You’re absolutely right: dresses are back, big time. There was I, a mere nanosecond ago, complaining that the only dresses in sight suitable for anybody over 25 were the ones made by the ever-thoughtful Diane von Furstenberg, and then suddenly they’re everywhere. Fashion is now in high-toned ladylike mode. It’s come over all modest with high heels, vintage hard-framed handbags, corsages, even gloves — so of course there had to be dresses to go with them. They come in all sorts of moods and plenty of them give all the cover-up you (and many others) need. Covering-up, praise be, is a little bit about what this winter’s fashion is all about (after all that bare-midriff bit, it had to happen).

You could go the tweedy route — Roland Mouret’s rather rigorous high-necked (but made a bit quirky with a slightly asymmetrical bit of gathering), long-sleeved and belted number (Harvey Nichols, £395) would be fantastic on anybody with a flattish stomach and not too many other lumps and bumps.

But there’s a new name on the dress block to look out for: Jenny Dyer. She’s launched what she calls the Jennifer, a “go everywhere” dress. Typically, it has a V-neck and long sleeves and comes in a range of soft jerseys or silk prints and is easy to wear and elegant. If your neck is crepy or the V is too low-cut for you, you could add one of the amazing fur tippets around, a flower-embellished shawl — Marlowe at 160 Sloane Street has a fantastic number — or just a scarf .

The “Jennifer” dress looks like becoming a cult number — it’s been taken up by The Cross in Notting Hill, and Selfridges is soon going to give it a whole room to itself. The one photographed here, the Jennifer Jean, which has echoes of the lines of the late Jean Muir, is £475.

If you want something much more glamorous, there’s no end of choice. For evening, if you’re not bothered about keeping warm, Paul & Joe has a pretty chiffon dress in a pink, red and white butterfly print with a highish V-neck and sleeves to the elbow (Harvey Nichols, £285) and Anna Sui has an equally enchanting silk flowered dress (www.net-a-porter.com, £265).

If you have something of a stomach, Clements Ribeiro has a soft stretch jersey comb dress in a gorgeous plum, pink and aubergine print (Harvey Nichols, £290, another V-neck with long sleeves) but it has some soft ruching under the bust and around the waist, which is very kind to wayward waists.

Antik Batik (www.net-a-porter.com, £145) has a wonderful, slightly Art Deco, printed silk dress (see it sketched here). Being in silk and having short sleeves means that in winter it’s only for evening or holidays, but it’s a brilliant buy.

Missoni is having a stellar season and its Alessandra striped faux wrap dress is a stunner and surprisingly flattering, but costs £595 at Harvey Nichols. Diane von Furstenberg has something for almost every taste.

Oh, and think of doing what our mothers used to do — buying a slip. Marks & Spencer has a huge selection in lots of colours and lengths, and a slip makes any proper dress hang a whole lot better.

I’m incurably messy. I’m also busy, so I need help with my wardrobe, someone who will come and sew on buttons, put up hems, fix linings that have gone askew. Do you know any wardrobe angels?

Julia Dee, of Designer Alterations (020-7498 4360), will go through the wardrobe and take away everything that needs mending or cleaning. She’ll also let out waists, take up hems and sew on buttons.

• To ask Lucia van der Post a question, e-mail asklucia@thetimes.co.uk or write to Ask Lucia, T2, The Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1TT, with a short description of your style dilemma. Please include your age and brief personal details.

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