We might still have a good few months of winter weather ahead us, but we’ve seen the last of this season in store. Spring 2007 is about to explode and I can’t wait to see shops filled with the promised eruption of colour and print. Every season has its share of good and bad trends and this one in particular was rife with watershed changes in fashion. Here are my feelings on the best and worse trends of Autumn/Winter 2006.

Best:

• Longer length tops - Hallelujah! The extra coverage meant that I could say goodbye to drafts up my back and down my bottom. This fundamental shift in fashion made dressing in layers easy, flattering and comfortable.
• Ruffles and volume – ultra feminine styles like these were welcomed by my girly side.
• Skinnies – initially my heart sank at the prospect of having to wear what I did 25 years ago. But wearing skinnies tucked into a pair of fabulous boots made me love this trend and I was converted.
• The resurgence of red – it took 12 years for red to come back as a major fashion colour and I love it. There is a shade of red for everyone.
• Patent – gloss is great. It always seems to add an extra dimension to your outfit (even when it’s black on black).
• Flat Riding boots – chic, sophisticated, elegant, comfortable and practical. Who can’t love a trend like that?

Worst:

• Black, black, black – I enjoyed this season’s monochromatic palette, but I missed the colour. Trying to find great items that weren’t black was very hard.
• Mini skirts – very short skirts are only for those of us with beautiful legs. I think that mini-skirts are harder to wear than a pair of skinnies. Skirt lengths are most flattering somewhere at the knee.
• Skinnies – I loved this trend when tucked into boots; but it also makes my “worst” list because I saw too many women wearing the style in a less flattering way.
• Black nail polish – it looks evil no matter how beautiful your hands.
• Platforms – I’m just envious that I can’t walk in them.

How did you feel about the trends this season? I’d love to know what made it to your closet, and what got left dangling on the store rail.

Black nail polish, platforms and mini dresses were hot in Autumn/Winter 2006, but never made it to my personal shopping list.

A trench coat is a lightweight single or double breasted, belted coat which had the original purpose of being water resistant. The house of Burberry created them; and the very first styles that were manufactured are not unlike the classic camel style that they still sell today.

Trench coats come in a dizzying array of colours, fabrics and style detailing – and they don’t need to be Burberry to be stylish. Their lightweight quality makes them ideal for milder climates, cool evenings and transitional seasonal weather.

Trenches can be:

• Smart casual – when made of cotton twill and paired with denim, a fun T, fashion sneakers and a messenger bag.
• Business casual – when made of better-end combed cotton twill and paired with slacks, a collared shirt, cardigan, heels and oversized tote.
• Formal – when made of a shiny fabric and popped over a cocktail dress and matched with hose, heels and a small clutch bag.

Single breasted trench coats will flatter all body types, while double breasted styles are a little trickier. Trench coats can often feel bulky simply because they’ve been made with too much fabric. Be mindful of this and select a style that is structured and lies close to your body.

A trusty trench is a must in any woman’s wardrobe – this timeless piece will never let you down!

The Burberry classic and two modern alternatives from Carmen Marc Valvo (Saks Fifth Avenue) and Calvin Klein (Macy’s).

While ankle booties were a trendy option for Autumn; taller boots are an excellent choice for work suits, skirts, dresses and jeans as temperatures start to drop. The assortment of calf-high and knee-high boots seems to grow each season. 

Five new styles of boot have emerged – each with its own distinct look and mood:

• Platform boots glam up any outfit. Choose this long, lean and sultry option if you have the ability to walk in very high heels.
• Cuffed boots with stacked heels convey a streamlined and ’70’s style chic.
• Equestrian boots are the boots for you if incredible comfort is a high priority. These tall flat boots (with or without horsey buckles) are perfect for effortlessly chic yet casual weekend looks.
• Biker boots are another comfortable flat boot option. They are a little more edgy with their chain and buckle details, studs and high shine finishes. Wearing biker boots with pearls makes for an appealing contrasting look.
• Nordic boots are Eskimo-inspired and easy to spot with their cozy shearling linings, foxy faux fur trims and dangling pom-poms. They are usually calf length and best tucked into skinny jeans. Their rubber soles make them ideal for the commuting urbanite or the après-ski setting.

Never fear - last season’s tall round-toed and stacked-heel boot styles are still in fashion. The forever-elegant pointy-toed and skinny-heeled knee high boot remains a mainstream stylish option too. If you feel like adding a new pair of boots to your winter wardrobe – take your pick. There will be plenty of options out there to suit you.

Platform                           Cuffed                                 Riding

Riding                                Biker                                 Nordic

Boots from Zappos.com, the online footware and accessory store that ships and returns for free.

Military inspired clothing and accessories continue to be a huge trend this season. Whether it’s through hardcore decorative styles, or subtle timeless ones – all ages and body types can make this look work. You probably have military-inspired items in your wardrobe already without even realizing it.

This look can be embraced in many different ways. Much like the androgynous look, it will depend on how far you want to take it.

• For the fashionista – if you want to truly capture this Napoleon moment in fashion, buy items like studded stacked boots, bullion embroidered jackets/coats/vests, ornamental belts and medallion chains. It is beaming brass buttons and immaculate tailoring that will make this look authentic.
• For a more timeless look – stick to tailored double breasted coats, belted trenches and subtle pinstriped suiting with self-colour buttons. In other words, steer clear of the brass hardware. While combat pants and camouflage prints are not for everybody, they have become a mainstream military fashion statement for teenagers.

The fashion interpretation of anything “soldiery” usually amounts to multiple rows of some type of button on a garment or accessory. Salute this trend with the items that work best for you.

