At 61, I found the one cardigan that made the rest of my wardrobe make sense

I am not the sort of woman who writes to shops. But I promised myself I would write this one.

Last October I emptied my entire wardrobe onto the bed. Jumpers I had forgotten I owned. Tops I had worn once. Trousers that never went with anything.

And yet every morning I said the same thing: “I have got nothing to wear.”

I did not want a whole new wardrobe. I just wanted to feel nicely dressed again.

A few days later I was browsing Sophie & James London and saw it: a soft blue cardigan with a warm rust-orange check, a proper collar and little white buttons. Not something I would ever have picked for myself.

But I thought of every plain top and pair of jeans on that bed, and knew it would bring them back to life. I ordered it that evening.

I put it on over a plain white top and my oldest jeans, and looked in the mirror.

“For the first time in a long while, I looked like I had made an effort.” I had not. I had added one thing.

One. Quality matters. “Honestly, it was better than I expected.” A fine, soft knit, warm without being bulky, with a collar and buttons that look smarter than any jumper I own.

Two. One good piece rescues a whole wardrobe. The blue goes with all my jeans, the rust check warms up my grey and cream, and it even works over a plain dress.

Three. It is easy. Open as a layer, buttoned when the wind gets up, and comfortable all day.

I will admit the price made me hesitate. At that price I expected something thin that would bobble after two washes.

The Zafira is £37.95. It was £114.95.

Their autumn sale is on now. It is true to UK sizing, and if you are between sizes, they suggest going up.

You probably do not need more clothes. Before you buy anything, ask yourself: “How many things I already own could I wear this with?” With the Zafira, the answer was nearly everything.

Good style at our age is not about looking younger. It is about looking like yourself. In this cardigan, I see me on a good day.