Trends

ASOS Panda Bag

Fashion is going through a cute phase. Animal faces and quirky motifs are popping up on everything from shoes to jumpers, bags and earmuffs. One of the originators to the trend was Marc Jacobs and his mouse pumps, remember those? Too sweet. Now I’d like to draw your attention to cute arm candy as seen on Chelsea Leyland and Alice Dellal.

These are quirky trophy bags, a great way to add an extra edge to an outfit. A talking point and bit of fun. For some of the best, look to Lulu Guinness, the queen of cute accessories. The new Doll Face collection features a range of clutches, totes and purses with flirty face prints in classic black, white and red. Prices start at £45 for a coin purse. I also love the Dice Bag (although it’s a little off-topic); crafted from black perspex and accented with white perspex buttons, it is some statement arm candy. Chelsea Leyland teamed her Lulu Guinness with an edgy look of black sheer top and tassel mini.

Stella McCartney Knit Dress Stella McCartney Argle Knit

Having a chat with mother yesterday over the Sunday Times Style magazine she said, ‘It’s good isn’t it that proper jumpers are in fashion at the moment’. And she’s right – proper jumpers are on trend, and it is a good thing. I remember a few years ago traipsing the shops for a warm jumper that I thought was fashionable and having to come home empty handed.  Now, thanks to the heritage trend revival, it is easy to find knitwear that’s both practical and warm, and stylish and cool.

I’m not just talking about granny jumpers, but also cashmere sweaters and sculpted knitwear. It is thanks to designers showing proper clothing on the catwalks that we can snugly clothe ourselves from the high street this winter. Designers like Stella McCartney, who says, ‘knitwear plays on texture and volume and becomes a really important part of the wardrobe this season.’ McCartney has gone all out to create stunning knitwear of architectural proportions.

Take the Felted Form Sleeveless Dress, an Aran cable knit dress with cap sleeves and sculpted cocoon shape with exaggerated hips. It costs £655 but is made from 100% wool and is quite something to behold. They also offer a long-sleeved version and cardigan cable knit styles in powder blue, coral pink and sand.

Red Chinos Debenhams

I will forgive you for thinking red trousers are ‘so last season’, because to a certain extent they are. Red jeans at least, popped up on the trend radar before quietly falling back down again. Red trousers divide opinions, red in general divides opinions. Some people love it, whilst others are scared of it. The colour of passion, love and danger, red isn’t one for the shy.

This Friday (26th October 2012) tens of thousands of people across the UK, continental Europe, and beyond, are expected to turn up to their places of work on wearing red trousers to show their support for the Geneva Charity Ball, one of Europe’s glitziest fundraisers for children’s charities. Why not join them?

“Red Friday is about having a good time doing good and this year it signals the two week countdown to the Geneva Charity Ball, a lavish, high-octane event being held this year on 10th November,” explains Chairman, James Bradley. “For all the naysayers, wait and see what happens on Friday!  We’re going to reclaim the coolness of the red trouser.”

Geneva Charity Ball Event director, Kyle Karim, adds: “We’re urging everyone who takes part this year to upload their photos on our Facebook page.  We want to raise awareness of the Geneva Charity Ball - which supports life-enhancing charitable organisations – by bringing red trousers back into the fashion fold.”

Chinti & Parker Letter Sweater Chinti & Parker Letter Sweater

I love these jumpers! Ethical luxury label Chinti and Parker have launched a collection of letter sweaters inspired by the lettered knits of varsity teams. Knitted from 100% cashmere, in simple navy and cream styles, wear yours with Ivy League pride! There are 13 letters to choose from – A, C, D, E, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T.

I’d go for E, or maybe M. Made exclusively for chintiandparker.com and net-a-porter.com the sweater only comes in one size with a relaxed fit. You pay £350 for the cashmere and exclusive design, not cheap, but a beautiful piece none the less. Wear yours with skinny jeans, cords or thick knitted leggings for a preppy look on or off campus.

Chinti and Parker work under the banner, ‘conscious cloth’. Cousins Anna Singh and Rachael Wood launched the brand in October 2009 with a clear mission to create beautiful, ethically made garments that value style on par with substance. With classic style, luxury fabrics and an ethical conscious, the label was propelled into Vogue and the wardrobe of many a celeb. Chinti and Parker specialise in relaxed basics with a chic finish – knitwear, cotton separates and accessories.

