Style Clinic

How should I accessorise a dress for a wedding? A blazer seems too structured, and I think boleros are a bit naff, but I don't want to be cold – or shaming granny in the church. Eimear, by email

It’s a tricky one. A blazer will work only if your dress is structured and tailored too, although you will still run the risk of looking as if you’re going to the office, and a bolero is fine if you’re over 60, or a former ice dancer, in which case no one would expect any less.

A modern option is a kimono-style jacket over your dress in a complementary – but not matching – pattern. With a plain dress you have a world of choice, and there’s something nicely 1920s about it without looking too retro.

This relaxed-fit kimono from Asos. com (€53.02) comes in black or pale pink (pictured) and will go with a host of dress colours and styles. Your best bet is to go vintage – try Shutterbug in Kilkenny or Harlequin on Castle Market in Dublin for authentic styles in great condition.

If a kimono isn’t your thing, a boxy jacket in a light colour, perhaps with some embellishment to dress it up, could do the trick. Fran & Jane’s tweedy jacket (reduced from €189 to €132) in the palest blue-grey will keep you warm and church-appropriate until later on in the day. It also comes in baby pink.

You could always go for a scarf to drape over your shoulders in the church and then pop in your bag later on. This frayed jacquard scarf from Zara is a pretty shade in timeless animal print, and it's reduced in the sale from €39.95 to €25.99.

I'm looking for a pair of comfortable shoes to wear with jeans, skirts and dresses. I don't want super-flat pumps they hurt my feet after a while) and I'm not into sporty runners. What does that leave? I'm not against ankle boots, but they have to be flat or nearly flat, and I don't want to spend more than €150.
Aoife, by email

My mother always told me shoes are worth spending money on, at least if you want them to last and be comfortable; cheap shoes, she says, aren’t good for your feet.

Rockport shoes are designed using Adiprene technology, the same tech that goes into Adidas sports shoes – meaning they're supportive and comfortable, and even the flats will have you covered for long walks around town. They have a standalone shop on Wicklow Street, and they're also stocked in Clerys – I rate the Ashika loafer (€110) for its grown-up chic.

You say you're not into sporty runners, but Nike has re-released a variety of its 1990s styles with cool colours that are definitely more town than country. These pink Nike Air Max trainers (€125.92 at asos.com) look quirky with skirts and dresses, and fab with skinny jeans and a contrast colour top – if you don't believe me, type "street style trainers" into Google and see for yourself.

Lastly, Office has a great selection of flat ankle boots at the moment, but these (€98) are my pick of the bunch. The cut-out buckles are unusual and showing a little skin at the ankle makes them slightly more feminine than their battered brown leather would imply. They have a tiny block heel for comfort – I wouldn’t run marathons in them, but they’re not your cardboard ballet pump either. es.com