Give your shirt a sexy look with a skirt! Combine this season’s tailoring with a must-wear maxi for an instant wardrobe upgrade

With this autumn’s return to tailoring – from oversized suits at Gucci to smart chic at Dior – it was inevitable that the shirt would also have its moment.

Not as girly as a blouse, not as casual as a T-shirt, a good blouse gives your outfit a daring that requires you to be taken seriously.

But how do you wear a button-up without looking a little… buttoned up? Isn’t the no-nonsense look a bit shabby?

Not when you throw in one of the hottest maxi or midi skirts of the season, a quietly quirky touch (be it clever accessories or sharp details) and an air of confidence that doesn’t take hold.

This doesn’t go back to the old cliché of the sexy secretary, or even the deliberately sleazy librarian. Shirt and skirt are the same as the new power dressing.

And it’s here to stay.

Body RIPPER

The shirt and tie combo is a huge trend for fall, but it can look plain, especially in the season’s monochrome palettes.

One way to have fun with it is to subvert the stiffness of classic menswear with delicate fabrics, like with this flowing Mint Velvet shirt, which has a cleverly integrated tie. Combine with a feminine corset-like bodice and long skirt for a catwalk-worthy look that is definitely not masculine.

NIGHTS IN GREEN SATIN

Remember those slim-fit satin Tom Ford-for-Gucci shirts from the 1990s?

Well, they’re back, and they’re just as sneaky.

Shirt, £29.99, mango. com; turtleneck, £70, daiwear.com; skirt, £79.99, zara.com; earrings, £290, theysso.com

Instead of pairing this green Mango shirt with a retro pantsuit, try a more punky-preppy look for winter, with a contrast polo collar underneath and a full kilt-style skirt, with buckles visible.

Wear a pair of statement gold earrings and you will leave no doubt that you are the one wearing the pants.

PURE PERFECTION

When you walk around in a flowy satin polka dot skirt, like this beauty from Serena Bute, you don’t want to look like a flamenco dancer. The answer is a tight, fitted shirt, but made of a transparent fabric that keeps it feminine.

Shirt, £125, meandem.com; high-neck top, £35.99, zara.com; skirt, £325, serenabutelondon.com; shoes, £85, dunelondon.com; ring, £38, orelia.co.uk

This custom-shrunk look is given a fashionable touch with the polo collar top underneath – another ’90s favorite that’s made a comeback, along with the faux croc snaffle loafers.

STAR IN SILKY STRIPES

Shirts are flattering, but a vertical stripe gives a real slimming effect.

Shirt, £130, with nothing underneath. com; skirt, £270, cefinn.com; necklace, £75 and ring, £38, orelia.co.uk

Wearing it with a smart skirt you’d expect this to look dowdy, but a silky soft fabric, a neckline just low enough, a quirky contrast cuff, a choker and a blingy ring make this outfit look thoughtful and stylish, with a prim-but-sexy silhouette.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

If a standard shirt is a little too mundane for you, this 1940s-style one from Mint Velvet is an ultra-feminine option, with its oversized collar, sheepskin sleeves and chic black buttons.

Shirt, £119, mintvelvet.com; skirt, £355, Iris & Ink at theoutnet.com; boots, £149.99, mango. com; bag, £325, kaai.eu; earrings £290, theysso.com

A buttery leather handbag and big, statement earrings look luxurious, but why not subvert that retro elegance with something a little more rock-and-roll, like a shiny black leather midi skirt and knee-length boots?

ruffled feathers

While a simple white shirt is a daytime classic, it can also look great for an evening, as this Zara version shows, with its lime green ostrich feathers adding a touch of ironic glamor to what is usually an icon of simplicity.

Shirt, £79.99 and shoes, £35.99, zara.com; skirt, £395, wiggykit.com; earrings, £390, theysso.com; ring, £38, orelia.co.uk

Wear with a full skirt in Dior style or opt for the green in the pattern of this quilted skirt: completely trendy with its maxi A-line silhouette.