How to get the look: Transeasonal pieces

This lightweight, long-line knitted jacket is thin enough to slip under a heavy coat when it's really cold and will do for a stand-alone cover-up when it's a bit milder

Transeasonal? Are you having a laugh?

OK, spring may not exactly be in the air, but whatever the weather, it's time to mothball the Christmas jumper (actually, don't bother – that's one advantage of acrylics).

So it's the power of positive clothing: dress for the weather you want, not the weather you have

You could look at it that way. But really the point is that even in the coldest weather, overheated shops, offices and public transport make layered dressing the smart option. Investing in a few canny pieces that can be built up or scaled down with the mercury is always a good idea.

Are you advocating those avant-garde modular pieces with zip-on/zip-off arms and legs?

No. Are you? I'm more a fan of fine knits and coat-igans. This lightweight, long-line knitted jacket is thin enough to slip under a heavy coat when it's really cold and will do for a stand-alone cover-up when it's a bit milder (above, £130, hush-uk.com). Even better – from Tuesday it will go on sale at £90. Alternatively, 2nd Day's salt- and-pepper drapey knitted Bomba cardi is perfect layering material (£189, day.dk/uk)