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Looks from the Trenery A/W collection

After working her magic at Witchery and Country Road, Sophie Holt, the revamp queen, has turned her hand to design at Trenery — the new offshoot from Country Road.

The label has pieces for both women and men which are on trend with a focus on classic styling. The womenswear range includes a smart-casual range, perfect for office or the school run.

We had a chat with Sophie and picked her brain on some of the most-often asked questions from Women’s Weekly readers.

How can I use accessories to change my look? — Marie, Hobart

The Trenery accessories range has some wonderful classic pieces but there are two key looks we think define the season. The first is belts — especially worn over a long line knit. We’d suggest using a longer belt than normal so you can create a knotted effect rather than the standard buckle fastening.

The second is boots — they’ll make a big statement this winter. Trenery has some great options including the classic leather riding boot, a beautiful suede knee-high flat boot as well as a great suede ankle boot that can be worn with pants or made more modern when worn with a dress.

What items are the must-haves in my work wardrobe? — Jeanette, NSW

A great trench coat — it always looks smart and works well over pants or skirts. The perfect crisp cotton white shirt — it goes effortlessly from work to weekend.

A couple of long-line cardigans — one sleeveless in a charcoal chunky, ribbed wool and the other in a pop of colour like cyclamen in a fine gauge pure merino wool. A pair of classic wool flannel pants — they are timeless, elegant and versatile. And a stylish leather tote bag which will fit all your daily essentials.

Looks from the Trenery A/W collection

What trends will be hot this winter? — Anne, Melbourne

Trenery is more about timeless classics than following the latest trends. We want our customers to be able to build on their wardrobe season after season without feeling dated.

Having said that, this season, we especially like layering textures such as silk and merino wool with vintage-inspired prints, and reinventing classic wardrobe essentials in beautiful fabrics with perfect details for a modern edge.

How can I stay warm without looking like a marshmallow this winter? — Nicole, Newcastle

Cool climate dressing can be quite challenging. We suggest layering fine gauge knits to avoid bulk and investing in a great wool felt pea coat to keep out the chill.

Sophie’s top five tips for working mums

  1. Keep it simple and elegant. Well-made, well-cut separates in great fabrics will take you a long way.

  2. Try to build a low-maintenance wardrobe to keep ironing and dry-cleaning to a minimum.

  3. Make sure you feel comfortable and confident in what you wear. If you’re not, it will show.

  4. Don’t try too hard. Power dressing is a thing of the past.

  5. Use accessories to change your look from day to day and day to night.

Your say: What trends are you looking forward to this winter? What are your must-have work pieces? Share your tips with us…

Still want more? Check out the Trenery website

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