Some fashions from recent seasons will still work this Autumn, but others won’t. Here’s my opinion on what stays in the wardrobe and what goes into storage. 

Keep in your wardrobe:

• Military jackets and coats 
• Victorian and vintage blouses
• Preppy looks
• Long flat boots
• Metallic accessories (belts, bags and shoes, especially if they have gold hardware)
• Animal prints (either in clothing or accessories)
• Boot leg pants and jeans (don’t think that you can’t wear them just because “skinny” is in)
• Black pieces (I do not encourage a wardrobe full of black clothing, but black is the “it” colour this season. If ever you looked stylish in black – it would be over the next 6 months. Be mindful of the fact that not everyone looks good in black – the colour has to suit you.)

Store to (perhaps) wear another day:

• Cowboy boots (unless you are a Texan)
• Folkloric dresses
• Ponchos (unless you are pregnant, and then without any form of fringe)
• Bohemian and gypsy tops (which includes tie dye)
• Front tie shrugs (unless they have kimono sleeves and are in a very loose home spun knit)
• Shorter length knitted tops, knitwear and shirts  (unless you are able to layer newer longer lengths underneath them, they’ll look dated)
• Embellished jeans

Stay tuned on how to create updated looks for autumn with what you already have in your wardrobe. All you’ll need to do is add the new seasons’ luster to those existing favourites! 

The new season speaks volumes, especially when it comes to sleeve detail. Voluminous sleeves on girly tops, romantic blouses and jackets are ideal for pear-shaped body types. Any form of sleeve embellishment draws attention upwards, thereby balancing out the wider part of your body.

There are many voluminous sleeve options to choose from – with some more flattering for pear shapes then others.

• Kimono, bell and poet sleeve styles are excellent choices. They are a throw back to 40’s movie star glamour and convey a sense of unprecedented elegance.
• Voluminous sleeved blouses and jackets that are nipped-in at the waist are slimming and more shape defining. Swing coat and capelet styles will add bulk where you won’t want it.
• When you wear volume on top, keep the bottom simple. Plain a-line skirts and tailored flared or boot cut pants with heels will work best.
• Wide lapels balance out jackets with sleeve volume beautifully and are another good option.

Add drama to your wardrobe with a voluminous sleeved top or jacket this season especially if you are pear shaped. It’s extremely ladylike and the perfect update to smart casual dressing.

A bell-sleeved cropped jacket with wide lapel, striped poets-sleeved blouse, and kimono-sleeved knitted top – all from Arden B. These styles are cinched in the waist which makes them more flattering to wear.

This season marks the beginning of watershed fashion changes. The new play on proportions might take some getting use to, but because “fashion is an adaptation to the eye”, we’ll be wearing them with style in no time at all.

One of the changes to understand is “the new volume”. Stores are full of daringly roomy pieces such as:

• Swing and trapeze coats
• Kimono, bell and poet’s sleeves
• Empire waisted dresses and smock tops
• Bell and bubble skirts
• Cocoon pullovers
• Extra widely cut menswear pants and cropped pants  

While we might not all be able to wear each form of this season’s new volume – there will be ideal options to balance each body type. Height will be another factor to consider. Stay tuned on how to update existing items in your wardrobe with the correct voluminous pieces for you and your personal style.

 Voluminous pieces like these typify the new season. Above: a cropped peplum jacket from Arden B and taffeta bell shaped skirt from Banana Republic. Below: a kimono sleeved empire dress and bell sleeved cocoon sweater from Nordstrom.

If you still need summer clothing because you’ve left it too late this year– the Macy’s Labor Day Sale is a good place to go if you live in the United States. You’ll find quite a good assortment of strappy T’s, walk shorts, jeans, summer dresses and occasion dresses on their racks offered at less then half price. If you are thinking about autumn and winter purchases instead – refresh your memory on what to buy in the Autumn 2006 category.

Here are some “personal picks” that could see you through to the beginning of autumn when it starts to get cooler:

• Black or red handbag
• Short sleeved white shirt
• Denim walk shorts
• Jeans
• Ballet flats
• Knitted wrap dress

Have fun shopping, and have a super long weekend!

It has taken almost 20 years for red to come back as a major fashion colour. It’s just what the doctor ordered to brighten up a dark palette for autumn and winter. The revival of red goes hand in hand with the revival of ‘80’s urban punk chic this season. It’s the colour of power, love and good fortune - and a lot more versatile than you might think.

Everyone can wear red – and that includes redheads! Nicole Kidman was breathtaking in Moulin Rouge when she wore red. It’s a question of finding the correct shade and intensity, which depends on the undertone colour of your skin. Your skin can either have warm or cold undertones; and shades of red can either have yellow or blue undertones. It’s easiest to determine which undertone you tend towards by looking at the inside of your hands.

• Skin with warm (yellow) undertones should select tomato reds 
• Skin with cold (blue) undertones should select richer cherry reds. 
• Some people have both sets of undertones and can therefore wear both.

I have always thought of red as a basic colour, along with black, white, grey and tan, despite its ability to be bright. If it’s a colour that you are not used to wearing – consider it as an accent or accessory instead. Stay tuned for how to wear it with style.

In the light of this season’s all important white shirt, I thought it best to address how to wear white successfully if you feel that it washes you out.

Misconception: you need to be an olive-skinned brunette to wear white and cream

I am blonde with pale skin (which is never tanned) and wear white and winter-white all the time. I absolutely love pearls and often wear them against my white skin. And it works. Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Keep your face polished – this means grooming and filling in your eyebrows, wearing mascara, keeping your cheeks rosy and your lips a darker shade of your natural colour. I am an advocate of showing restraint when it comes to applying make-up – but just the right amount adds polish to your face by making your features more distinctive.
• Create a contrast on top – layer an item in a strong colour over your white shirt (e.g. black waist coat or red jacket) or wear a necklace in a strong colour close to your face (e.g. green choker beads).
• Create a contrast on the bottom – wear your white shirt with dark jeans, pants or skirt.
• Opt for cream instead – sometimes the tone of a warmer version of white (like cream or off white) is better than pure optical white.

Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Renee Zellwegger are excellent examples of women who successfully wear white and cream despite their creamy complexions.

The white shirt is my number one must have for your wardrobe this season. Irrespective of your age, height, size or body type, you’ll be able to make this item work for your own personal style. Unlike the usual mantra that “a white shirt is a basic that everyone should have” – it’s actually a big fashion statement this season and not a basic at all.

As with all our clothing and accessories, it’s the combinations that will make the difference. There are different shirt lengths to choose from this season – anything from hipbone to knee length will be available. When it comes to your white shirt, think “out of the box”. Here are a few new suggestions:

• Tuck it in (if it’s tailored enough) and combine it with a skinny belt
• Leave it hanging out and pop over a wide waist belt
• Wear a fitted waistcoat over a standard or knee length version
• Layer a lacy camisole underneath your shirt and wear a sleeveless pullover or cardigan on top of that
• Wear a tight, printed baby t-shirt over your white shirt for a bit of extra spunk
• Pop it underneath a sleeveless black shift or A-line dress
• Consider it underneath a black corset if you are truly daring
• Keep it modernly classic underneath a tailored black jacket or completely on it’s own

A white shirt combined with a black layer will give you the best effect. Alternative colour combinations are certainly an option – but black and white remains most stylish this season. I personally have 4 white shirts in my wardrobe because one is just not enough.

These fancy white shirts are available from Nordstrom, but you’ll be just as stylish if you layer a fairly plain version from the Gap or Express.

It seems ridiculous to think about winter woolies, coats and boots in sweltering summer temperatures; yet it’s the perfect time to contemplate the season that lies ahead. Retail stores in the northern hemisphere offer their fullest and finest autumn and winter collections from August to October. It’s therefore best to dive in while selections are abundant.

Before decisions can be made as to which trends will work for you, it’s imperative to understand what they are:

• Black, black, black - is this season’s most important fashion colour.
• Black, white, grey and red combinations – will liven up the somberness of a very dark palette.
• Menswear suiting - is ultra feminine when tailored to perfection and worn with the highest of heels.
• Horizontal jailbird striping – in jersey and knitwear is most effective in two tones.
• Romantic blouses or “girly tops” – are still one of the prettiest and most versatile items of the season.
• Waistcoats and vests – are especially androgynous in grey and black pinstripe suiting.
• Brocade outerwear - is rich and luxurious in a season of black.
• Oversized welted knitwear – is flattering in delicate fabrics that show off the contour of your pretty shoulders.
• Grandpa sweaters – are best when belted at the waist.
• Military coats and jackets – are serious yet sophisticated when combined with shiny metallic buttons.
• Biker jackets – can be “cool” when contrasted with ladylike blouses.
• Nylon body warmers (sleeveless jackets) – add an urban edge to any outfit.
• Bell or bubble knee length skirts – are elegant in drapy fabrics that lie flat against the body.
• Tartan and hounds tooth checks (plaids) - are funky when styled in cropped peplum jackets, walk shorts, pencil skirts, bags and shoes.
• Sack dresses – are best when worn over jeans, skinny pants or leggings like a school uniform.
• Leggings – are more like footless opaque tights and worn most stylishly underneath skirts and dresses.
• Skinny jeans and pants – are a good idea if you want to tuck then into your boots.
• Cheetah and zebra printed anything – is a classy statement if you limit it to one item in your outfit at once.
• Wide waisted belts – will instantly pop anything that you had last season into this one.
• Army boots – are back for comfort and contrast.
• Ankle booties – make their debut as the “shoe of the season”.

There is lots of newness to absorb because Autumn 2006 marks a watershed change in fashion. Changes in silhouette as dramatic as these are only seen every decade. Stay tuned on how to best adopt the above trends for your body type and lifestyle. Keep those fashion feet moving!

Devoid of glamour and with an emphasis on unstructured comfort, the 80’s is sometimes referred to as the “death of fashion” and “the tasteless decade”. Twenty five years later, fashion trends are inspired by the 80’s – but with added glamour this time around. For those of us who are old enough, cruise or cringe down memory lane as you peruse the list of items below that have made a comeback this autumn season:

• Broad, two-toned striped knit tops
• Skinny pants
• Longer length T’s
• Leggings
• Micro minis
• Broad waist belts
• Mélange grey knit
• Grey jeans
• Deep V–neck tops with welted waist bands
• Red and black tartan checks (plaid)
• Red, black and white colour combinations
• Hounds tooth (black and white micro check)
• Bubble or bell skirts
• Patent accessories
• Membership jackets
• Plastic jewelry
• Ankle boots
• Leg warmers
• Punk chic t-shirts and studded belts

Fortunately, electric blue eye shadow, fuchsia lipstick, oversized shirts, shoulder pads and big hair never made the revival. Apart from skinny pants and leggings, retailers have ensured that their 80’s inspired punk and gothic collections are feminine and flattering. We’ll therefore be wearing the clothes that we once loathed again – only this time with style!

If you live in the Northern hemisphere, you may have noticed that retail stores are full of autumn merchandise. The first item that retailers tend to replenish going into the winter season is jeans. The best assortment of size, length, wash and style is available right now. This does not only hold true for women, but for men and children as well.

Some stores will offer denim specials at this time of year, to help move huge volumes that have been bought in. If jeans for the family is on your shopping list – now is a good time to buy them.