Why the boilersuit is taking pole position this winter

A few years ago, you might have balked at the idea of wearing an all-in-one anything, mostly because the thought of stripping down to your ankles every time you needed to use the loo was a bit daunting, or maybe just because you felt more like you were wearing a babygro rather than adult clothing. Both totally valid points. But fast-forward to 2017 and most of us have discovered the joy of the jumpsuit as a brilliant alternative to a posh frock or as a modern way to rev up our workwear.

Following hot on the heels of fashion’s all-in-one obsession, the boilersuit takes pole position this season. Once synonymous with Winston Churchill and your slightly oily local car mechanic, these practical overalls are the looser, more casual cousins to their smarter silky counterparts. To qualify as a boilersuit, your industrial one-piece should be made from a sturdy, thick cotton such as denim, have a loose fit — the kind that would allow you to shimmy under the chassis of a car in comfort — and have long sleeves and legs (terminology check: short sleeves = dungarees; short legs = playsuit).

If the boilersuit seems like a worrying prospect, let me put your mind at ease. Last year I discovered its advantages for myself when I came into possession of one by London denim specialist MiH Jeans. I assumed that, at 5ft 3ins, I was too short to wear an oversized boilersuit successfully, but as soon as I tried mine on I was hooked. It was roomy (in other words, VERY comfy), yet it was also surprisingly flattering, and looked better with the hems and cuffs turned up, alleviating my short- person concerns.

Sure, it’s unlikely you’ll get away with wearing one of these with strappy sandals and a clutch to your best friend’s wedding, though it is possible — see the shot of the stylist Florrie Thomas at London Fashion Week for details — but it’s an ideal option with trainers and a skinny roll-neck layered underneath at this time of year. I even wore mine in Paris last week (and got a ton of compliments from fellow fashion eds, I might add).