Real stories · The dress that needs no thinking

Winter mornings used to start with a wardrobe negotiation — now they start with this dress

One black dress, black tights, boots — dressed, done, and it works everywhere. That's my winter uniform now, and the discovery embarrassingly late in life is that the FRENCH have been doing this all along. My winter mornings used to be a negotiation: trousers that need the right top, tops that need the right cardigan, a waistband committee meeting before nine o'clock.

Some mornings I just wanted to put on ONE thing and be a dressed person.

Then I found the Artesia from a British label called York Boutique — a knee-length black dress with a neat V-neck, sleeves past the elbow, a relaxed A-line shape and a soft ruffle at the hem. There's even a proper little pocket.

The shape is the intelligence of it. The A-line skims instead of clinging, so there's no waistband and nothing to hold in — which is why it's as comfortable as the clothes I used to hide in — while the V-neck lengthens and the ruffle hem makes it read as a deliberate DRESS rather than a comfortable surrender. Tights and boots in winter, and the soft fabric feels gentle all day.

An A-line that skims, a V-neck that lengthens, a ruffle that makes it deliberate — which is why one garment now does the work of my whole morning.

It was £26.95 in the sale — less than half the usual £60 — and I did check I could send it back if the fit disappointed: a fortnight, free delivery. It fitted. I've been quietly considering a second one, purely as insurance.

The test came at the café. Sandra, who has opinions about black ('draining, Janet'), looked me over and said: 'that's very… put together. For you.' From Sandra, that's a standing ovation. I didn't tell her it took ninety seconds.

If your winter mornings also start with a committee meeting, do have a look. The Artesia is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 250 women, in UK sizes 8/10 to 18/20 — and at less than half price the middle sizes go first.