Seagoing ladies are now spoilt choice. Modern marine clothing look as good

Lighter and lower spec garments with fewer technical features – on the other hand – are ideal for coastal or sporting sailors. And many fulfi l a dual role – being just as useful for an autumnal dog walk or for traipsing off to Waitrose on a winter day. As with everything else in life, you tend to get what you pay for. But perhaps the most noticeable change in the market place is the increasing use made by major clothing suppliers of ‘own brand’ breathable and waterproof materials – as opposed to the more expensive ‘branded’ materials that have held sway up to now. This has helped keep prices down. So – if you’re in the market for some new gear – what should in wearing cotton next to the skin – instead of buying specialist man made fi bre under garments that wick moisture (and thus cold and damp) away from the body. And such thermal garments are just as useful under ski gear or walking jackets. Broadly speaking, there are three main categories of marine garment available – ‘inshore’, ‘coastal’ and ‘offshore’. If you go afl oat on a motor cruiser or day sail on a yacht, you are not likely to need heavy-duty (and heavy cost) ocean going waterproofs. And many major manufacturers now offer attractive ‘crossover’ garments that are just as useful on a day in the country as they are on a yacht. New ‘soft shell’ materials are transforming such gear, making need to consider differences in bust, waist and hip measurements in particular. As such, our Female collection is fi tted to the female form – and is shaped to comfortably fi t the obvious curves. Simple details include female-friendly drop seat designs and fl attering style lines that give the impression of a slimmer waist. Colour, print details and trims such as zip pullers all feed into a female specifi c design. Women generally make much more considered retail purchasing decisions – and this applies to garments. They are particularly aware of their body shape and often have a clear fi t preference – this is why sizing has to be 100% correct. Our sizing charts are under constant review. As part of the design process we fi t all sizes before giving fi nal approval for production.” We are Loving... This Turnes Canvas Handbag from Murphy & Nye. Price £42.50 with a detachable inner coin purse. Comes in navy or desert. From murphy&nye.com