All Saints Neely Dress

It’s only three weeks off Halloween, which is always the perfect excuse to bring out your gothic side. A bit of black velvet, purple lipstick and lots of lace goes down a treat for the sexy goth holiday look. This year though, you won’t have to search far to find those Halloween suitable pieces, because black gothic looks are on trend. Why dress just for Halloween, when you can dress for an etire season?

Goth is nothing to be afraid of; the key is to keep it slick and stylish. Chanel, Alexander McQueen and YSL all showcased goth on their AW12 catwalks. Valentino Couture did the elegant goth look to perfection with cascading floor length black gowns, high necklines and capes. Gucci was inspired by 19th-century bohemians, featuring slithery velvet skirts, flowing chiffon gowns and brocade trousers, all in a palette of inky black, deep emerald and wine. Chanel put on a fierce runway of black velvet, layering and chiffon skirts. Even Erdem, normally all sunshine and light added deep purple to his collection and fused his signature lace with black latex on shift dresses.

Cath Kidston Deer Jumper French Connection Owl Jumper

Autumn/winter 2012 went wild for the animal theme. Particularly animal jumpers, and specifically woodland animal jumpers. Deer, bears, foxes and owls will be adorning a chest near you. Even Boutique by Jaeger, who I blogged about last week and who normally stays true to its sophisticated roots with a youthful edge, has a fox print jumper in store this winter.

These jumpers aren’t new for this season, but the animals of choice are. Two winters ago it was all about the dog print.  I bought a cream sweater from Topshop with a grey Scottie dog print. Then it was the cat, and now it has gone wild and moved away from the domestic sphere into the British woodland. The trend could be tracked back to Markus Lupfer, who is one step ahead and has this season focused his graphic print knitwear on to comic themed styles.

For a cute Disney style jumper check out this deer sweater by Cath Kidston. Famed for her interiors it’s easy to forget that Cath Kidston also does clothing and this sweater is a top pick from her winter collection. It is made from a lambswool, angora, synthetic mix and costs £70. French Connection has a more modern take on the look with a graphic styled owl jumper (£67). It is grey in lightweight knit with a round neck. Both are great for off duty looks with a twist. French Connection also does a sequin owl jumper for days and nights which deserve a touch of sparkle.

ASOS Doctor Bag Anya Hindmarch Bag

I don’t have to tell you about the power of accessories. Accessories can make or break an outfit and I’m putting bags into this camp. A new handbag is always a great investment, instantly updating your wardrobe and providing excellent cost-per-use (if you consider practicality in your purchasing criteria). Whether we think the ‘It’ bag is dead and buried or alive and well, statement bags always play a role in new season’s trends. So which trend will you buy into?

Country Heritage

Country heritage style bags will be your go-to favourite this season. It’s not all rolling around in the fields though, because this season’s heritage has a sophisticated equestrian vibe. Burberry does it best with luxe fabrics and leather tassels but try Chloe for classic leather and Stella McCartney for tartan styles.

Doctor Bags

A favourite of city dwelling office workers, the Doctor bag is stylish and practical. Stick to black and wear with a pussy-bow blouse. Try Alaia and Proenza Schouler or check out ASOS.

Beaded Clutch

Cobalt Blue Trend ASOS Book Clutch

Cobalt blue might not be the most obvious autumn/winter shade. Bright as a clear summer’s day and deep as the tropical ocean, cobalt blue seems more fitting for spring/summer. Navy is a winter shade, rich and forgiving. This winter though, cobalt blue is where its at. All over the AW12 catwalks, and soon to be landing on a high street near you, it will be difficult to escape cobalt blue.

For dressed down sweaters, satin evening wear and scrummy woollen coats, cobalt blue reigned supreme. DKNY showed long flowing maxi dresses, a strong pillar of blue. The shade also shone through at Isabel Marant, Preen, Lanvin, Sportsmax, Balenciaga and Richard Nicoll. It works beautifully on velvet, which pushes it further into winter and away from summer. Cocoon shapes are the way to wear it as outerwear and Erdem mixed it into his signature florals.

