There are certain staples that will always be capsule wardrobe heroes, and Ruth Jones’ denim midi dress is one of those pieces. To watch Jane McDonald perform at the London Palladium Theatre earlier this week, she stepped out in the denim midi short-sleeve dress from Whistles, which is currently 40% off in the brand’s autumn sale.

As well as being a bargain, the dress is a standout choice when it comes to autumn outfit ideas. The simple cut, classic silhouette and versatile denim fabric mean it can be worn time and time again, and for a variety of occasions, too.

Just like jeans, denim dresses can be dressed up or down, with new choices of accessories and shoes helping to give them a different spin with each rewear. This means they hold serious mileage, so investing in one this season can leave you with an easy, year-round staple to rely on.

Shop Denim Midi Dresses

All Ruth had to do to accessorise her Whistles midi and give it a perfectly polished flair for a night at the theatre was add some simple gold hoops and a couple of bangle bracelets. We can’t see what shoes she opted to finish her look with, but some ballet flats, a pair of ankle boots or your best white trainers would all make great options if you’re recreating her style for date night outfits this season.

For a more casual, everyday spin, try layering your favourite knitwear over a denim dress like Ruth’s, instead of wearing your go-to cardigans and best wool jumpers with your most comfortable jeans. Adding some knee-high boots to an outfit like this, and one of the best trench coats on those rainier days, can bring a more refined feel.

The best trench coats never go out of style, but if you want a contemporary twist on the classic beige design, look no further than Ruth Jones for outerwear inspiration this season.

Giving the spring design a chic and occasionwear-ready makeover, the star's coat was quite the showstopper, and while the best trench coats are usually chosen for their muted, unobtrusive design, in this case, the coat makes the outfit.

Her Karen Millen printed jacquard trench mix coat is still an incredibly wearable design, but adds a burst of personality to the classic silhouette, and gives it a dressier, fashion-forward feel. While her tan version is out of stock, the black and white iteration is in stock and will make a glorious addition to any spring wardrobe.

Shop Spring-Ready Trench Coats

Trench coats are always in the style spotlight, but this spring they seem to be particularly popular. Last month, Burberry reinvigorated the style with several different trench styles on its AW26 runway, and M&S’s new affordable trench coat has made adding the best trench coats to our spring capsule wardrobes a breeze. But we don’t often see styles like Ruth’s, so if you want something a little different, now is the time.

Despite its busy pattern, Ruth wore her trench coat alongside leopard print; however, instead of overwhelming each other, the patterns complemented one another beautifully and proved that a patterned trench coat can be just as versatile as its plain counterpart.

When it comes to how to style a trench coat, like Ruth, we’ll be styling our trench coats with all of our occasion wear looks this spring. But they’re just as easily paired with smart casual outfit ideas, such as jeans and a jumper for weekend wear.