My 6 best fashion buys of the year

In August I moved somewhere so tiny that friends have dubbed it Pixie Mansions. This has taken my retail strategy to new levels of rigour. I fell in love with tons of items this year – occupational hazard – but did I buy them all as I might have attempted to in days of yore? I did not. It’s one-in, at-least-one-out in our house.

If you’re a bit of a clothesaholic, it’s worth popping things on wish lists, so at the end of the year you can chuckle wisely over all the items you thought you had to have at the time – and have since forgotten about. Here are the pieces that made the cut for me, and what I learned from them.

Navy wool dress, Raey

Easy to zhuzh up with jewellery and slingbacks, I wore this minimalist dress everywhere in autumn, including to the office. Narrow on the torso with a bias-cut skirt that skims the thighs, it’s very good on tall beanpoles or smaller pear-shapes. It was too long for me and as there’s so much fabric at the hem, it cost more than usual to get it shortened – about £30 – but I’m now wearing it with jumpers, boots and cropped jackets, so that was money well spent. 

Lisa wears: woven jacket, from a selection, Eponine London; wool-crêpe dress, £525, Raey (matchesfashion.com); velvet sandals, £199, Penelope Chilvers; lab-grown-diamond and recycled-gold earrings, from a selection, Kimaï

Geometric cropped jacket, Eponine London

This was the rogue purchase I needed to stop everything being too safe. A scattering of sequins means it sparkles at night, but it’s not so blingy you can’t wear it during the day. 

Red silk dress, Me+Em

I’m not a huge fan of flounces, but during that hot summer and even now, under a black velvet blazer, cropped gilet or oversized jumper, this has been my go-to for low-maintenance drama. Red is flattering and an easy way to up the ante. 

Lisa wears: Silk dress, £247.50, Me+Em; suede boots, £445, Russell & Bromley; brass earrings, £115, Strathberry; all other jewellery, Lisa's own

Red polyester puff-sleeved top, Essentiel Antwerp

A throw-in-the-weekend-bag gem, useful for revving up jeans or velvet trousers. Short-sleeved, but loose over the body, so there’s room for thermals. The puff sleeves add a hit of fashion and the collar looks effective peeking out of a contrasting knit.

Lisa wears: Puff-sleeve top, £116, Essentiel Antwerp; velvet trousers, £270, Cefinn; velvet sandals, £245, Russell & Bromley; brass earrings, £115, Strathberry; pearl and gold-plated bangle, £315, Completedworks

Cream tweed jacket, LK Bennett

Lovely with high-waisted trousers, jeans and dresses, I can imagine wearing this for years. I tried on the Celine versions about 10 times, stalked them on vintage sites, but they were still nine times the price and, frankly, the LK Bennett one fits me better – and I love the buttons. Walk away from label snobbery and open your minds.

Lisa wears: Tweed jacket, £230, LK Bennett; velvet trousers, £270, Cefinn; velvet sandals, £245, Russell & Bromley; brass earrings, £115, Strathberry; pearl and gold-plated bangle, £315, Completedworks

Navy velvet flares, Cefinn

Repeat buying is allowed when you turn to something so often it wears out. I didn’t set out for everything I bought this year to be navy, red or cream, but it means everything works together.

Photographer, Sarah Brick; Hair and make-up, Elizabeth Hsieh; Shot at the Renaissance Hotel, St Pancras 

Read last week's column: What not to do as a house guest this Christmas