It is actually not a difficult colour to wear and suits most skin colours. It can brighten up dull days without being overly girlie or garish. Introduce the shade into your wardrobe in blocks – a shift dress, a coat, a pencil skirt. Team it with carbon black wardrobe staples or go daring with a bright pink. Do not team it with yellow! Karen Millen has a highly wearable trench coat on offer which will see you through season after season.

Boux Avenue Cutsey Bra

Lingerie store Boux Avenue is showing their support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a whole host of pink products. Why not treat yourself to some new lingerie or pyjamas content with the notion that you are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month too?

Breast Cancer Care is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to providing emotional and practical support for anyone affected by breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Month runs throughout October with a range of events going on and plenty of fundraising opportunities. A number of companies are showing their support by offering special pink products with a proportion of profits donated to the cause. Everything from bread (yes bread, Burgen will donate 2p per pack to Breast Cancer Care), flowers (Asda’s Tickled Pink Bouquet donates 50p to the cause) and candles (Yankee’s Candle Pink Blush Large Housewarmer Jar donates £1 to the cause).

Fashion and accessories are one of the key product areas offering undies, slippers, jewellery and clothing. Tomassa’s Pink Clouds jewellery collection offers a 10% donation from each sale, but with prices ranging from £750 to £4,500 that is quite a commitment. You’re better off heading over to Boux Avenue where you can buy something just as pretty for a fraction of the price.

M&S Nude Shoe

Marks & Spencer are reaping the success of our national love of the Duchess of Cambridge’s style. Last year nude court shoes soared in popularity after Kate stepped out in them more than a few times. Nude in general has become a key fashion trend of the last few seasons, bringing back classic feminine dressing. The Duchess of Cambridge is renowned for favouring her nude LK Bennett court shoes, but M&S have an affordable option.

Marks & Spencer have a style of nude court shoes similar to those loved by the Duchess of Cambridge and they are flying off the shelves.  Since featuring in the new M&S television adverts, the high street store has sold an average of one pair every two minutes over the last week. The shoe is one of Marks & Spencer's best-selling shoe styles of all time.

"Nude court shoes have always been a popular style for us however, their popularity has grown by royal proportions over the last year and even more so since featuring in our September television advert," said Sally Ambrose to Vogue online, head of buying for footwear and accessories at Marks & Spencer. "Although celebrity influence can often be a factor to increased sales the nude court shoe is a classic wardrobe staple that every woman should own."

Halston Heritage Sequin Dress

Roy Halston Frowick was the original man behind Halston – the cult seventies fashion brand. An American fashion designer, Halston was altering clothing and hats for his mother and sisters from a young age, and by the age of 18, was working as a window dresser. The Halston brand experienced huge success before the designer died in 1990. Then in 2009, the legendary American label launched its Heritage brand, Halston Heritage, the most recent collection of which has just landed at Net-a-Porter.

Halston Heritage has brought back to life some of the brand’s signature styles - draped one-shoulder gowns, fluid jumpsuits and tuxedo-style tailoring for a Studio 54-inspired take on modern dressing. The brand however, is a permanent fixture on the discount site the Outnet. Does this mean that Halston Heritage doesn’t sell?

Halston had a strong connection to pop culture evident by his friends and clients, who included Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger and Elizabeth Taylor. The modern Halston Heritage woman is a lover of simple, feminine shapes and easy chic dressing. The AW12 collection features a wearable palette of black, camel, grey and navy with a sexy splash of red. Perfect for stylish office wear, the Halston woman is a professional who likes to look well-groomed.

Burberry SS13

Today saw a whole host of big names at London Fashion Week – Erdem, Christopher Kane and JW Anderson for example. It was Burberry Prorsum that continues to be one of the most highly anticipated shows of the LFW season though, and thanks to live streaming on the Burberry website, the spring summer 2013 show was fully inclusive.

There was a lot of colour to the collection with candy shades and jewel tones teamed with camel and beige. Creative director Christopher Bailey seemed to take inspiration from that British favourite, Quality Streets as trenches and capes in foil shades of fuchsia, raspberry, maroon and gold, green and cerulean all made their way down the catwalk. The same look was shown at Burberry menswear.

Cape shapes dominated, offering a chic cover-up if we experience another wet summer. There were even transparent shower proof versions. The voluptuous collection included huge bell sleeves on trench coats and jackets that then worked to mimic the shape of full skirts below. They were balanced out with thin wedge shoes, scalloped all the way up the foot and again in bright flashes of colour.

