OFF DUTY: EIGHTIES JUMPERS, SPOT SCARVES, CARTOON GIRLS

A day off, a weakness for 1980s jumpers and polka dots may sometimes result in this...

Time to reveal a couple of more weaknesses: relaxed 1980s jumpers and polka-dot scarves. I used to wear loose-fit tops and jumpers as a small teenager, so much that I should be about hating them. Still, I find I have a soft spot for similar pieces as they are creeping back onto the high street. I love grey, black, white, crosses and tapestry prints, so it's no wonder my favourites are combinations of those: dark grey with black and gold crosses, light grey marl with a studded cross, and vintage wallpaper style bird  print. My current obsession - OK, it's been going on for moths now - is a monochrome piece by cool unisex-focused Swedish brand 5preview (see jumper-and-scarf hoard below).

As with spot scarves, I'm not aware of any common history - I just can't not buy it when I see one, so I keep picking those up in high-street shops, markets and vintage fairs. By the way, neither the lady bag nor its cartoon print are my style, but the balance is just brilliant: the style of the bag smartens up relaxed outfits, while the playful graffiti steals an edge into head-to-toe office smart.

When it comes to 1980s jumpers, there are two basic looks for me. One is off-duty with jeans or denim shorts and trainers, while the other is the office-appropriate version, dressed up with a zip detail pencil skirt and heels. Here, besides getting playful with accessories, off duty means deliberately avoiding trying to look sexy in your jeans. Feel free to choose a boyfriend fit, or dig up something old and baggy, and wear it with pride. 

Cross print fitted jumper: New Look, spot scarf: Promod, vintage style bag: a market find,
jeans: Retro, suede wedge trainers: Topshop

Polka-dot neck tie: Promod

mink, pink and ivory scarf: vintage

sheer grey heart print scarf: H&M

sky blue and navy spot pashmina: Next to Nothing, Oxford covered market

spots & stripes cotton scarf: Promod

dark grey cross jumper: New Look

studded cross oversized jumper: New Look

bird print dip hem jumper: Topshop

zebra print jumper: New Look

on the wishlist: jumper by 5preview

retro cartoon print bag: a market find