I have a bit of an aversion for anything ‘hi-vis’. It’s not because I am anti-authoritarian and spend hours arguing with the social justice types known to favour high-visibility attire, such as the police, security guards or even those national treasures the lollipop ladies. No, my aversion is because of the lack of form and design that the hi-vis jacket so often embodies.

I own a hi-vis waistcoat, but the soulless shapeless nylon garment of safety last had an outing in 2009.

The mornings were cold and dark and because of a recent accident with a car, my confidence was very low – low enough to make me reach for the vest that fashion forgot.

Since then, however, not much on me is hi-vis. I am not an ‘emo’ or ‘raver’ or whatever you call those kids who smother themselves in reflective and UV war paint for an evening. No, I am middle of the road, favour mainly high street clobber, and my staple wardrobe is mostly black. Without lights I am invisible to all other road users, especially those nearing the expiry of their driving licences.

With all my fashion-conscious worries, people often advise me on the latest reflective product – such as the wonderful Spot Me badges.

These are created by Katie Barton, a textile artist in trendy London. She knows less is more for people like me, and by creatively arranging her embroidered 3M reflective pin badges on bags or clothing you can enjoy hi-vis without the fashion disaster.

Yes, Katie has brought hi-vis back into my life, and I love her for it.

You can get a pack of three yourself, from Walton Street Cycles.

Something wonderful and hi-vis that also caught my eye last week was modelled by illustrator Ted Dewan, from Beech Croft Road. At a Cyclox (the cycling campaign for Oxford) talk, Ted explained how he turned his road into a safer place to live rather than the Formula 1 track it once was.

He showed us his specially-designed scarf, used to adorn city councillor Jean Fooks at the completion ceremony in the newly-designed street. Woven with reflective yarn, his scarf cost a whopping £200. So although I was rather taken with it, I am not rushing out to have one specially made.

What I will stretch to, though, is the standard scarf sold by Lost Values (lostvalues.com). It is not an impulse buy at £76, but is worth the cost as it will make me reflective on those dark winter nights.

Also available are reflective pompoms. If you have kids I can see these being a big hit.

I can’t say I will miss the old trusted hi-vis waistcoat of my past once it goes into the bin, though I have to pay homage to its unfaltering dedication to keeping me seen and safe.

From now on, however, I am on a mission to find reflective wear that keeps me looking chic – as not only do I want to be seen and safe, I also want to be stylish.