When is a frill not a frill?

When it's a peplum (that piece of gathered material you sometimes see attached to the waist of a skirt, dress or top). Famously fashionable in the 1980s, the peplum is now making a bit of a comeback. So how to wear it? The general consensus is that a neat peplum on a fitted style garment works best on most body shapes, often helping to accentuate an hourglass silhouette. Flouncy, gathered peplums, on the other hand, often add unwanted girth around the waistline and are best avoided unless you have a tall, lean physique. Wear these styles with heels to elongate your figure.

Far left: Printed skirt, £69, Monsoon. Contact www.monsoon.co.uk.

Left: Navy jersey peplum top, £250, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Net a Porter. Contact www.net-a-porter.com.

Right: Coral envelope clutch bag, £110, Jigsaw. 0141 5527639/0131 225 4501.