Cast your mind back to early summer, when every fashion person emerged from their house in a silky slip dress, complete with a silk or cotton bandana cinching in the waist. Remember the look? Alexa Chung was one of the trend’s earliest adopters; in fact, she helped cement it as one of the season’s defining trends.

So, when I spotted her swapping her silk bandana for a wide-brimmed cummerbund this week, I knew I had to pay attention. Taking the menswear essential into her own wardrobe, Alexa styled the sleek sash around her waist, neatly bridging the gap between her skirt and knitwear in place of where a simple belt might once have sat.

Rooted in the history of formal menswear, the cummerbund brings a sleek, sophisticated edge to an outfit, making it an unexpectedly effective way to elevate everyday dressing. While I love the borrowed-from-the-boys appeal of pairing one with tailored trousers, I suspect it’s the knee-length skirt combinations that will resonate most in fashion circles this season, particularly given the growing momentum behind this skirt silhouette.