Why it's time to give Edwardian-style pie-crust blouses a chance

A strange thing has happened.I keep looking in the mirror and seeing Mary Poppins.It is, of course, the fault of my new pie-crust shirt by SET.At first I wasn???t interested in going for the Edwardian blouse.I thought it short-lived and gimmicky, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact I was sewn into one by my mother between the ages of seven and 12.

Striped blouse, ??134.99, SET at Zalando

But having seen high necksappearing again and again for next season at the fashion shows, I realised that the high collar is sticking around for the foreseeable, meaning at least it???s not a waste of money.Plus, normal button-down shirts are looking increasingly boring to me.

Fashiondecrees that if your shirt sleeves aren???t doing something either very modern or massively anachronistic in the way of puffs or bells or ties, then your neckline simply must be ruffled, rolled or crusted.And ideally you want both sleeves and collars to be working for you simultaneously, like that head-patting, tummy-rubbing thing.Hey, no one said fashion was easy.

Unfortunately, I also have a love of long skirts ??? and if you add a pie-crust you???re suddenly looking for a bit-part as a governess in an E. Nesbit adaptation.Put it with this season???s velvet and you???re Little Lord Fauntleroy.But I???ve decided to just go with it, own it, ankle boots and all.Dressing up is not just for Halloween.

Velvethighnecktop, ??395, Arthur Arbesser at Avenue32

Pleated collar layering shirt, ??99,Me + Em

Cinda floral-brocade shirt, ??595, Osman at MatchesFashion

Ruffledhigh-neckknit, ??90, Karen Millen

Checkedhighnecktop, ??49, COS

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