With winter drawing closer and closer, the cute winter accessories, coats, boots and sophisticated eveningwear is hitting the high street in full force – and I want you to take full advantage of it! Whether you’re on a shopping spree for Christmas gifts (or you need to cure the Christmas blues with a few treats for yourself), there’s always room for a little red lipstick here, a clutch bag there…

From top left and counter clockwise, here’s our top 9 must-haves this season:

1. Faux-Fur:

Faux fur coats are big this season – they are comfortable, warm and stylish…There’s not much more you need to be convinced, but what about the price tag on this gorgeous South Fur Jacket, only £77.00 from Littlewoods.

2. Bold and Chunky Jewellery:

From the bib necklaces to bangles-galore, this season has big statement jewellery written all over it. Why not give this gorgeous flower and bead ring a try. It’s £13 well spent on yourself or a loved one.

3. Stud Ankle Boots:

Studs and leather are everywhere, as we saw on yesterday’s blog post about over the knee boots and the leather bomber jacket is in just about all the shop fronts. Grab a pair of leather ankle boots to pair with the fur coat for only £46.00.

4. Over The Knee Boots:

We’ve been through why these are great – If you love this pair, make them yours for only £49.00. Go for black or try brown – Flat boots always look great in brown!

5. Check-Print Coats:

This gorgeous Ted Baker double breasted coat is comfortable, UK-centric, extremely stylish and most importantly, it’s timeless. That’s why I wouldn’t feel so bad about the hefty price tag of £225.00.

6. Sequined Dresses:

A sequined dress is the must have of the season. Instead of opting for the all over sequin why not try one with trim detailing – just as pretty but less 80s disco – £210 from Unique Boutique.

7. Quirky Clutch:
I have featured this Dune Clutch Bag before, but god it’s amazing – quirky patterns, shapes and colours are big for clutches this season so definitely keep it on your wish list. This one comes with a £65.00 price tag (but I don’t even care!)

8. Bow Accessories:

Along with bunny and mouse ears on headbands, this 5-year-old-gone-20 trend is sweet and fun. Grab these Free Spirit Girls headbands at only £8.00 for a pack of 2.

9. Red, Red and more Red:

From lipstick to dresses, red is definitely the colour of the season. Pick any of the items above in red, accessorise with red jewellery and hair accessories or create the perfect pout with red lips.

Ever since YSL hit the catwalk with a sequined pair of Harem pants at the beginning of 2009, high street retailers have embraced the trend and they’re all over the fall collections.

Although they do pose an 80s fashion disaster, the style has been toned down and can be very flattering. The trousers skim the hips and accent the thinnest part of the leg. For pear shapes, the advantage here is that the fabric won’t cling to the largest sections of your hips and bum. On the contrary, those with more athletic figures will appreciate the fullness of the trouser to give a more feminine curve to the hips and bum.

During the day, pair them with shoe-boots, a fitted top and a feminine-cut blazer or cardigan. Shoe boots, with or without a heel, can be taken into night and are one of the season’s essentials. Fitted shirts, vest tops and t-shirts are a must, as draping fabric will only add bulk – showing off your femininity is important in mastering the harem trouser.

At night, stilettos, a fitted tube top or backless top are perfect. Tube tops can be worn in the same colour as the trousers. Add a skinny waist belt to mock the jumpsuit look, or simply tuck the top into your trousers and add a belt around the hips to accessorise.

Don’t be afraid of the harem trousers – once you buy your first pair, you’ll be hooked.

We know now from London Fashion Week (and for quite some time before that) that the fashion world has a recyclable nature. It has always baffled me that I saw my mother in skinny jeans, high waist trousers, bee-eye sunglasses and the occasional quiff in her hair. And all those times I saw her, I repeatedly thought to myself that she needed some fashion guidance.

But I was wrong and mum – I’m sorry!!

Although she may not have been wearing them at the peak of their fashionable days, they were pieces that, in her eyes, were timeless – pieces that have been and will be resurrected for years to come. The question of course lies in 1) Who decides when these items come back, and 2) Why do I all of a sudden long for a heavily shouldered blazer when I didn’t about a month ago?

My investigation led me to the Wikipedia article for one James Laver. James laver was a museum curator at the Victoria & Albert as well as a pioneering fashion historian. Although he was not directly involved with the museum’s fashion exhibitions, he had an interest in dating images accurately through the clothing depicted within. He believed patterns of economic and social factors where what developed fashion tastes. So “Laver’s Law” was born, which sought to explain the fashion cycle and the general taste to a timeline. It was first published in 1937 and went as follows –

Indecent – 10 years before its time
Shameless – 5 years before its time
Daring – 1 year before its time
Smart – ‘Current Fashion’
Dowdy – 1 year after its time
Hideous – 10 years after its time
Ridiculous – 20 years after its time
Amusing – 30 years after its time
Quaint – 50 years after its time
Charming – 70 years after its time
Romantic – 100 years after its time
Beautiful – 150 years after its time

Does it work? Seems to – 70 years since the shoulder pads first appeared in Dior’s clothing, they are once again “charming”.