Decorative military coats. the two on the left (Macy’s) are for the fashionistas, and the two on the right (Nordstrom and Gap) are more timeless choices.

Voluminous cropped A-line jackets were popular for Spring and are even more so for Autumn. These boxy styles generally do little for your body shape, but there are ways of wearing them that will flatter your figure:

• Keep it tailored on top – choose a style that’s snug on the shoulders and upper chest. It’s fine if the jacket drapes from the chest down – as long as it’s tailored on top.
• Keep it three quarter sleeves – the jacket has better proportions this way and it will emphasize the length of your arms.
• Keep it layered – it’s very important to wear a longer length fitted top underneath. This will draw attention to your waistline, give you shape and re-establish that long lean line that we look for.

When worn this way, these boxy cropped jackets look particularly good on curvier body types. Don’t lose your figure underneath it all – tailor and layer for shape instead.

These boxy jackets (Urban Outfitters and Gap) have tailored shoulders that are layered with longer length tops for a flattering look.

Bodywarmers (or vests) are not just a fashion statement for ladies this season. Their sporty and urban appeal makes them a stylish denim jacket alternative for men. Their breezy sleeveless styling offers a practical solution for gents who tend to get warm easily.

There are plenty of styles and fabrications to choose from. For the best look, stick to styles that are:

• Snug – wearing this item roomy is unflattering
• Loosely quilted – thick piles of down will make you look bigger then you are
• Not fleece – fleece is good for sport and outdoor activity, but not for everyday casual dressing

They are particularly fun in colours like red and orange.

Bodywarmers look best on blokes when they are layered over knits such as T’s, sweaters, pullovers, casual cardigans and turtle necks. They don’t look good over collared shirts. This often reversible layering outerwear item is a perfect addition to the modern man’s wardrobe.

Men’s bodywarmers from Gap, J. Crew and Macy’s.

Opaque tights go hand in hand with mini’s and ankle booties. They are ultra-thick nylon stockings that almost look like support hose. They come in an assortment of colours with black being the most versatile and popular.

They also come in two thicknesses – normal and semi. Both are worth considering:

• Normal – will keep you warmer and offer you better coverage. They give you the slimming effect of wearing stove pipes underneath your skirt or dress. The effect is dramatic and will therefore capture this season’s fashion moment more effectively than semi-opaque tights. They are a good idea if you are self conscious about your legs.
• Semi – will not keep you as warm or offer you as good coverage; but tend to look more lady-like because of their slight sheerness. They have a classic look about them and are better suited to professional attire. 

Opaques are robust. They won’t snag easily and can be washed and worn over and over again. They’ll pill much sooner than they will snag and you’ll need to watch out for that. Enjoy the return of opaque tights!

You’ll find opaque tights (like these from JC Penny and Nordstrom) in department stores and drugstores for as little as $8.

Tucking jeans into boots stylishly this season has been challenging and is the topic of many questions on “Ask Angie“. How can we prevent “bunching”, “overstuffing” and discomfort, and get the look right?

The answer: a specific pair of jeans/pants and the correct pair of boots.

• Jeans/pants – need to be extra skinny, tapered and hemmed to your ankle. The trick is to have as little fabric as possible to tuck. If you have to fold any fabric over in order to tuck – think again.
• Boots – need to be wide enough at the calf and ankle so that your jeans lie fairly flat inside them. They can be slouchy, western, sophisticated, equestrian, knee high or calf high in style - as long as there is enough room for comfort when you tuck. 

You might find that you’ll have a pair of jeans/pants and boots devoted to this look alone. It’s always better to buy items that work across a range of looks, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. If you love this look – make sure that you match the correct jeans with the correct pair of boots.

The extra skinny ankle length jeans (Nordstrom) on the right are perfect for tucking into these comfortable riding style boots (J. Crew)

The ankle bootie is the shoe of the season. It’s not quite a shoe and not quite a boot, but somewhere in between. Ankle booties are another throwback to 80’s fashion and worn in the same way that they were then:

• For everyone – wear them underneath bootcut and flared jeans or pants like a normal pair of boots
• For the more fashion forward – pair them with skinnies, leggings and cigarette pants
• For the very daring – dress them up with opaque tights and knee length or mini dresses/skirts

Ankle booties come in a selection of styles. Those that reveal your ankle bone and close neatly around your foot and ankle are most flattering for dresses and skirts. They look best with 3 inch heels and are a good dressy option for autumn and winter.

If you are shoe-crazy and can walk in thin heels – make sure that you have a pair in your wardrobe this season. They’ll give your outfit a completely new look.

Elegant styles from Nine West are on sale for between $70 and $80.

The mini has returned. This comes as no surprise with the revival of 80’s fashion. While making a noticeable statement for Autumn and Winter, Spring 2007 fashion reports show that the trend of the mini is here to stay. Raised hemlines on catwalk collections were all the rage for the season ahead.

• Who can wear a mini? Those of you blessed with slim and shapely legs.
• What’s the shortest length you can go? Standing with your hands by your side, your hemline should never be shorter then the tip of your middle finger.

In general, the most flattering skirt and dress length for any body type is at the knee (just above, on, or just below the knee). Visually, you know your own best hem length is at the point at which your legs look their longest and slimmest. If you have superb legs – by all means raise that hemline!

Update the look of the mini this season by adding:

• Thick black opaque tights (you’ll look like you’re wearing cigarette pants under your dress) 
• Chunky heels, long boots or the new ankle bootie

Max Studio shows us how to wear mini’s the new way below.