Shoe time

All the boyish looks on the catwalk for this season make me crave a pair of brogues. But not a flimsy, girly, fake-leather pair – a solid, chunky man's shoe. Paul Smith, of course, always has this look sussed, and the Church's shoes on Net-a-Porter are beautifully made and will last for years. I spotted these ones by Irish designer Maud O'Keefe – who's worked for Jimmy Choo and Patrick Cox – and reckon they're spot-on. Handmade in Italy, they are stocked in the small but beautifully formed 91b, the Margaret Howell boutique in Rathgar, Dublin. There are only men's sizes in at present, with smaller sizes coming soon. Distribution is limited, as the label only launched this year, but the two London stockists are Hostem in E2 and Joseph in SW3. The O'Keefe website is not madly helpful, with no prices, but it's clear that something this well-made and enduring is not going to clock in cheap (think £300 and up). They are, though, a wardrobe staple that kicks all those ungainly wedge shoes into touch.

Church's brogues, net-a-porter, £235

Flower power

Erdem spring/summer 2011

Lanvin

Turquoise floral shirt, £85, Liberty

Floral Letters cotton shirt, £250, Paul Smith

This season, florals are not just confined to usual suspects such as Monsoon and Laura Ashley. From Chanel to Jil Sander and Marni, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders (see below) to Etro and, of course, Erdem, the catwalks simply sang with colourful blooms, a bright welcome to a new season after a long cold winter.

Once you hit a certain age, florals start to sound like a rather dodgy proposition. A floral dress might look young and fresh on a 20-something, but does it become a little grannyish rather than breezy and bright as you get older? I think the answer is that a little flower power goes a long way. Liberty is always a good place to start for a well-cut floral shirt. Topshop's one-piece vintage floral swimsuit (£30) is fun, and their cream floral dress (£38) has an appealingly simple cut and would have a great vintage feel teamed with a little cardigan. Flowers are everywhere from brooches (see Lanvin's, above) to hats (at Reiss). Soon to be copied on a high street near you are Dolce & Gabbana's floral canvas shoes (as beautifully shot in this month's Red magazine, styled by Nicola Rose). I'm also drawn to the loud Paul Smith floral shirt in that shoot, above; a statement shirt for sure, and wearing it has to be uplifting. Red's tip is to team busy florals with cool Breton stripes – they seem to complement each other nicely.

Alongside florals are some seriously bold fruit prints, such as Stella McCartney's acid brights. And what's with those Miuccia Prada banana earrings? Priced £150. I had an identical pair in the '80s, wooden, bought no doubt in Miss Selfridge for a quid or two. How ageing it is to have worn something the last time they were around! I'm really not sure what makes them say 'high fashion' as opposed to 'Pat Butcher' now. I guess simply that Ms Prada has decreed it. Well, it has to be a good thing to be able to turn to fashion for some fun and frivolity – and, yes, a touch of the ridiculous – in times of such greyness and wintery moroseness.

Floral swimsuit, £30, Topshop

Floral print stretch-silk gown, £1,350, Jonathan Saunders