Loosen up; ready to wear

How nice it was to be a teenager, when no-one had homes they wanted to hang around in, so the only option was to wander around the streets and shops. I don't do enough of that anymore. But funny how to some people hanging out still means wearing smart clothes. One girl I know thinks casual means Ralph Lauren slacks (slacks!!), super-posh loafers and a cashmere sweater. I don't know how they do it - whenever I try to dress smartly, I feel all restricted and fidget. Any excuse to wear nice, comfy clothes makes me happy. Clothes that you can play in and get dirty in. Yum. However, you can still look stylish (I must try to take my own advice, because I never manage it). It goes like this: a good leather jacket, floral skirts thrown together with some groovy top, combat trousers - very of the moment for boys and girls - and V-neck T-shirts. Get yourself a good-looking playmate and sing along really loud to the Top 40. La la la....

Karine wears khaki army trousers, pounds 125, Helmut Lang, from Browns Focus, 38 South Molton Street, London W1. Khaki long-sleeved T-shirt, pounds 28.95, Sun & Sand, from Selfridges, Oxford Street, London W1. Mail order: 0171 490 4684. Piers wears green army trousers, pounds 23, Cobles, from Charles Casual Wear, 406 High Street, London N17. Mail order: 0171 680 5134. Beige zip-up jacket, pounds 92.95, Stussy, from Slam City Skates, 16 Neal's Yard, London WC2

Black cropped trousers, pounds 80, YMC, from Koh Samui, 65 Monmouth Street, London WC2, and Hip, 14 Thorntons Arcade, Leeds. Enquiries: 0171 251 8861. White polo top, pounds 69.95, Lacoste, 20 Brompton Road, London SW1, and 34 Princes Square, Glasgow. Enquiries: 0171 439 2213. Beige nylon-zip jacket, pounds 60.95, Stussy, from Slam City Skates, as before

Grey nylon trousers with side pockets, pounds 79.95, Jigsaw Menswear, 9-10 Floral Street, London WC2, and 76-80 King Street, Manchester. Enquiries: 0171 240 5651. Brown leather jacket, pounds 345, Sam Walker, 41 Neal Street, London WC2, 0171 240 7800. Hardware, Corn Exchange, Leeds. White V-neck T-shirt, pounds 19.95, Jigsaw Menswear, as before

Cream canvas biker jacket, pounds 260, Hamnett Active, 20 Sloane Street, London SW1, 0171 823 1002, and 38 Princes Square, Glasgow, 0141 248 3827. Grey cords, model's own

Karine wears white top with Y logo, pounds 58, YMC, as before. Lilac floral skirt, pounds 35, Jigsaw, 126-127 New Bond Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0171 491 4484. Denim jacket, pounds 145, Helmut Lang, from Browns Focus, as before. Piers wears blue sweater, pounds 85, Catherine Byrne, 28a Floral Street, London WC2. Enquiries: 0171 240 7220. Navy zip-top, pounds 195, Stone Island, from Woodhouse, 364 Oxford Street, London W1. Enquiries: 0171 629 5592. Green trousers, pounds 105, R Newbold, 7-8 Langley Court, London WC2. Enquiries: 0171 379 7133