SHANE WATSON: How to reboot a look like Kate. The scarf secrets that every woman should know

Normally I would not presume to guess what the Princess of Wales is thinking, but I’m pretty sure I know what was going through her mind when she posed in a white shirt, jeans and a jacket for the photograph posted on her 43rd birthday earlier this month. That length of checked fabric draped around her neck – for something similar head to M&S – is just the right amount of unexpected: a dash of graphic print to disrupt her old uniform of blazer, shirt and jeans and make it look fresh. The princess of Wales posed in a white shirt, jeans and a jacket for the photograph posted on her 43rd birthday earlier this month Toast has a smart ribbon print, cotton bandana in midnight blue with an ochre trim At this time of year scarves have warming up duties too – head to Uniqlo if you’re still in need of one – but it’s the silky square scarf that is light and small enough to fold and tie in a knot at the base of your neck, that’s increasingly looking like a smart move. Mint Velvet does paisley cotton square scarves and Lolly’s Laundry’s dot print scarf in red on sand with a yellow trim, also at John Lewis gives a colour boost while blending with everything. Toast has a smart ribbon print, cotton bandana in midnight blue with an ochre trim but even better is an abstract print silk square in brown and gold on teal.