Crystal Renn, the size 16 model for Evans, gave Celebs on Sunday these 5 tips for curvy girls to look their best. Pick your best assets and flaunt them!

1. If you’ve got a tiny waist, then a cinch belt is a must. And if you’ve got great legs, then go a bit shorter with your skirts. There’s always something that’s worth playing up.

2. I think curvy women look great in statement pieces. You don’t want to go too little and dainty. Make the most of the fact you can pull off, say, a piece of statement jewellery in a way that a smaller girl probably couldn’t.

3. Tailored shapes can really change your appearance. Personally, I love big bell-shaped coats and dresses, but there will always be a shape that looks really good on you.

4. Make the most of your individual style. I don’t like anything that’s too girly or pretty, so I’ll toughen up a little dress with a leather jacket or some leggings (Evans do some great ones). Identify what works for you and go with it.

5. I love 50s-style underwear, the kind that comes up to your waist with a little bra. I think it’s flattering in all the right places and a great way to get a man’s attention. I hate thongs – a guy must have invented them because they’re so uncomfortable it’s unbelievable.

Denim, how I love you! As I’m sure you all do too, I’ve collected the 8 hottest styles that are back for fall 2009:

1. Skinny Jeans have been around for the past few seasons and they are not going anywhere. They can suit athletic and pear shapes and can be worn by both men and women.

2. Ripped Jeans have come back this fall. Low on money this month? Why not take an old pair and rip them yourself instead of investing in a new pair? Visit Answer Bag for a step-by-step guide on how to distress jeans.

3. Flare jeans are back, especially the high waist styles. Pair them with a fitted t-shirt or blouse for a sophisticated look.

4. Boyfriend blazers and boyfriend cardigans are huge this season, but don’t forget where the boyfriend trend started – the jeans! They’re super-comfy and can be dressed up with a great pair of chunky heels.

5. Coloured Jeans are great this season. However, keep them skinny and fitted, as they can easily cross the line between fashionable and childish. Avoid pastels and go for bold colours like bright purple.

6. Trouser jeans are perfect for casual Friday wear and will never go out of style.

7. Zipper Jeans are making a big statement this fall. This 80’s trend is back and in full effect.

8. Bleached Jeans are back! Avoid linear effects though and opt for the ‘all over’ effect for this season’s finest style.

We all want it – animal prints that make us feel sexy and sophisticated. Many of us (myself included) make the same mistake again and again though – we pair them with something plain to minimise the loudness.
So here are some quick tips from the Oscar de la Renta Autumn 2009 collection as inspiration:

Brighten up: This gorgeous combination of animal print top, metallic bronze waist belt and satin mauve trousers is eye catching but surprisingly subtle. Don’t be afraid to add a bit of colour – it can only enhance the effect of these gorgeous prints.

Head to Toe: Accessorise your animal print with… animal prints! Take a page out of Oscar de la Renta’s book with a gorgeous leopard print maxi dress and leopard print belt combination. Just remember to keep the colours monochrome to avoid clashing.

Accessorise: if you’ve never worn animal prints before, start with accessories – shoes, belts, hats, and gloves – they can add a bit of fun to any outfit and help to make that transition from office wear to evening wear.

I’m pretty tall and believe a maxi dress may not be the best fit for me, mainly because I like to wear slim fitting clothes to accentuate my curves and make me look less, well, “manly”… I’m sure there are plenty of girls out there that feel the same. I have however been confronted numerous times for not wearing them, where my petite buddies have told me that they are the ones who can’t wear them for fear of being swamped in a baggy, busy dress.

So let’s dissect this one, shall we?

A maxi dress can work for any size and all ladies should take the plunge and own one. Follow these handy tips for shorter and taller frames for a flawless maxi dress look:

Short Frames Should:

-    Avoid busy patterns and keep the shape as fluid as possible
-    Steer clear of geometric prints
-    Try and wear a small heel
-    If you’re set on wearing flats,  show off a neckline and shoulders for added femininity
-    If you’re still feeling swamped, wear a waist belt!

