If your default dressing is head-to-toe black, consider switching to neutrals. Fresh, modern and easier to carry off than you might think, says Anna Murphy.

There are a few different ways to answer that question, of course, but for me, there’s one non-negotiable. Effortlessness. That’s what you need to channel at all times. Even on the dressiest of occasions, I would argue, and certainly for every day. Effortful comes across as dated, buttoned up, retro in a bad way – we don’t want that. Less really is more in this regard. I think it’s especially important as we grow older to personify a certain kind of easy breeziness. Yet, at the same time, we probably need a little more help to look good than when we were younger. We can’t just put on any old thing and let our youth do the heavy lifting. Instead, we need to do some behind-the-scenes work in order to come across as nonchalantly pulled together and instinctively on point. Putting effort into looking effortless? Sounds nonsensical, I know.

Certainly, balancing these two seemingly contradictory realities can take some figuring out at first. But doing so will mean you have ticked one of the biggest boxes in 21st-century dressing. And the good news is, with a few tricks up your sleeve, it’s easier than you might think. Once you have found the equation that works for you, it becomes second nature – or just as easy breezy as it looks.

One of the simplest approaches is to stick to neutrals. There’s no need to worry about what goes with what when everything goes with everything. You don’t want to wear anything that is too harsh next to the skin, however, which is why, when I am going down the neutrals route, I eschew the ubiquitous black in favour of gentle hues, such as creams and camels, plus all those other subtle variations from caramel to chocolate – yum!

What I like best, is to pick one colour and wear it in slightly different shades at the same time. It’s known in fashion as tone-on-tone dressing. I like it because it smooths your lines and unifies your outfit, yet also looks more interesting than the kind of one- or two-colour ensemble that might achieve similar. This is especially the case if you play with contrasting textures, pair the rough with the smooth, the fluffy with the sleek.

The other, almost magical, aspect to this way of dressing is that it somehow seems both smart and casual. It’s the epitome of the aforementioned upscale variety of effortlessness that works so well once you are out of your teens and twenties and will power you so brilliantly through every ensuing decade.

As I grow older, I am finding I especially love to wear head-to-toe cream or off-white. These shades are just so flattering next to my skin. My favourite item of clothing is my chunky cream jumper. It lightens and brightens my fifty-something complexion so much that I have come to think of it as knitwear’s answer to the pearl necklace. Though, even better, it’s cosy, too. And it feels so luxurious. Heaven. For anyone who worries that such pale colours are asking for trouble, I haven’t looked back (by which I mean stained anything) since discovering the Tide To Go Stain Remover Pen. It’s possibly the best £5 I have ever spent and I always keep it in my handbag to ensure I stay off-white in the right way.

Anna Murphy is Fashion Director of The Times. Her new book is Destination Fabulous: Finding Your Way To The Best You Yet (£20, Mitchell Beazley).