankle boot. It doesn’t stand too high, mind. This season it’s all about the flat(tish) ankle boot, including the elasticated riding boot and going as far as the lace-up biker boot, although this time around the latter is a little more streamlined. You’ll wear them with everything — skirts and dresses of every length, cropped trousers and jeans. There are many to choose from, with small blocky heels or lower, from brands including Acne, Alexander Wang, Saint Laurent, Charlotte Olympia (net-a-porter.com) and Australian brand Beau Coops (beaucoops.com). They’ll keep you kicking style goals this season and beyond.

[e-mail]