Micro knickers added the fun factor worn with cropped capes and slim fitting jackets. Accessories had a foil-like sheen too, with tote bags in shimmering jewel shades or transparent, continuing the trend of last summer. Models looked natural, accessorised just with sunglasses and belt tied tightly around the waist.

Victoria Beckham SS13

As London Fashion Week kicks off today, New York Fashion Week has already been and gone. Basking in glorious sunshine, fashion editors, buyers and bloggers descended on New York City to see the best of the SS13 collections. So what does summer 2013 have on offer for fashion lovers? Here is a round-up of the key trends.

Shapes were slouchy. Yep, you have full permission to slouch, or at least your clothes do. A relaxed look replaces the body-con styles of previous seasons. This doesn’t mean there wasn’t any skin on show though as the exposed midriff is hanging around. Put it away for winter, but come next spring it’s time to get that toned tummy out again as seen at Rag & Bone, Edun and Alexander Wang. The new way to wear a bralet is covered by an open, loose blouse, sheer if you will.

Amongst the perennial summer shades was an abundance of orange. Bright and fun, orange graced the catwalks of Victoria Beckham, Peter Som and Alice & Olivia. One way to wear orange is with another catwalk favourite, the classic white shirt. Organic styles were shown by Edun, classics with a sexy twist at Victoria Beckham, and at Alexander Wang the white shirt took on a boxy shape.

Stripes and florals ruled the prints. Stripes popped up in all colours with monochrome looks at J. Crew and Marc Jacobs and classic sailor blues at Tommy Hilfiger. Florals were muted with a vintage vibe overriding the bright digital prints of previous seasons. Some girls will be thrilled to hear that shoes were predominately flat. Indeed the kitten heel (see my how-to of how to wear it) of this season will shrink even further.

Sequin Stripe Dress Topshop Unique Topshop Unique Rucksack

The second drop of Topshop Unique’s AW12 collection has landed and it is lush. What’s more, at least half of it is made in Britain. Using rich autumnal shades the collection has a cool, carefree and almost androgynous vibe with oversized knits, utilitarian jackets and textured dresses. Go online to see how the Topshop team wear theirs and read on for my top picks of the new season.

The cotton Bubble Jumper (£80) is the perfect throw-over sweater. Available in cream and black, it has a textured knit and zip detail finish. Longer at the back, it is perfect for skimming over thighs and should be worn with skinny jeans or leggings, or a boxy skirt for an Olsen twins look.

Jadore Kitten Heel

Something is changing in the world of fashion. Women are shunning their killer heels in favour of kitten heels. This season is all about the smaller heel and your feet will thank you for it. It started with Alexa Chung, when she was photographed wearing 2 inch baby pink pumps by Valentino. She teamed hers with an above the knee mini dress and classic trench coat.

The kitten heel has been on the runways since SS11, a chic addition from the ladylike trends. I think we got to the point when heels just couldn’t go any higher. Don’t get me wrong, a well-structured high heel can look beautifully sexy, but no one can walk elegantly in the super platform heels that we have seen of late. And the whole point of the heel is to look elegant and attractive, not clumsy and uncomfortable.

Some of the best designer kitten heels this season come from Isabel Marant (suede stilettos), Celine (block pumps) and Prada (two-tone flatforms). The high street has yet to catch up in some instances, but Topshop and Zara should be your go-to stores for affordable midi heels. I adore these Jadore off white snake leather kitten heels from Topshop, £50 and these comfortable heeled ballerina shoes, £49.99 from Zara.

Reed Krakoff Jacket

What does a women’s trouser suit say to you? Fashion-phobe who thinks you can’t succeed in business without dressing like a man? Easy option workwear uniform? Or chic style snatcher? This season there are many ways to wear trouser suits and all of them super stylish. The autumn winter 12/13 catwalks were strong on new season tailoring and the high street will have plenty to offer come fall.

Acne, always one for hard-edged attitude, showed androgynous trouser and jacket combos. Oversized designs were teamed with roll neck jumpers, not a flash of cleavage in sight. Miu Miu favoured dandy with buttoned-up printed blouses and jewel coloured trouser suits teamed with shiny black brogues. Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani contributed European chic to the mix with high buttoned jackets and textured pattern.

