After years of denial, I’m facing facts: the whole essence of warm-weather dressing unnerves me – the short lengths, the pale colours, the bright colours, the unfamiliar sensation of not being bundled up. It comes down to bare legs. If I staked myself to a rock in the Sahara until all the skin on my face fell off and I looked like Paul Daniels from the neck up, my legs would remain the colour of the average male’s toe nails. This was liveable with when Madonna and Nicole Kidman were doing their bit for the pasty woman, but the arrival of Michelle Obama’s bare legs has ruined everything.

Zillions of women have issues with summer dressing, mind you. If it’s not the missing tan, it’s excess weight, hirsuteness, scars, the wrong kind of muscles. I once worked with someone who wore 80-denier tights in July because she hated her knees. And she was a stylist. But to adapt this year’s most popular slogan: Keep Calm, Carry On and Dress Cleverly.

You could for instance, continue wearing black and tell everyone you’re doing Seasonless Dressing. Black trousers might seem dull, but not if you focus on slim, ankle-length or above-ankle shapes in lustrous fabrics such as silk. You can still wear colour on your top half. Certain brights – yellow, orange, fuchsia – tend to look grim on pallid skin, but red, emerald and cobalt look dramatic. Black patent sandals always work, and if you’re feeling indulgent, opt for a jewelled pair. It needs a lot of upkeep, but good-quality suede delivers lovely, soft colour.

Whites can make pale skin look washed-out. If you want pale, go for putties, greys and palest nude pinks – this summer’s most fashionable colour – and layer them to subtle, classy effect.

Remember, there’s always a more covered-up version of a summer style that doesn’t involved purdah. A spaghetti-strap vest doesn’t do much for most women over 30, but you can wear one with thicker straps and a cool-looking racer back. Again, layering vests is a great way to achieve a youthful summer look without revealing lots of flesh. Invest in thin cardigans (from Gap or American Apparel) – they’re an inexpensive way to add colour and cover arms, if they’re your issue.

The classic white shirt can be stifling on a hot day, but there are lots of thin embroidered cotton tops around. If you need tailoring to pull you together, this is your moment: the hip-length tailored waistcoat pioneered at YSL is now on the high street and it’s fabulous.

Finally, become obsessed with the upkeep of your skin – exfoliate, depilate and keep a moisturiser in your bag. I love skin oils such as Nude Hibiscus Monoi Oil (£35.20 for 200ml; www.beautyexpert.com). It’s a treat to use sparingly – and sparingly is how you should use oils. As for creams, L’Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream (£25 for 200ml) is satisfyingly thick. Pedicures add to the glossy look – pinky reds and burgundies look gorgeous on pale feet. There’s something glamorous about meticulous grooming that more than compensates for not revealing miles of flesh.

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