You need only walk down the street to spot people wearing Diesel jackets or wraparound sunglasses, typically worn perched not on the nose, but on top of the head like a headband.The sunglasses alone have become something of a cult. Until last month, Jethro Marshall, the UK marketing manager, was having to field endless phone calls from people eager to buy the merchandise they were seeing in the adverts, but not knowing where to buy it. One image, in particular, was under scrutiny by the Advertising Standards Authority recently after complaints that it was sexist. You might not be familiar with Diesel jeans but you’ve probably noticed their adverts – irreverent takes on fashion advertising usually featuring flying saucers or cheesy scenes from American high schools – in magazines and on the London underground. He was wearing a quilted nylon jacket by the Italian jeans and workwear company Diesel.

When Jarvis Cocker was arrested at the Brit Awards, he had one consolation for spending a night in a prison cell. One woman in particular, a banker, craved a relaxation of the strict skirt-suit policy at work. She actually asked me change out of my pedal- pushers so that she could try them on. No doubt she will be tracking down a Jil Sander pair, rather than these shiny satin ones which don’t work for day, but are good for a night out.Shiny silver pedal-pushers, pounds 75, and silver sleeveless polo neck, pounds 60, by Amaya Arzuaga from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1 and Psyche, 215 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough For further stockists, call 0171-734 0123.. Then while running for a tube my coat blew open and two French guys shouted: “Super madam, super madam!” At the dinner party it was all “wow” and “cool” The outfit sparked talk about dress codes at the office. If you have decent legs, keep them bare; if not, get a pair of flesh-coloured tights.

Shoes should be practical, yet feminine, perhaps some low-heeled slingbacks, or wedge mules. As long as the shoe exposes the ankle it will stop your legs from looking stumpy.On my way to the dinner party I hid behind a long coat. The overall effect is chic, comfortable and, though you may raise a few glances from colleagues, extremely modern Deciding what to wear with them can be difficult Keep it simple. Already, there are some others available from Yves Saint Laurent Variation, Gaultier Classique and Issey Miyake. I borrowed the Arzuaga pair and went to a dinner party wearing them, a matching top, some borrowed shoes and a black jacket.
But could a “pedal-pusher suit” become a wardrobe staple for women who like to wear trouser suits? It could work on principle: take your favourite trouser suit, and imagine the trouser cut off on the knee.