Some people, apparently effortlessly, manage to look polished and ladylike on almost every occasion. They’re the ones that would make a garbage bag look good…or its sartorial equivalent, the bridesmaid dress. Others, myself included, rarely manage polished…and, on the rare occasion that the stars align, are guaranteed to be the victim of a random gust of wind (or snagged pair of stockings) that will make them look like they’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards within about 5 seconds of leaving the house.

With this in mind, my personal preference is to go the jolie laide route by choice. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade…when life is going to make you a little tousled and rumpled, go for the disheveled look on purpose. Which is why, when faced with the prim perfection of yesterday’s pleated jersey skirt my automatic response is to reach for a pair of DKNY distressed tights.