Last week, world-renowned fashion icon Iris Apfel (she describes herself as a geriatric starlet) celebrated her 99th birthday. The ever-sharp, impeccably dressed style icon marked the day in a resplendent emerald green gown. Taking to her Instagram account, the queen of brights wrote “Quarantine can’t spoil my happy day. Number ninety-nine. Let’s go up, up and away!” On her secrets to great style, Apfel says, “I never met a colour I didn’t like.”

Dressing young will not make you look young. But by embracing colour, we can inject personality, as well as youth, into otherwise classic clothes (dressing classically does look better as time marches on). Buy for your figure, regardless of trends. A good pair of trousers will always look stylish. A great seasonless frock that can be dressed up and down will stand you in good stead. Keep up to date with inexpensive accessories, the high street is awash with great fashion-forward modern pieces at really good prices.

We asked personal shopper Aoife Dunican of The Stylebob if colour enhances our moods? “Absolutely,” she told us. “Colour elicits emotional rather than rational responses from our brains. Think of how a summer garden makes you feel. Warm bright colours like red or pink release the feel-good hormone dopamine which is great for confidence. Cool blues on the other hand release oxytocin making us feel calm. Working with all types of women with different requirements has taught me that there are clothes out there for absolutely everyone. True style is less about labels and more about confidence and comfort.”

From a work dress to a pair of smart everyday trousers, these are the pieces you’ll reach for day after day. Shop our edit of the best September wardrobe staples to buy now…