Jess Cartner-Morley’s September style essentials: slipper-soft shoes, miracle hair mist and a worth-the-wait cardigan | Fashion

Herringbone wool blend blazer

A blazer with a waist is so elegant, but proper tailoring is usually expensive. High-street versions tend to rely on button placement to create shape, which is uncomfortable and doesn’t give a smooth curve. This herringbone beauty has proper internal structure to give a beautiful line that holds. Classy details: peak lapels, flap pockets at the hip, back vent, inner pocket. Snap it up.

Soft leather shoes

Cheap shoes are a false economy if they’re not comfortable. Those plastic heel stiffeners that are used to stiffen synthetic uppers give me blisters just looking at them. Zara shoes are highly variable in this regard, but these are a delight. Like slippers! And the narrow profile and high fastening – sort of a jazz shoe silhouette – are quite chic and now. I’ve got them in ecru, which is low in stock, but they also come in this black shade.

Sora fitted T-shirt

I’ll be honest: I didn’t think a fashion brand founded by an influencer would be my sort of thing. I’ve never worn an “airport fit” in my life and I don’t intend to start now. But Molly-Mae’s brand Maebe has some excellent bits. This T-shirt has subtle shoulder pads – removable if that’s not your thing, but I like them – and the draped, gathered waist creates shape without clinging. Good to have our prejudices challenged, no?

Compression cubes, set of four

… but there is always more to learn. Specifically, this summer I realised the difference between regular packing cubes and compression cubes. Sorry if this is obvious and I was being thick, but packing cubes just keep your stuff organised. Compression cubes come with two zips – one to close the cube, a second one to squeeze all the air out – and reduce the space your clothes take up by at least half. As a hand-luggage-only person, this is a revelation. These aren’t the cheapest but Antler knows its stuff, and it’s worth investing in quality because you need to be able to give that zip a good yank.

For more, read the Filter’s test of the best packing cubes

Wonderskin lip stain in Crush

I read that “this went viral on TikTok” and thought “not for me then”, so apologies that this sat on my desk for months. Now I am OBSESSED, as the young people say. I can’t wear lipstick, as my every-five-minute lip-balm habit smears it off before breakfast. This is a stain. Paint it on – it’s an absolutely bonkers metallic navy colour, so you look insane for one or two minutes until it dries – then wipe it off with a damp cotton pad. Your lips are then stained a gorgeous colour that doesn’t budge however much Vaseline you smear on top, while the formula doesn’t dry them out. I have it in “Crush”, a rosy pink shade.

Juliette soft large tote

The trapezoid shape and gusseted side panels caught my eye – squint and you’re looking at The Row’s Marlo tote – but the details reeled me in. There’s a flat base to minimise rummaging, bottom studs to keep it off germy floors, a removable laptop sleeve and drink bottle holder, a D-ring top closure, an internal zip pocket and a sleeve to pass over luggage handles for when you are travelling. (You can have your initials embossed here if you are fancy.) The chocolate colourway is sold out, but the black and “whiskey” are also divine.

One for Smoothness hair mist

I recommend quite a lot of hair products, but as Fleabag so rightly said, “HAIR IS EVERYTHING”. I promise you that for every one I mention there are endless others that I don’t because they don’t do what they promise. I have fine, dry hair, which generally means I have to choose between products that make it shiny and smooth but also flat and boring, or products that give volume and bounce but leave it crunchy and horrible. Gielly Green has a gorgeous salon in central London where I occasionally go for a treat – when they wash your hair the chair converts into a flat bed so you don’t crick your neck, which is heaven – and it makes this excellent spray: spritz it on to damp hair before you blow-dry.

Cashmere micro-bandana

I love Rise & Fall and I know a lot of you lovely people do too. If you don’t know it yet, it’s a British brand that buys products direct from the manufacturers of the finest materials. So you get cashmere sweaters and organic cotton bed linen made by the people who make them for the fanciest brands – without the retail mark-up. A bit of an in-the-know secret, but we don’t gatekeep here. This micro-bandana, available in poppy and buttermilk, will take the edge off the first chills of autumn.

Fit and Flare dress

Dresses are tricky at the moment. Plenty to choose from if you want trad-wife puff sleeves and waftiness, but no thanks. You’re grand if you want Maga newsreader spray-on shift dresses, but again, not for me. But I’ve found a goodie! This is a textured shirt dress, not too short, with a detachable belt if you want more shape.

Doriane cardigan

I tried this on in Sézane’s Marylebone store a few months ago, but didn’t buy it because, do you really need another black top etc etc. Anyway, I couldn’t stop thinking about it (the little lozenges of skin that run between the buttons just make it a bit fun, if you know what I mean) but it was then consistently sold out. It’s now back in stock, so I’ve got mine and I love it. Also, Sézane has had a rebrand this season – French girl chic is growing up, we love to see it – so definitely worth a browse.