Time to dial up your signature style sex and… THE CONVERTS

My personal signifier? A gold lion chain necklace

FASHION COLUMNIST AND INFLUENCER JOANNE HEGARTY

One of my favourite expressions from the world of fashion – or Confusing Planet Fashion, as my son calls it – is the term ‘personal style signifier’.

This is a wonderfully fancy phrase for an item you wear consistently and is your individual style marker. It is something specific and unique that sets you apart from the rest and which others notice immediately about you.

For example, if you live in the countryside, maybe you always wear a pair of pink socks peeping out of the top of your Penelope Chilvers waterproof boots. Or if you love jewellery, you are never without a statement necklace – or, in Anna Wintour’s case, a few. Have you ever noticed how the

US Vogue chief layers the same crystal necklaces with almost everything she wears? They are (as well as her sunglasses, of course) her personal style signifiers. Similarly, French influencer Jeanne Damas, owner of the Paris store Rouje, is rarely seen without a strong red lip.

My own personal style signifiers are my vintage gold thumb ring from Cartier and my thick gold lion chain necklace by Chlobo. I rarely take them off.

With December a month where we all dress a little more fancifully, it’s the perfect time for strong personal style signifiers to really come into their own. Here are a few of my favourites...

Polish up your gold

It’s the festive season and, for me, that means one thing: gold sandals, which I pair with all my party outfits. For a great choice of glittering heels – at bargain prices – keep an eye on the pre-christmas sales at Matches Fashion and Net-a-porter. My love of a seasonal golden touch goes for bags, too, with my dark leather standbys replaced with shimmering sequined and metallic clutches. To bagsy some shiny picks, check out French brand Ba&sh or, on the high street, try Zara and & Other Stories.

do a dash of red

December demands an eye-catching pop of red and one of my go-to ways of doing this is to artfully drape a red jumper or scarf over a coat or shirt. It adds an instant bright festive layer to your daytime winter look.

work a white blazer

Nothing looks more Christmas chic than a simple white blazer. For me, it’s a December staple, which I like to pair with silk or satin shirts, black leather or sequined trousers. A white blazer will also add polish – and extra warmth – over a party dress and looks particularly elegant teamed with a simple LBD. Another benefit is that a white blazer also goes beautifully with metallics.

Onthesetof season two of And Just Like That, the Sex and the City sequel, Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) standout wardrobe pieces are... upcycled, or, as their designer Kate Mcguire calls them, ‘converted’. ‘I like things that are unique,’ says Mcguire, ‘so I have converted clothes all my life.’ My favourite pieces to watch out for? A 1960s flight suit and a flared jumpsuit (above) – formerly a 1980s lace wedding dress.

SET THE BLING TONE GILDED PLEASURES