back to school

From John Galliano in Paris to Alberto Biani in Milan, designers to a man have decided that grown women want to pull their socks up, dust off their sensible shoes, and iron their gymslips and old school ties. It's a funny old world, fashion. Styling by Sophia Neophitou. Photographs by Desmond Muckian

Left White shirt, pounds 100, brown tie, pounds 50, black tuxedo trousers, pounds 170, black three-button, single-breasted jacket, pounds 300, all by Alberto Biani, available from Feathers, 40 Hans Crescent, London SW3; silver sequin belt, pounds 25, by Otto Glanz, available from Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW3 and other department stores nationwide, (enquiries 0181-365 1711); black leather lace-up shoes, pounds 215, by Prada, 43-45 Sloane Street, London SW3; black knee-high socks, pounds 6.95, by Hue Studio, available from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW3 and House of Fraser stores nationwide, (enquiries 0171-436 4091)

Right Black pleated asymmetric-cut skirt, pounds 250, by Antonio Berardi, available from Joseph, 23 Old Bond Street London W1, 26 Sloane Street, London W1; blue shirt, pounds 161, by Justin Oh, available from Pellicano, 63 South Molton Street, London W1; Koh Samui, 65 Monmouth Street, London WC2; burgundy tie, pounds 50, by Alberto Biani, as before; black lace-up shoes, by Prada, as before; black knee-high socks, as before

Left Blue shirt, pounds 161, by Justin Oh, as before; burgundy tie, pounds 50, by Alberto Biani, as before; grey pinstripe jacket with cardigan sleeves, pounds 720, matching grey pinstripe mini skirt, pounds 245, both by John Galliano, available from Browns, 23-27 South Molton Street, London W1; grey pinstripe high heels, pounds 275, by Manolo Blahnik for John Galliano, available from 49 Old Church Street, London SW3; black knee-high socks, as before This page Pale pink dress with sequin trim neck line, pounds 175, blue sequin sandals pounds 140, both by Miu Miu, available from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW3; white knee-high socks, pounds 5.95, by Hue Studio, as before