ready to wear : Holey orders

CROCHET. Almost immediately the image that springs to mind is something made from heavy-gauge wool that Mildred Roper would have worn in some lovely Seventies sitcom. But over the past few years, crochet has been a firm fixture in many a designer's collection - a black or cream crochet cardigan is a staple summer-evening piece. Wherever possible, go for synthetic or silk yarn, as this tends to be much finer and hence can be made up in garments that look pretty and delicate and also drape much better than that Roper-inspired, old-blanket look. Just watch out for cheap manufacturing because once a bit of it unravels, it all does. From this week, we shall also be quoting sizes on all clothes shown, partly to shame those that don't make clothes bigger than a size 14 and also to bring welcome attention to those that do.

Lilac crochet dress, pounds 275, Press & Bastyan (sizes 8-14), from Kate Jones, 28 St Christopher's Place, London W1. Enquiries: 0171 636 1614. Cream silk and lace chemise, pounds 35, Knickerbox (sizes 10-18), 219 Oxford Street, London W1, 0171 734 4395, and 5-6 Market Street, Cambridge, 01223 315829. Leather/pink quartz and freshwater-pearl necklace, pounds 260, Van Peterson Designs, 194-196 Walton Street, London SW3, 0171 584 1101

Cream crochet halter-neck top, pounds 29.99, River Island (sizes 10- 14), as before. Beige trousers, pounds 145, Whistles (sizes 10-14), 12 St Christopher's Place, London W1, 0171 487 4484

Black crochet tunic, pounds 40, Pilot (sizes S/M,M/L), Unit 36, Thurrock Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex. Enquiries: 01962 733355. Black silk and lace chemise, pounds 35, Knickerbox (sizes 10-18), as before. Black jersey trousers, pounds 135, Press & Bastyan (sizes 8-14), as before

Brown slip dress (part of brown crochet dress), pounds 39.99, River Island (sizes 10-14), 124 Kensington High Street, London W8, and 8-12 Lands Lane, Leeds. Enquiries: 0181 998 8822. Bronze crochet cardigan, pounds 69.95, Karen Millen (sizes 8-14), 46 South Molton Street, London W1, and 46 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. Enquiries: 01622 6640. Leather/freshwater pearl necklace, pounds 295, Van Peterson, as before

Fuschia crochet cardigan, pounds 165, Katharine Hamnett (sizes XS-M), 20 Sloane Street, London SW1, and 38 Princes Square, Glasgow. Enquiries: 0171 823 1002. Cream silk camisole, pounds 25, Knickerbox (sizes 10-18), as before. Silver/pearl necklace, pounds 130, Van Peterson Designs, as before