Indeed, there are four ways to wear this trend:

1. Boyish – Take heed from Acne and team an oversized jacket with straight leg trousers and clumpy brogues.
2. Colour – Stand out from the boys by opting for navy, red, green or even orange (as seen at Prada).  A contrast detail like a coloured lapel is a contemporary spin on the look.
3. Eccentric – Not for the faint-hearted, get your eccentric suit out for evenings off. Try stripes, floral or paisley.
4. Elegant – Is the safe bet and there is nothing wrong with that. The elegant suit can be brought out for work, dinner or wedding. It flatters all body shapes with the right fit and is a life-long keeper.

You don’t necessarily need a matchy-matchy suit to wear this trend, you can mix pieces up. Team a vintage jacket with a pair of high street trousers. If the suit jacket is too formal, wear your tailored trousers with a colour co-ordinated cardigan. This look is all about making it work for you.

Jacket Reed Krakoff, £1,570 net-a-porter

Alexander McQueen Baroque

Opposing minimalism this autumn/winter is the new season baroque. Opulence and rich attention to detail makes for a beautiful evening trend with Faberge prints and embellishments at Balmain and gold and velvet combos at Dolce and Gabbana. Even Vivienne Westwood pushed punk style aside for more of a Disney princess vibe for AW12. Gucci, Marni and Stella McCartney too, all saluted the new baroque.

This is a scrumptious trend, perfect not just for Christmas and New Year parties but for a little bit of glamour every day. Black, gold, velvet, print, embroidery and embellishment is the way to embrace the trend. At the high, super high, end of the spectrum we have this stunning Alexander McQueen black and red wool-blend intarsia skater style dress. With a nod to Victorian gothic glamour, it is truly a sight to behold and a ‘snip’ at £1,520. Another piece of McQueen I am in love with are these dangerously red snake ribbon tie heels, £1,215.

Try Marni and Marc Jacobs for jacquard separates. This Marni brocade top is a super chic way to work the aesthetic in a fresh palette of mint-green, pale-blue and peach. Or update a LBD with this Theysken’s Theory Jelsor Gold Zip Jacket, £525 and covered in shimmering gold metallic jacquard. Team with opaque tights.

Karen Millen

As we start thinking about autumn and nights drawing in (sorry, but we need to face facts) we can look forward to a whole new wardrobe. Out with the pastels which so dominated the summer, and in with earthy shades and bright colour blocking. One of the combinations to heat up AW12/13 is red and black. If that sounds a bit goth-esque for you, then trust me it needn’t be.

Once sidelined as an eighties combo, red and black is back. Christopher Kane, Jason Wu and Victoria Beckham all showed the trend on their AW catwalks. At Christoper Kane it was all about playing with transparency – rose printed see-through red dresses edged with black sleeves and waist. Victoria Beckham went body-con with fierce red and black dresses oozing Beckham sex-appeal.

Red and black is a great combination. The trick is in looking sharp and slick rather than, well, cheap. Take a leaf out of Jason Wu’s book by using a darker shade as an accent on a bold scarlet piece. Red jeans, which were so on trend last winter can be brought back and teamed with a chunky black sweater. Accessories can be used to accentuate the trend, try red and black pumps or red nail polish teamed with a chic black ensemble.

From Somewhere With Speedo

It certainly has a mermaid chic vibe – siren of the sea. This dress was made by ethical fashion brand From Somewhere from upcycled Speedo swimsuits. The bespoke ball gown was produced using surplus fabric from Speedo’s Fastskin Super Elite Swimsuit, technology designed for top athletes. The result is the ‘Unity’ dress, a colourful, full-length, body-con number.

The dress was designed by From Somewhere’s Orsola de Castro in partnership with Rebecca Jayne Taylor, a graduate from Falmouth University. Multi-talented Rebecca studied fashion design but also enjoys experimenting with styling, photography and make-up. The innovative concept gown was made using off-cuts from special edition versions of suit in colours of Speedo sponsored swimming teams from the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Spain, Japan, Canada, Netherlands and Israel.

Orsola de Castro said: “I think our dress speaks about water, and water is life. It’s about the environment, and preserving water which should be a priority for all humankind. We wanted to really concentrate on the idea of having a traditional evening gown that totally mimics sportswear design techniques. The sewing, finishes and details were constructed as if the dress would also have to withstand swimming, which presented an exciting challenge.”

