Real stories · The blouse that does the talking

All winter people told me I looked tired — then I put colour next to my face

A blouse that answers 'you look well!' before I've said a word — that's what this one turned out to be, and the trick is simply colour, worn next to the face. I'm 67, and somewhere along the way my winter wardrobe went entirely grey, navy and beige — sensible, slimming, and by January, the reason half the village kept telling me I looked tired.

I wasn't tired. I was camouflaged.

Then I found the Coraline from a British label called York Boutique — a relaxed blouse in a rich retro print, with a neat V-neck and three-quarter sleeves. One print, every colour in it, and all of them working.

The V-neck is the clever part. It puts that warm, lively print right up by the face — which is why the 'you look tired' comments stopped inside a week and 'you look WELL' took their place — while the relaxed cut and soft, easy fabric ask nothing of me all day. Under a plain cardigan it lifts the whole outfit; the cardigan does the warmth, the blouse does the talking.

A rich retro print sitting right up by the face, on a soft relaxed blouse — which is why the tired-comments stopped, and the compliments started doing the rounds instead.

It was £29.95, half the usual £60 — rather less than the highlights my hairdresser suggested for the same problem. I did check I could send it back if it didn't suit — a fortnight, free delivery — which settled it.

It has since done two coffee mornings, church and a birthday lunch, collecting comments at each — and at the coffee morning, standing in a room of grey and beige knitwear, Margaret looked me up and down and said, with a hint of accusation: 'you've had a good week, then.' Same week as everyone else, Margaret. Different blouse.

If your winter wardrobe has also gone grey on you, do have a look. The Coraline is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 250 women, in UK sizes 8/10 all the way to 16/18 — and at half price the middle sizes go first.