Ready to wear: Give 'em the bold shoulder

One-shoulder tops, where did this trend come from? It is our duty, of course, to show you the major looks, but this is one I am not impressed with. Who can wear them apart from the very young, slim/toned and small of bosom? You can wear a multi-way bra of course, but unless you have quite a small bust - in which case you can probably forgo a bra for once - they just don't work. Then you get that flabby bit of skin under your arms, that most women get unless they're really fortunate, and that doesn't look great with OSTs. I think exposing one shoulder is a cute idea, it looks great on fashion pages and it might just work for evening. But if you wear one to work, take your sense of humour with you.

(Top) Navy stretch top, pounds 55, Kevan Jon, Sub Couture, 224 Kensington Park Road, London W11, 0171 229 5434, and Clothes Trunk, 4th Floor, Lewis, 106 Market Place, Manchester. Enquiries: 01484 456312. White trousers, pounds 25, Etam, 484 Oxford Street, London W1, and 34-35 Bond Street, Leeds. Enquiries 0171 494 7732

(Left) Grey silk chiffon top, pounds 97, Ghost, 13-14 Hinde Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0181 960 3121

(Right) One-shoulder pattern top, pounds 185, Iceberg, from Selfridges, Oxford Street, London, and Maxxi, 162 Fenwick Road, Glasgow, 0141 6203133. Silver-grey trousers, pounds 210, Owen Gastor, Pellicano, 63 South Molton Street, London W1, 0171 629 2205. White wedges mules, pounds 46.99, Office, 57 Neal Street, London WC2. 43 Kensington High Street, London, W8. Enquiries: 0181 838 4447

(Far left) White cotton top, pounds 12.99, River Island Clothing, 124-126 Kensington High Street, London W8, and 27 High Street, Meadow Hall Centre, Sheffield. Enquiries: 0181 998 8822. Navy stripe pencil skirt, pounds 185, navy mules, pounds 120, both Katharine Hamnett, 20 Sloane Street, London SW1, 0171 823 1002, and 38 Princes Square, Glasgow, 0141 248 3827

(Left) Black one-shoulder viscose jersey dress, pounds 346, Rifat Ozbek, Browns, 22-27 South Molton Street, London W1, and Changing Room, 8 High Street, Tonbridge Wells, Kent, and Chantelle, 10 Cambridge Walk, Southport, Lancs. Enquiries: 0171 408 0625. Black leather wedges, pounds 49.99, Office, as before

photographs JANINE WILKS

assisted by SARAH GREENWOOD

styled by ZOE BROWN

assisted by SARAH JANE WHITFIELD

hair & make-up CHARLIE PICHON for AVEDA

model EMMA LIBOTTE at MODELS ONE