Most of us still have a good few months of cold weather to endure, but we’ve seen the last of Autumn & Winter in store (it’s that crazy retail cycle again). Spring collections are in full swing and, as ever, I am champing at the bit to talk about them. But first, some final thoughts on the last six months of fashion.

Here are my raves (hold off on the rants… we’ll tackle them tomorrow).

• Knee high boots were a favourite again this season. I love a pair of casual or dressy knee high boots that make a statement, and flat, funky, urban styles were in abundance.
• Statement coats are another perennial favourite and this season we had variety of styles and colours.
• Winter dresses were a no-brainer, easy to wear uniform with knee high boots and fun hose. Pop on a coat and you were ready to go anywhere.
• Bright colours were a welcome change after being promised a sea of colour last Spring and being stuck with neutrals instead. Yellow, cobalt and red were personal favourites.
• Tunics were easy and comfortable to wear.
• Voluminous detailing in trapeze jackets, lantern sleeves, wide-legged pants, dresses and swing tops made for an interesting change if the right amount of volume was in the right place.
• Cracked patent for handbags, shoes and belts gave an urban edge to a glossy trend.
• Waist-cinching belts brought back the hour-glass silhouette which I love. Adding a wide belt to an existing top or sweater often kicked it up a few notches.
• Higher rises for pants and skirts did wonders for the old muffin top.
• Straight leg jeans were one of the mainstream silhouettes and they proved to be really versatile. Easy to tuck and streamlined enough to wear with tunics, dresses and voluminous tops.
• Clutches remained a favourite for evenings out.
• Fringes or Bangs were a refreshing change to the cascading 70’s locks we’ve seen for six seasons. They added a modern streamlined touch.
• 80’s influences continued to be fun to see and wear.

Another super season. I guess I say that about every fashion season because there’s always something to like if you’re open to trying something new and you know where to look. What were your favourite trends this season?

Layering an item with a shorter sleeve (either bracelet, three-quarter or short) over an item with a long sleeve is a perfectly acceptable and hip 70’s-inspired look. While layering in this way won’t work with every sleeve type, there are rules one can follow to ensure a streamlined look:

• Stick to layering one voluminous sleeve at a time. Volume on the first layer (a sleek cardigan over a lantern sleeve); or volume on the second layer (a bell sleeve over a fitted long sleeved knitted T) are looks that work equally well. Layering with two sets of voluminous sleeves (a bell sleeve over a bell sleeve) at different lengths can also work, but gets tricky, so it’s best to stick with one.
• Create a colour contrast for the best effect. Contrasting subtle or bold colours with the sleeves that you layer creates an effective statement. It’s when the colour is the same (like black on black) that the effect is less interesting and eye-catching.

Longer sleeves that peek out underneath shorter sleeves can give an outfit a funky and artsy edge. It’s another good reason to buy three-quarter-sleeve outwear.

Good examples of shorter voluminous second layers worn over sleek long sleeves.

Three-quarter-length and bracelet-length sleeves are particularly popular on coats and jackets this season. These sleeve lengths are super for Autumn, but a little chilly for Winter. By adding long opera gloves to the look, you’ll create a dramatic ‘40’s fashion effect and keep your forearms warm. Opera gloves are expensive, and might set you back the same amount that you paid for your coat or jacket. But they can be thrifted for a fraction of the price if you fancy the look and are determined to wear it at a price.

The beauty of three-quarter-sleeve outerwear items is that they’ll take you all the way into Spring if they’re not made of heavy Winter fabrications. They’re also perfect for mild Winter temperatures, with or without opera gloves. So if you’re on the fence about purchasing a three-quarter-sleeved coat or jacket, remember that you can extend it’s life into Winter and Spring. Savvy choices about the additions to your wardrobe will help you to get the biggest bang for your fashion buck.

Sweater coats are not at the top of my list because they can look sloppy, robe-like and generally unflattering. But I understand their cozy, comfy and ultra-casual appeal. If you don’t feel the cold as much as I do, then the right weight of sweater coat might make an ideal cover-up for milder outside temperatures. It’s also a nice item to wear when it’s a dash chilly indoors.

Finding a flattering sweater coat is all in the cut:

• Keep it A-line. Not all welts taper, but the ones that do are harder to wear.
• Keep it tailored on the torso and fitted at the shoulders.
• Keep the gauge of the knit fine or semi-chunky because few people look good in chunky knits.
• Don’t go too long in the length unless you’re tall (above the knee is best).
• Make sure that the belt loops are correctly positioned if the style is belted (adjust the position of the belt if necessary).
• Watch that patch pockets on the hip area don’t add unnecessary bulk.

The right sweater coat is an appropriate addition to your wardrobe if there’s a boho element to your style. I personally prefer real coats with a bit more structure, but horses for courses. It’s fab that there’s something for everyone.

Unbelted styles tend to look less like robes and are certainly my preference this season. Add a little volume to the sleeve (like the style on the left) and you’ve got yourself a funky little casual look.

