A stylish collection of clothes was on display at the Oxfordshire Museum at Woodstock at the weekend for the launch of an exhibition highlighting the work of Oxford’s leading coutuur house, Annabelinda, set up in premises behind the New Theatre in 1971.

Anyone lucky enough to possess one of their outfits was asked to come along wearing it. My friend and colleague Helen Peacocke, who has no fewer than four, turned up the feching ensemble you can see above. It looks good enough, as I am sure you will agree, to justify her double appearance in Gray Matter today.

Helen told me: "Attending the launch of the Annabelinda exhibition proved quite an emotional event for many women, who were reminded of the many beautiful garments Annabelinda has made for them over the years.

“Seeing them together (some wearing garments that were at least 35 years old) was an amazing sight. Despite the fact we were all wearing vintage garments, it looked a very modern gathering. The fact that we had all kept our Annabelinda garments and not passed them on to charity shops is testimony to the classic nature of the design. Those garments created during the past 39 years look as good now as they did all those years ago."