'Even when sexy clothes are on trend, fashion usually finds a way to neutralise the impact'
Fashion is rarely sexy. A side-effect of this being one area of popular culture not dominated by heterosexual men is that it is not all about shaggable birds. Sometimes sexy clothes are, as we say in a particularly antiseptic piece of fashion vernacular, "on trend", but even then fashion usually finds a way to neutralise the impact. Short skirts will be "hot" for a season, but only when worn with a hip-length polo neck in a particular shade of electric-blue waffle. If leather leggings are in, we will be instructed to wear them with enormous neon beanies and hi-top trainers. And so on and so forth.
This is surely a good thing. It would be hard to argue that birds, shaggability of, is an issue cruelly starved of oxygen. A few neon beanies and polo necks are a breath of fresh air, of sorts.
On the subject of breathing fresh air, of sorts: when I tell you that sheer panels are fashionable this season, don't get too excited. Fashion has adopted the sheer panel, but not in the peekaboo sense. In fact, the purpose of sheer on this season's clothes is to add textural interest in a minimalist way, and to bring lightness and breathability to heavy fabrics.
The logic behind fashion's use of sheer is as follows. A simple top such as the Zara one I'm wearing here needs something to catch your eye in store. A bit of a wink. Fifteen years ago, someone would have bought in a job lot of velvet ribbon and jazzed it up that way. Five years ago it would have had a row of brass studs glued on in the style of epaulettes. This summer, instead of decorative interest being added on top, that decorative interest is injected through the fabric being stripped down.
The clean-and-serene tone of sheer when used like this is underscored by shape and colours. There is a world of difference between a white top with a postbox-shaped sheer panel, and a red dress with a heart-shaped sheer panel. And, of course, there is the matter of what exactly you are exposing. This is at your discretion, with discretion being the key word. If fashionability is your aim, this is a trend best worn clean-cut, in all senses.
• Jess wears top, £29.99, and trousers, £35.99, both zara.com. Heels, £100, ninewest.co.uk.
Styling: Melanie Wilkinson. Hair and makeup: Dani Richardson using Nars