Macy’s started their huge coat sale yesterday. All coats are 30% to 40% off, and if you happen to have a 20% Macy’s coupon in your hot little hands, you’ll enjoy that discount on top of the original reduction. The coats that you’ll find online do not do the actual store range justice. There is a vast assortment in a variety of styles and sizes. Colours are typically neutral, red or checked (hound’s-tooth and tweed), so don’t bother if you have an eye-catching orange or purple winter woolen coat on your shopping list. And remember: beware the black coat if you are challenged by lint and pet hair. Nothing is more hard-wearing and camouflaging of stains and dirt than salt-and-pepper tweeds and patterned fabric.

All the coats are in one section at Macy’s during the sale, so ask a sales assistant for directions and head straight there.

Red made a huge comeback last season but red coats were few and far between. Despite the fact that jewel tones are all the rage right now, gorgeous red coats started gushing into stores a few weeks ago. And it’s about time. I haven’t been enthused by colourful coats all season. A superb coat is always a statement, and a perfect red one even more so.

Not all red coats are created equally. The wrong red coat can look cheap (just like bad patent). Apart from watching cut and fit, you’ll need to be extra discerning about fabrication, button choice and the actual shade of red. Red coats tend to look best in rich luxurious shades and better-end wools. I personally prefer the look of contrasting buttons on red coats, but buttons that are dyed to match will also work.

I am constantly surprised at how many people actually love the colour red (I’m one of them). And you have to love red if you’re going to commit to an entire coat in the colour. Remember that although red is bright, it is a basic colour and will therefore date less than many fashion colours. Red coats are classy when mixed with items in the conventional black, grey and winter white palette. But I’m liking my red coat best mixed with warm winter yellow, ink blue and cobalt this season. The combinations are fresh, new and exciting.

If it fits your shopping plan and budget, now is a good time to add a red coat to your wardrobe. There’s nothing like a bright coat to brighten up a cold Winters day.

A few red coat favourites in stores at the moment (Guess and Mango). There are also some fab styles at Banana Republic, Tulle, Benetton and J Crew.

Closets that I review often have a few items of unflattering and shapeless pieces of knitwear lurking in amongst the cherries. While some boxy knitwear pieces are beyond redemption, others can be transformed with the addition of a waist-cinching belt. Even for the small minority of people that can make boxy knitwear work for them, the belt creates a different look with the same piece of knitwear, effectively increasing its ROI.

This quick and inexpensive style tip is not going to work with chunky knits, which fail to look streamlined no matter what you do to them. I have also found that the look doesn’t work with every body and seems to be more effective as you get closer to the hourglass shape (for fuller figures too). But nothing ventured nothing gained, so give it a try if you have the items or are prepared to invest in a belt. Freshening up a boring piece of knitwear in this way can work wonders for your style and your pocket.

Eileen Fisher is well known for her expensive and impeccably made boxy knitwear. Most of us need a belt like the one on the left to make it flattering.

Some form of weatherproof coat is essential for those of us who have wet Autumns and Winters. Styles with hoods are particularly practical when small children are in tow and our hands aren’t available to hold an umbrella in addition to everything else. The good news is that our choices are less dowdy these days and rainwear seems to get more fashionable every year. Below are my top picks for this season. The stylish Mum-on-the-go never looked better.

Price points for this item will vary, but the style from Macy’s (far left) is currently on sale and looks terrific paired with a super pair of funky waterproof boots, jeans and a great handbag. Thank you Meredith for inspiring this blog entry. You looked fab yesterday as we shopped in the rain.

For more than 15 years after the horrific 80’s decade of anti-fashion, the dominant trend in the industry was body conscious. Designers celebrated our figures with sleek, tailored pieces that are fitted to our bust, waistline and hips. We, the buying public, learned the rules of dressing to this fundamental style direction.

Then, about 18 months ago, things started to change. A new artsy and roomy voluminous look started to emerge as designers introduced bold pieces with excess fabric that hide the contours of the body. Last seen in the 80’s, leggings and tapered pants also re-appeared. It seems contradictory, but these extremely tailored pieces are part of the voluminous trend. An essential part, in fact, because volume on volume doesn’t work and it makes perfect sense to pair these streamlined bottoms with billowing blouses, sack dresses and trapeze jackets.

Along with watershed change comes confusion. Having moved away from the boxy styles of the 80’s and finally getting up to speed with modern tailoring, the re-invention of volume seems to have baffled much of the consumer market. These voluminous looks are taking a lot of getting used to, especially as style gurus continue to advocate body-skimming styles. Personally, I have embraced some of the new items, but still feel that streamlined styles are universally flattering.

The struggle to assimilate the new voluminous trend is something I see often as a fashion stylist. How do you feel about the shift? Has it been easy to adopt, or are you still making sense of the new volume?

Does the fashionable weatherproof boot exist? It does and your options are greater than you think. Wellies are fun for playful and casual settings, but if you’re after something a little more sophisticated, try boot brands like La Canadienne, Aquatalia and Sudini. You’ll find that most of their collections are either weatherproof or completely waterproof. In fact, the styles are so fab (and really comfy), it’s almost too good to be true. Unfortunately, they cost a pretty penny – you’re looking at an average price of $300. The Sudini brand tends to make a more affordable range.

You’ll find a wide assortment of these practical yet stylish boot brands on Zappos.com and at most department stores. Be sure to browse on-line to find a pair that tickles your fancy because there’s lots to choose from.

An assortment of weatherproof and waterproof boot styles from La Canadienne and Aquatalia.