Five winter pieces I wear until March

Every winter I promise myself I will not buy more, and every winter the same five pieces do most of the work anyway. Here they are, and why.

The wool coat

A belted wool coat that ends just below the knee. Camel, grey or black, with as little going on as possible: no big buttons, no contrast trim. The belt is what makes it work over a dress and over jeans alike, because it gives the coat a waist whatever is underneath. On me, at 176 cm, just below the knee means the hem clears a long boot and a midi skirt. Shorter, and it fights with everything.

A knit with a polo collar

The collar is the whole point. It does what a shirt collar does, without the shirt, so a plain jumper looks decided rather than thrown on. I wear it as a dress, as a top, as a long-sleeved knit under the coat. Black, white, dark red and grey are the ones I reach for. Beige and brown when the rest of the outfit is dark.

The long silk skirt

The one piece here that feels like dressing up while being as comfortable as pyjamas. Cream, black, brown or dark red. With a chunky knit it is a Tuesday. With a blouse and the suede boots it is dinner. The trick is the weight of what goes on top: the heavier the knit, the more everyday the outfit.

An off-the-shoulder knit

A cardigan or a dress that sits just off the shoulders. It shows a little collarbone and nothing else, which is why it reads as dressed up without trying, and it is still a knit, so it is warm. This is my evening piece in winter, when a dress would be too cold and a jumper too plain.

Suede boots in chocolate brown

Pointed toe, the shaft a little higher than the ankle. Brown rather than black, because brown is softer against camel and cream and still works with black. These finish everything else on this list, which is the reason they are on it.

That is the whole winter, more or less. Five pieces, most of the mornings.