Q I'm looking for a jacket or cover-up to wear over a black strapless cocktail dress. I need to wear it to a party that will be held half inside, half out. I hate shrugs and would prefer to wear something sexier.
A The sequin jacket by Freda might do the trick. It has a round neck and a casual, unstructured feel, and is almost like a cardigan, but it is more than glamorous enough for a party (£380, from Matchesfashion.com). I think it would look great over a black frock. Plus, it is a versatile piece that also works with daywear.
Q Thanks to an article in Monocle magazine, I have recently obtained a copy of the Dutch glossy Fantastic Man. The magazine is in English and calls itself, quite rightly, The Gentlemen's Style Journal (which other, more well-known titles claim to be, but then degenerate into lads'-mag content). It's now on issue five, but without the help of Monocle, it could have reached issue 55 without me knowing about it. Are there any other men's magazines that I should hunt down?
A You could try 10 Men, which concerns itself purely with men's high fashion and disdains celebrities or topless women. There's plenty to read in it, too. You can buy it in Borders. Alternatively, look at Another Man. From the Dazed & Confused stable of magazines, it covers fashion, music, film, art and cool culture. He (www.he-magazine.com) is a good-looking, new high-fashion glossy. If you are gay, you might like Butt, which is produced by a gang of Dutch fashion insiders. Spanning fashion, sex and art, it has a brilliant sense of irony. The founders have compiled a book to celebrate its fifth anniversary (Butt Book, from Amazon.com).
Q I have been invited to a masquerade ball in New York by my fiancé's friends. Please could you advise me what is de rigueur for such a bash? It will be my first ball, my first time in NY and the first time I meet these friends - I would like to impress them and not embarrass my fiancé. I am a size 12, 5ft 3in tall and 41 years old.
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A Masquerade balls are dressed-up, festive affairs, but the most important thing to remember is your mask. Anything goes, really. You can play it safe with a simple black eye mask (from £1.45; www.partybox.co.uk) or go for something more extravagant. I've seen people tie a strip of lace or net over their eyes; others have used make-up to create a masked effect; and I know of one person who created a DIY mask by sticking bits of lace to their face using eyelash glue. For inspiration, check out Nick Knight's masquerade ball at www.style.com. As for the rest of your outfit, you should go all out for evening wear. Look at Vera Wang Lavender on Net-a-porter.com: a more affordable version of her main line, it is great for gowns (dresses from £350).
E-mail your questions to wardrobe.mistress@sunday-times.co.uk