For any group of gals planning a ‘smart but casual’ occasion, be that cocktails with the girls, a date night for your fave food or even a daytime baby shower or birthday party – the dress code is always the same. Jeans and a nice top. Sounds so simple, right? WRONG. This is the most elusive outfit there has EVER been, with finding that ‘nice top’ a virtually impossible task that only the really lucky can achieve. And don’t even get me started on the jeans. It used to be the trusty skinny with a pair of heels, but these days I feel we’re moving towards the baggy quirks of the Mom, boyfriend and straight leg, with the good old skinny Joni jean (if you know, you know) taking a back seat in the wardrobe. When it comes to ‘jeans and a nice top’ I feel like good old trusty blue is usually the best choice (black or white will immediately dress up the outfit, which is handy if the occasion is a bit posher than your average denim). In my opinion, jeans and a nice top should always be paired with low-mid heels or a pair of heeled ankle boots (pointed toe elongates the legs FYI) to keep the outfit from being less footballer’s wives and more cute n quirky.

Now, onto the hard bit. The top. If you’re opting for a high-waisted pair of jeans (I always do) then you can either style with a little bralet or crop top with maybe an oversized blazer over the top (keep your shoes casual if this is the case) or you can go all out with a bright organza top, off-the shoulder or one-shoulder blouse (big earrings are a MUST in this case IMO) or even a boyfriend shirt, either tucked in and secured with a belt or left loose with the sleeves rolled up. A slogan tee is also ALWAYS an option but if you are looking to keep it casual on top, maybe lose the rips in the jeans and make your heel slightly higher (I’m thinking stiletto style pointed ankle boots) and don’t be scared to go a little bolder with a slight sparkle to your jewellery, a sleek topknot, oversized hoops and always a handheld tote or micro grab bag to soften the look. aaaand breathe.

In a nutshell, what I’m trying to say is that the jeans and a nice top scenario will forever be the answer. Dinner, drinks, birthday party, baby shower, hen do, you name it, it’s the girl code that we’ll all follow but never really, truly crack.