River Island skirt, H&M tee, Primark polo neck, H&M tights, Primark pumps, Miss Selfridge ring

Have you ever bought something so utterly wonderful you couldn’t wait to slip it on and strut your stuff? No matter that the ‘thing’ you bought was a pair of sequined knickers and it was a freezing cold January morning – you had to put them on because you just couldn’t wait for the next appropriate opportunity. Sound familiar?

Yes, well that was my feeling exactly when I opened my wardrobe this morning. I bought this gorgeous lace skirt in River Island for the grand old price of £7.50. I had been saving it for dinner and dancing, cocktails with girlfriends and sky high heels, but with a pittance in my pocket and a good few weeks ’til payday… well, let’s just say something this special shouldn’t be left high and dry.

There’s an art to dressing down – take it too far and you look mismatched and ‘bag lady goes to Topshop’. Too little and you look ready for a night on the town/shift on the street corner. What is it about wearing eveningwear during the daytime that just screams hooker? Hhmm. I knew today’s outfit had to be an exemplary example of the daytime dress down, so here are my top tips for making those after dark outfits work for the daily grind…

Let’s talk textiles
The skirt I picked out this morning is made from a heavy lace fabric with a full lining – it’s really luxurious. To balance this out, I chose a simple cotton tee and cotton polo neck which toned down the impact of the lace.

Tees please
A laidback, loose-fitting tee adds instant ‘can’t be bothered’ cool to an otherwise prim and proper outfit. Look for vintage prints and rock ‘n roll colours – you could even try customising your tee by slashing the neck or rolling up the sleeves.

Cocktail hour
Although they were once worn strictly after hours, the cocktail ring has made its daylight debut in a big way. Magpie girls should keep an eye out for interesting shapes, glimmering jewels and decadent colours.

Feet on the ground
The easiest way to turn your party piece into office attire? Swap heels for flats. Teamed with thick opaque tights, pretty pumps finish off a dressed down look perfectly.

So, what do you think? Did I cover everything off? Do you have a tip of your own? Let me know!