The temperatures are dropping, the air is crisper, and A/W 2012 fashion has hit the high street with a vengeance! Obviously, while the weather gears up to get colder and colder we are ready and waiting with a bevy of trends that are fun, elegant and – most importantly – warm.
What should we be stocking up on? My vote goes to knitwear (which seems to have taken on a life of its own in 2012); the bigger and chunkier your knits the better. Knitted cardigans in a range of colours, prints and patterns have been brightening up the rails of high street stores since September with ‘oversized’ and ‘extra large’ being the most popular requests from the changing rooms. Thanks to fashion big hitters like Balenciaga, Chloe and Gucci almost everything is set to be larger-than-average this winter. Expect to see those in the fashion-know wearing jumpers, snoods and cardigans in a size bigger than usual and more than likely wearing them all at once – the more layers the better.
If you really want to up the fashion ante, ensure that your chunky knit is geometric. Checks, stripes and graphic shapes are taking over where animal prints left off last year and with this trend applying to dresses, tops and coats as well, there’s no excuse for mono-colour this winter. You also have the option of adding a sheen to your soft winter woollens by teaming them with something super shiny! Patent leathers, PVC and rubberised rainwear are slick, sexy and – better still – will keep you dry as you wade through the inevitable puddles.
Another Autumn heavy-hitter is the military trend. Many designers. from Victoria Beckham to Salvatore Ferragamo. have been favouring the tougher, more precise cut of military wear. Despite being influenced by the men in boots, this season the military trend uses much softer materials than your average Squaddie kit. With a tailored finish, the military coat flatters in all the right places and avoids the incredibly heavy silhouette of many winter coats.
While military focuses on exacting tailoring, there is always room in your wardrobe for cuts that emphasise your womanly shape. Silhouettes with peplums and panniers are trickling into every major retailer and are the best way to celebrate women’s curves. Simplest tip? Work the 50s movie star look and invest in the brightest, reddest lipstick you can find to complement your outfit.
A quick recap, then: This winter you can choose to wrap it all up in chunky woollies, express your creative side with prints and patterns and work your figure in military wear and womanly silhouettes. Something for everyone, as they* say.
*The voices in my head.