A girl’s guide to fashion: Autumn ’11

As the fashion year kicks off from New York to London to Milan and finally to Paris, so does the academic year and cold weather is upon us. In February these fashion capitals displayed what the designer demi-gods deemed as relevant for the winter and now their influence has trickled down into the more wearable, more affordable high street. Here’s a snapshot of the trends to keep you well-dressed and warm this winter.

COMME DES GARCONS: Let’s start with one of the most practical and campus-friendly trends shall we? Meaning “like the boys” in French – the key idea in this trend is to create a boyish silhouette. We’re talking tailored ankle grazing trousers, crisp oxford shirts, roll-neck sweaters, velvet smoking slippers, Church shoes, satchels and anything else that strikes you as overtly masculine. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous blur the gender barrier further by accessorizing with braces and ties. Look to Alexander Wang, Paul Smith and The Olsen twins’ The Row for more boyish inspiration. Job done.

PICK AND MIX: The taboo of mixing patterns and textures ceases to exist – well, at least until next season. From polka dots at Stella McCartney to Mary Katranzou’s more intricate Faberge egg-style dresses, pretty much anything goes. Don’t hesitate to mix textures as Jean Paul Gaultier and Christopher Kane showed us at their ready-to-wear shows, (faux)furs and tweed, wool and silk can sit quite comfortably together. So when the cold weather becomes biting and unbearable, you can go to lectures wearing half your wardrobe with pride.

LESS IS NO LONGER MORE: Opulence and decadence are even more potent than usual this season. Going “all-out” is no longer reserved for nights out. Accessories play a huge role here, including 40s inspired long gloves, jewel-detailed clutch bags and of course Miu Miu’s new glitter-doused footwear – quintessentially on-trend. This emphasis on accessories means your beloved personal wardrobe staples can be worn instead of fading into insignificance. Lastly, nothing screams opulence more than Giles’ silk dress covered in Renaissance painting images. The general consensus in the fashion realm is that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed so don’t hesitate with this trend.

FETISH FOR BLACK: Arguably one of the more difficult trends to pull-off – dominatrix/fetish inspired clothing – is making a comeback, thanks to the likes of Alexander McQueen and Mark Fast. Whatever you’re imagining about this trend is probably right – a large helping of black served with leather and mesh completes this look seen at Versus. Although a full blown interpretation of this look may be best kept for nights out and fancy dress parties (n.b. Halloween is near), leather jackets and skirts as well as knee-length boots translate this trend into a more subtle daytime look.

HIGH STREET STAPLES: And finally, having had a gander in London, Birmingham and our very own Coventry, I see the high street has a few staples of its own – some of which have stood the test of time. Chiffon shirts, chunky knits lace-up boots, round-neck coats and of course the ever stylish leather jacket are loved by the high-street giants during this autumn/winter period.