The 90s were the heyday of the supermodel. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and later Kate Moss (to name but a few) reigned the catwalk supreme. They were powerful women in the world of fashion and entertainment, who famously would not get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day. Over the past few years, these supermodels have been making a comeback; Naomi, Claudia Schiffer and Eva Herzigova are the faces of Dolce and Gabbana’s new fragrances, and Christy Turlington was recently seen posing for YSL.

Maybe the reason that the models are making a comeback is because there have been many pretenders to their thrones, but most of these models have been flashes in the pan and have never edged to the super level. The closest that the noughties have come to a supermodel is Gisele Bundchen, who earns $15 million a year. There are many more who earn a lot of money, but we may only know their faces and not their names.

I’m sure you are unbelievably sick of the size zero debacle, it does seem to be everywhere these days, but one of the reasons why it is believed that there aren’t any new supermodels is the army of skinny waifs on the catwalks today who women may not personally relate to. Back in the day, supermodels were athletic, beautiful and they were real women. They had character (no one can deny that Naomi Campbell has ‘character’) and they were not just clothes horses for designers, they were famous for themselves.

Of course there are models that might still become super; Agyness Deyn has made a definite name for herself with her platinum hair and northern charm, and Lily Cole has become a household name over the past few months. Models such as Natalia Vodianova and Daria Werbowy are staples in our magazines, but I couldn’t tell you one fact about them. I could tell you who Cindy Crawford is married to and what her children are called (she is married to Rande Gerber, and her children are called Presley and Kaia, and I am aware that knowing that does not make me very cool).

Of course it could all be retrospective, and they may only seem Super due to our hindsight, maybe we are harking back to the good all days when they were all in that George Michael video with rose tinted Oliver Peoples glasses. But maybe if there was a bit more of character injected into the new models and a bit more food in them; they may become super yet.

So I’ve noticed a lot of the recent posts featuring in this blog have been “new season this, new season that”… very fall-centric. But I personally haven’t invested in a lot of new pieces for the autumn season and instead I’ve been clinging onto my summer tops, dresses and shoes for as long as humanly possible, as well as raking in the last of the in hopes they’ll still be in style next year.
The temperature’s dropped but I seem to be handling it ok. Here are some quick tips I’ve been using and hope you’ll draw inspiration from on how you can wear your summer pieces while making a statement for the rest of the year:

Open toed shoes

Definitely keep the shoes alive throughout fall. With coloured tights, printed tights, stirrup leggings, regular leggings and of course the all important leg warmers, there’s still hope for sporting the peep-toe and hosiery style until it gets too icy to wear them. If peep toe boots are the new style, why can’t we pull this off for a few months longer?

Summer dresses

If you have a lot of thin material summer dresses, this one is a lot of fun in the experimentation stage: Pick ones of different lengths, putting on the longest first and the shortest last. The layered effect looks great on the bottom (especially when there’s a big mix of patterns for a nice boho-chic look). Top it off with a chunky cardigan and a waist belt for shape.

Invest in a long sleeve tee

I bought myself some basic long sleeved tops and they are proving to be the most practical buy I have made. They look great under cardigans, but they can also be paired with summer tanks, t-shirts and dresses. Plus it feels like wearing a completely new outfit when all you’ve done is added an extra layer – love it!
Layer
…Everything – 3-quarter length leggings with tights, shorts with leggings, short sleeved blouses with chunky cardigans. Layers make for a unique and personal style statement so experiment as much as possible – you’ll be surprised how many outfits you can create from a few summer pieces.

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.

This week’s top 3 freebies and competitions we’ve found online – add your own in the comments below!

Win £1,000 of jewellery from Brasilian designer Carla Amorim by signing up to the Guardian’s fashion newsletter.

Shop at Mango and receive a free animal print tote with this Glamour voucher.

Vote for your favourite shops in Company’s Fashion Awards 2009 and win a shopping spree and weekend in London for 2 worth over £1,000.