H&M navy suede ankle boots

THE SHOES: H&M navy suede ankle boots,£49.99

I love navy. Possibly even more than I love black, actually. They’re both great, versatile colours, and the backbone of many a wardrobe, but I personally find navy a little less harsh against my pale skin – especially at this time of year, when I can start to look positively ghostly from lack of daylight.

I know quite a few people who share my love of black’s kinder-to-the-complexion cousin, but unfortunately shoe designers don’t seem to have quite cottoned on, so navy shoes and boots can be hard to find. They’re definitely out there, though, and these suede ankle boots from H&M are just one of the pairs I’ve spotted lately. H&M really seem to have picked up their shoe game lately: I used to more or less ignore their shoe department, because the footwear wasn’t always the greatest quality, but this year has seen quite a few pairs in real leather, which is a nice surprise. These do have a slightly higher price point than we’ve come to expect from the brand, which reflects that, but at £50, I don’t think we can complain too much, and these look like a great pair of boots, which could work for both smart and casual occasions.

THE STYLE : dress // tights // scarf // watch

Oasis are currently selling this dress in mustard yellow, and colour-of-the-moment (and one of my personal favourites), forest green. I’ve gone for the yellow version here, which I think works really well with navy, but you can probably expect to see the green version popping up here too, sooner or later – if not in my own closet! This fit-and-flare shape never goes out of style, and, like the boots, can be easily dressed up or down as required. Just add a pair of navy tights to match the boots, and they’ll also help elongate the leg.