Sister Jane Tweed Jacket

You might not associate tweed with summer dressing, but a) it works and b) summer dressing has pretty much been thrown out the window anyway. Celebs and models have been stepping out in the trend with pastel tweeds in short cuts really hitting the spot. Find the classic look at Chanel and Lanvin, or shop the high street for affordable alternatives.

Tweed conjures up imagines of country style and warm winter coats. There is something very English about tweed. Worn badly it can be aging and fuddy-duddy, but worn well tweed is a classic and can make you looked smarter, cooler, more sophisticated. Chanel has kept the tweed jacket look alive for decades, after rolling out the first style in 1936. Made in the Duke of Westminster’s factory and lined in fur, a classic cover-up was born. Chanel SS12 mixed crisp white with beautiful pastel shades and plenty of texture. The classic tweed suit was re-imagined for summer with a pearlised finish - full skirts and jackets cut shoulder-blade high at the back to show off pearl-studded spines. 

A classic Chanel tweed jacket will set you back a couple of grand, much like Lanvin’s take on the look with this glass pearl embellished boucle tweed jacket. Add the matching pencil skirt and top-to-toe elegance will set you back more than £3000. You can get a more affordable and perhaps more wearable tweed jacket from Paul & Joe Sister. This blue perceval style for £96 (half price) is now on my-wardobe.com.

Tribeca Trench

It’s still raining. Oh it’s not at your house? Well count yourself lucky. A fashion storm is brewing – Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Marc Jacobs all showed see through rainwear on the SS12 catwalk. Should we have paid more attention to this weather forecast shown last September? Clearly this designer trio knew something the Met Office didn’t.

Dolce & Gabbana showed striking orange transparent rainwear with black trim, including PVC skirts, but if catwalk prices are out of your reach try new rainwear label Terra New York. Terra New York is a new, smart and innovative designer rainwear company created by a duo of designers, marketing professionals, and bicycle lovers. Founders Yurika Nakazono and Marie Saeki set out to solve every fashionista’s dilemma – what to wear when it’s wet outside.

Terra New York rainwear products are crafted to withstand heavy rain while projecting a sleek and stylish look. Their raincoats are 100% water proof, using heat sealed technic for the seams to stop water. Breathable openings in the sleeves and underneath flap storms provide comfort to the wearer. With a Christopher Raeburn type look but at half the price, Terra New York create stylish parkas, trench coats and capes.

I love the Tribeca water-proof trench, with a belted waist and A-line shape, what could be more feminine? Smart enough to wear to work and comfy enough to sport whilst cycling, the Tribeca trench is a great investment piece. The brand also sells waterproof pouches, perfect for keeping in your handbag or taking on holiday.

Michael Kors White Dress

LBD? That’s so AW11. For SS12 it has to be the LWD – Little White Dress. As seen on Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Daisy Lowe, you only have a window of a few weeks to wear the LWD right so you better make the most of it. The LWD has pushed itself to centre stage this summer, but what is the best way to wear it?

The LWD has a number of personalities. It can be cute and girlie, all Little House on the Prairie, or it can be fierce and sexy, think Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Transformers, or Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pose. Jessica Alba went for a figure hugging pencil skirt dress with white accessories, whilst Daisy Lowe opted flirty snow-white skater strapless dress teamed with black shoes. White connotes innocence, but play with the style for tantalising effect.

A monochrome look always looks super stylish, and can be a chic way to wear the trend. Team black accessories with a white dress or choose a white dress with black panelling, a-la Stella McCartney. A feminine soft style of dress would work well with silver of pastel accessories, depending on whether you are dressing for day or night, whilst a body con dress could be worn with colourful print accessories.

Richard Nicoll SS13 Hackett London SS13

The debut London Collections have landed. It was the first ever Menswear London Fashion Week, named the Men’s London Collections. Men do get some slack over here in Blighty, but our blokes are catching up with their Parisian and Italian counterparts. British menswear is a tight-knit community. A resurgence of vintage style and sportswear luxe, suits the Brit man down to the ground.

