‘I love winter clothes,’ we say to ourselves in October. ‘Cosy ribbed tights, proper boots, adorable hats… This is my season!’ What fools we are.

Of course the winter we're envisaging is photogenic and, crucially, fictional: Barbra Streisand in her wool coat at the end of The Way We Were; Ali McGraw's cosy hats and scarves in Love Story; Carrie Bradshaw snuggling under a tartan blanket with the Russian, on a snowy horse-and-cart ride through Central Park. Putting aside the fact that all of our winter style fantasies weirdly take place in the USA, they also have an unrealistic lack of soggy socks, kamikaze umbrellas and infuriating journeys on public transport. 

A British winter is rarely snow-laden and beautiful – it's damp, cold and grey and it can drag on for five months. And those five months are full of clothing challenges and mishaps. You might be coping right now, but you’ll fall out of love with your high-maintenance winter wardrobe long before the season’s out, and start daydreaming about flippy summer frocks and the feel of sunshine on bare arms. Here are the 20 pitfalls that will push you over the edge – and convince you to book a holiday.