I often have a problem wearing things I find traditionally, softly feminine: kitten heels, rhinestones, polite pink, ruffles. I say this knowing full well that many things I do wear could easily be classified as traditionally feminine – there is nothing objective about it, some things just look twee to me and twee is not my thing.

While I’m of course free to be as prejudiced about clothes as I want, it’s stupid to exclude things from one’s wardrobe just like that. It’s not (only) what you wear, but how you wear it. There is a difference between a kitten heel and a kitten heel and there is a huge difference between wearing the kitten heel with 50s costume and wearing it with neon socks and a leather jacket. I have been doing head-to-toe pink recently and it feels powerful rather than romantic (the key for me is to choose simple, strong shapes). I bought a pair of crystal earrings that almost reach my shoulders and enjoy them immensely.

Counterintuitively, the trick is not to tone down, but to exaggerate. When femininity is blown up, it can suddenly look pretty radical (and that’s not only the case with clothes, of course). Let’s take ruffles. There are the timid, insipid flounces usually paired with floral prints and then there are Ruffles. The Statement Ruffles (or, if you are into the fashion singular, The Statement Ruffle) can be huge or strangely placed or both. There is, probably, some play with proportion. They always make a statement. They hardly ever flatter.

This Diana Arno dress I’m wearing here is a case in point. It’s a rather summery take – I’m late to talk about it – but never mind, as the general trend isn’t going anywhere. To me, this looks like Gucci and Vetements had a baby and it turned out nicer than anyone expected. It ticks all the feminine boxes: it’s a dress, it’s pale lilac, it has ruffles and puff sleeves. But it looks anything but timid.*

It’s especially fitting that Diana Arno is a former beauty queen whose label usually produces traditionally pretty clothing (there’s absolutely nothing wrong with producing traditionally pretty clothing). But occasionally, they go over board and come out with something uninhibited and that’s where things get interesting. Women usually look for masculine shapes when they’re looking for fresh silhouettes, but you know, girls, we should maybe look at some of our own stuff, too.

*It somehow looks more modest on the picture than it does in real life.