The Collections - a mishmash of the classic, refined tailoring and the urban, progressive new kept us longing for a vibrant 2013 summer ahead. The rules are simple: vibrant colours, microscopic textures and a trace of vintage nostalgia. There were well-known names including Hackett, TOPMAN Design, and Jonathon Sanders, alongside E Tautz, Orlebar Brown and Rake.

Richard Nicoll went for an electric look, with clean white and bright sea shades. A tennis vibe with short shorts and see-through shirts made for a collection which mixed an English sensibility with Italian confidence. E-Tautz had a masculine/feminine look going on with boxy shapes and simple lines. Bright pink and yellow were juxtaposed with black and navy.

Little English Wedding Company Necklace

ASOS say piling on jewellery which looks like it has been passed down the generations is a chic alternative to friendship bracelets. Heirloom inspired and vintage jewellery is certainly having a moment. Brooches, drop earrings, pendant lockets – we can’t get enough of them.

Lockets that open to reveal photographs became popular in the Victorian era and are a great keepsake item. Another type of locket was made in a filigree style with a small cushion in the centre to which a few drops of perfume should be added. Perfume lockets were popular in eras when personal hygiene was restricted and sweet smelling perfume was used to mask the odour of a person or their companions. We’re a nation obsessed with hygiene now but I could still fancy a multi-purpose locket like this!

I have lockets from childhood that sat in my jewellery box unworn for years. In recent months I’ve been enjoying wearing them as part of the trend for all things vintage. It’s not just lockets though - pearls, cocktail rings and drop earrings all fall into this category. Look out for Art Deco OTT styles and layer them up. Charity shops and your mum’s jewellery box are great places to start hunting down these gems but if those efforts prove fruitless try Past Times for new vintage inspired jewellery at affordable prices.  They have fab tortoiseshell-look pieces and beaded styles.

ASOS Cycling ShortsHow do you wear nineties sporty cycling shorts? With caution I would say. The skin tight jersey shorts style popped up on a handful of runways for the SS12 shows. Nineties looks have been around since last summer when we had cycling shorts at Louis Vuitton, DKNY and Topshop Unique. The trend trickled down to the high street with Saved by the Bell inspired looks.  

In terms of nineties fashion, crop tops and cut off denim is one thing, but cycling shorts is a whole different ball game. They are of course, partly inspired by the 2012 Olympics, and if the Olympic Games have inspired you to get sporty (physically) then you can get away with more sporty fashion styles because these shorts aren’t forgiving.

The key is to treat them like leggings and wear a top, tunic or dress which skims over your hips and bottom so the cycling shorts are just peeking out underneath. This is how Louis Vuitton and DKNY worked it last year, teaming jersey cycling shorts with dresses or denim shorts. Cycling shorts could really be your savour for wearing short day dresses, choose a short in a matching or contrasting colour. ASOS are selling basic cycling shorts for just £6 in a choice of four colours. For a full-on sporty vibe, team with an oversized tee and high top trainers.

Crocs Boat Shoe

Hands up – who bought a pair of Crocs? I didn’t but they did become a regular spot some time ago. I get that they’re practical but so are Fiat Cinquecentos, it doesn’t mean it would be our first choice. Crocs must still be doing something right though because they have just opened a new store in Cardiff, their first Welsh store.

Crocs have tried out a new concept with the store; the format intends to drive a holistic, engaging approach to the Crocs retail experience, whilst showcasing its expanded product line. Making use of an interactive space it invites customers to explore and play as well as shop. 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of Crocs and the new retail experience aims to highlight the brand’s expanding footwear line, which has more than 300 different product styles. Clearly there is more to Crocs than first impressions.

Although the classic Crocs Clogs are still a bestseller, the brand has a large range of footwear on offer. The classic clogs come in a great range of bright colours and are waterproof, easy to put on and worn with a massage like feel. But they also do sneakers, boots, sandals and even heels and wedges for the ladies.

Vero Moda Tennis Dress

The SS11 shows marked a turning point as the subdued and elegant look of previous seasons gave way to something altogether brighter and full of attitude. Even Phoebe Philo who barely broke away from the safe tones of black and navy in previous seasons, was suddenly taking on splashes of colour.  On other runways, Marni brought colour to basic tunic tops and sporty styles, Christopher Kane dazzled the audience with neon separates, and Jill Sander adopted rich blues, purples and yellows on cocoon shapes. 