Try the By Caprice one shoulder maxi dress at £115:

Tall Frames Should:

-    Any cut is fine on top, but length is key – anything above the ankle will accentuate your height so try and keep it long and flowy
-    Accessorise with big earrings and an up-do to show off a feminine neck and shoulders
-    Again, try and wear heels, but if you’re conscious of being too tall sandals will be fine

Try the Elements by Amanda Wakely printed maxi dress at £100:

An article caught my eye on MSN today by Tracey Lomrantz. She got a number of fashion week pros to comment on wearing stilettos with grace, style and minimal pain. I’ve summarised them here, but definitely check out the full article (with 3 more tips!) along with other Fashion Week 09 articles at MSN Lifestyle

Wear them informally before the event you bought them for

If you’ve bought a new pair of heels for a special occasion, you’re likely to end up disappointed by the whole event if all you can think of is the excruciating pain you’re in. The solution? Break them in the day before. Author of How to Walk in High Heels Camilla Morton recommends going to the supermarket. You can use the cart for balance while your feet adjust to the new heel.

Specialist fitness classes can help you with your balance

Gym classes like Yoga or Pilates help runway model Hana Jirckova keep balance in high heels on the catwalk. Balance starts in the core muscles; the more aware you are of them, the better chance you have of staying steady.

Take a breather

America’s Next Top Model’s catwalk coach J. Alexander suggests sitting every 20 minutes. Not only will it give your feet a break, sitting straight and with your legs crossed can help to draw attention to your new shoes – after all, it’s the main reason you’re wearing them!

No assembly necessary? Not exactly

Wear your shoes around the house for about an hour after purchase. Wherever you feel a bit of rubbing or aching, cushion up! You won’t last the night unless you target these areas beforehand. So stock up on ‘rub relief’ strips and ‘ball of foot cushions’ if you’re planning on dancing the night away – your feet will thank you in the AM.

Lengthen the legs

Elegance and grace starts not in the way you look but the way you look when you walk. Runway model Ali Stephens recommends straightening and extending your leg with every step – slowing down your pace and paying attention to your step will ensure you don’t look uncoordinated and clumsy.

1. Slouching

I am a huge victim of an arched back and slouchy shoulders. Only recently, when I happened to have a mirror across from me at the dining room table, did I realise the effect it had on the side profile of my body. Sitting straight can have a huge impact on the way your clothes hang on your frame. Hold your abs tight, your shoulders back and you’ll instantly look 5 lbs lighter.

2. Anticipating weight loss/gain

Whether you buy your clothes too big for comfort or too small in hopes of shedding those extra pounds, I’ve got one piece of advice for you: stop. Clothes need to suit your curves so buy for the perfect fit around the widest parts of your body. Also, remember that we’re all different shapes and sizes, so find yourself a good tailor to cinch in any roomy bits.

3. Becoming a fashion victim

I’m not asking you to get stuck in a style rut, but please don’t follow every new trend you find in-store. Select carefully from the season’s trends and only wear outfits that suit your personal style, your body and your age.

4. Being sloppy

Remember that informal and chic must go hand in hand. Don’t get carried away by casual work wear. Accessories, such as a stylish necklace or animal print ballet pumps should always be called upon to add a touch of glamour to a t-shirt and skinny jeans, while the usual effort needs to be put into your hair and make-up.

5. Overloading on accessories

We’ve been over this before in our Accessories 101 – Statement pieces are the key to a great outfit. A bold belt, a brightly coloured scarf AND chandelier earrings? Pick one and let it shine. It will make the outfit without overshadowing your clothes, or even worse, you!

If you’re anything like me, “why did I have that last slice of pizza?” or “was dessert really worth it?” are a part of your weekly (ok fine, daily!) vocabulary. Don’t get me wrong, I exercise regularly and eat healthily as often as possible, but the occasional slip up is inevitable. So how can we keep our confidence on those days where nothing seems to look good? Follow these clothing tricks to give that slimming illusion.

Accentuate Your Waist:

“Uh, what?”… You may think this is the last thing you want to do, but drawing attention to your waistline creates a feminine silhouette. Plus, those stylish, long and baggy tops we run to on these days look great with a waist belt as it helps to create shape and a stylish finish.

Size Does Matter:

It’s a wonderful thing going into a shop and fitting into a size smaller than normal; but don’t be fooled but their fancy lighting and the excitement of a new garment. You’ll probably never wear it again after the first photo of a bulge. On a similar note, a larger size than normal creates the perception of a figure that extends to the edges of the garment. Opt for sizes that fit just right and you’ll thank me later.

Cheat:

Shaping undergarments work wonders for shapely dresses and skirts. Also opt for non-binding bands on bras and pants to avoid unwanted rolls. Also, choose your outfit before you choose your underwear – various styles suit various outfits and you’ll be surprised at the difference the right undergarments can make.

Layer it:

Oversized, lightweight cardigans are a fashion favourite right now. Worn with skinny pants and heels, your legs will be elongated while the cardigan skims your sides to hide unwanted bulges.

Monochromatic Colours = Length:

Monochromatic colours, either the same colour or in the same colour family, effortlessly lengthen the body and streamline your shape. Light colours are perfect for day while dark colours make for great evening wear. Simple!