Are your clothes giving people around you the ‘ick’? Britain’s most stylish women given their damning verdicts – and they’re coming for your polka dots, leggings and sleeveless tops

Have you ever felt the ick? That visceral feeling of disgust towards a person or object, often triggered by trivial things.

The term was coined by sun-kissed 20-something contestants on Love Island, while discussing potential romantic partners poolside. But today it is so embedded in the zeitgeist it can be used about anything from food to the weather. So, what’s your fashion ick?

Alexandra Shulman, former Vogue editor

I don’t think I could ever bring myself to buy a pair of Mary Janes. It’s such a ridiculous name and would make me feel infantilised even if I didn’t mind how the shoes looked.

Penelope Tree, supermodel

Leggings worn on the street, unless combined with long pieces of clothing on top, such as a salwar kameez tunic or a long coat/jacket. Otherwise, it’s TMAD – too much anatomical detail.

Liz Jones, columnist

Men who wear vests on public transport: I don’t want to see your armpit hair. Men who don’t iron their T-shirts: lazy. Barrel jeans: beware strong winds. Polka dots: you’re not Kate Middleton.

Jackie Annesley, editor

Mid-brown everything. Enough now! And grey leather men’s shoes. They whisper: ‘Beware.’

Natasha Tomalin-Hall, creative director

Mesh pumps – I don’t want to see your toes pressed together like sausage meat inside its casing.

Sophie Dearden-Howell, fashion director

Women in dungarees. You look juvenile and undone in a way that is worry-inducing.

Charlotte Cox, chief sub-editor

Wrap dresses. They make you look like you’ve just had a makeover from Trinny and Susannah in the 90s.

Hannah Skelley, fashion editor

Cloven-hoof shoes. You look like a goat. And god knows what’s gathering in that crevice.

Mary Killen, columnist

Fascinators, facial piercings and shorts over tights.

Joanne Hegarty, fashion columnist

When someone buys a new coat or blazer and doesn’t cut the little thread holding the back slit closed.

Maddy Fletcher, senior features writer

One-shoulder dresses (why is an entire sleeve missing?). It’s weird when you think about it too much.

Rosie Green, beauty editor

Footsies, aka low-cut pop socks. They are meant to be invisible but blatantly are not.

Ester Malloy, picture director

Men who wear sunglasses on the top of their head.

Nicole Gray, interiors director

Crocs. Where style goes to die.

Sophie Hines, lifestyle director

I’ve tried a few times to leave the house with my socks pulled up to mid-calf over my leggings, but as soon as I catch myself in the mirror it looks preposterous.

Jessica Carroll, junior style editor

Blazers with faux turn-up sleeves that have been sewn into place. Cheap!

Marianne Jones, features director

Gilets of any description, but particularly those worn on non-workdays by finance bros. Also, sports tops when not playing or watching sport.

Kathryn Flett, writer

Sleeveless things that should have sleeves: eg buttoned-up collared shirts/polo shirts. Anyone trying this to look crisply put-together in hot weather without Michelle Obama’s toned upper arms just looks Hulk-y. ICK!

Lindsay Frankel, deputy editor

Men, if you really must wear flip-flops, please keep your toe hair in check. And your toenails. But, really, it’s preferable that you never wear flip-flops at all.

Kath Brown, features director

Puff sleeves and frills on women over the age of 12. In the summer it’s impossible to find a dress that doesn’t have them. Not chic!

Scarlett Dargan, digital writer

Three-quarter-length Bermuda shorts. They make you look like a 67-year-old dad on holiday.

Farrah O’Connor, stylist

Do not let me see your ‘invisible’ plastic bra strap.

Victoria Hislop, novelist

Just seeing a mohair jumper makes me itch. And the fluff gets everywhere.