SS12 sees this trend continuing. Although pastels took over many of the catwalks, colour blocking was most evident mixed in with the sportswear trends. DKNY, Aquascutum and Victoria Beckham splashed out with citrus shades of yellow and orange. Colour blocking doesn’t necessarily have to be bright, blocks of toned down colour on elegant dresses, as seen at Lanvin are an easy way in to the trend too.

You can pick up plenty of pieces from the colour blocking trend on the High Street by taking your pick of the new bright jeans, colourful blazers and stand out mini dresses, but before you dash to the shops check out these pointers.

DO

·         Grab some bright accessories to introduce yourself to colour if you’re weary.

·         Team colours from the same family, e.g. a baby pink dress with a fuchsia cardigan.

Valentino Espadrille Ralph Lauren Uma

Valentino’s leather and lace espadrilles are top spec. Hailing from the traditional espadrille shoe, Valentino’s pumps are casual yet uptown-chic. These runway shoes will lend your off-duty looks a hint of the label's beloved glamour. They are a gorgeous update to the traditional espadrille which is normally made of a canvas or cotton upper with rubber or rope sole, originating from the Pyrenees.

Valentino’s beautiful take on the classic shoe are handmade espadrilles of leather and lace. Costing £310 they have already sold out on net-a-porter in cream although they are available in black. Valentino is not the only brand giving the espadrille a luxury makeover this season, as Ralph Lauren, Emilio Pucci and Missoni are also in on the act albeit sticking with the classic cotton and rope style. Missoni’s striped crochet-knit espadrilles (£200) are super cute and easy to throw on. Whilst Ralph Lauren’s Uma suede and raffia espadrilles (£215) have a wedged heel and tie ankle.

The term espadrille is French and derives from the Occitan & Catalan name for the shoes, ‘espardenya’, which derives from espart, the Occitan/Catalan name for esparto, a tough, wiry Mediterranean grass used in making rope. Espadrilles have been made in Pyrennean Occitania and Catalonia since at least the 14th century. The shoe became fashionable across the US and UK in the 1940s and again in the 80s due to the success American TV crime series Miami Vice.

New Look Blazer

The preppy blazer is proving a big hit for women this spring, and why not? The blazer is the perfect transitional piece, easy to throw on and a contemporary lift to any outfit. Many celebs and fashion insiders are opting for the preppy blazer over the trench coat this season for a more modern form of cool.

Girls with attitude can pull off the androgynous look. Team an unstructured blazer like this one from Urban Outfitters with peg leg trousers, a white shirt and a skinny belt for quirky work wear style. Pins & Needles give the blazer a relaxed makeover with a draped, single button fasten front, blocked lapels and two front pockets for £58.

Otherwise opt for preppy cool with a pinstripe, fitted blazer like this one from Warehouse (£50). The contrast edging gives it a youthful vibe as do the three-quarter length sleeves. Team it with a pretty dress, or skinny jeans and a tee.

New Look has some bargain blazers from structured to softer styles. The stripe blazer with single button and wide collar has a Vivienne Westwood influence, whilst their shell pink longline blazer has a contemporary cut and soft, feminine drape. It will add an air of sophistication to any outfit for under £25. Team it with a mini dress just longer than the blazer for maximum flirt factor.

ASOS Car Print Prada Car Print

Prada did not have a SS12 Car Show (but how amazing would that be?!). No they had an ordinary SS12 fashion show, but it just so happened to include a lot of car references. Following on from Miuccia’s banana and monkey crazy collection last summer, this year the Italian designer went for something equally as odd, but cute too.

Even the venue for the Milan Prada show was turned into a huge parking lot complete with cartoon Styrofoam cars for guests to sit on. Cartoon car prints were added to white shirts, dresses and tiny bandeau tops, the kind of print that would look at home on the wall of a young boy’s bedroom. Appliquéd onto dark green or brown pencil skirts were Thunderbird exhaust flames and leather skirts featured more car designs. It was cute and fun, with a modern silhouette of mid length skirts and boxy jackets.

The red, yellow and green heels (which also had ornate flames shooting out from them), clip clipped along the catwalk echoed by the same footsteps on the soundtrack. Clutch bags too featured car prints. It was certainly a heavily themed collection, but has it trickled down to the high street? To a certain extent yes, although not as much as last summer’s fruity prints.