My “raves” list was long because there was little this season that we couldn’t adapt to suit our fashion persona, body type and lifestyle. As always, it’s a matter of knowing how to sift through the trends and add the right amount of “right now” to our existing wardrobe.

Here are the items that didn’t make it through my filter:

• Ridiculous heel heights were frustrating. Shoe and boot styles were sweet, but often made unwearable with 3 to four inch heels. I draw the line at one pair of pretty “sitting shoes” in my wardrobe.
• Ankle boot season was disappointing. Other than fun ‘80’s inspired slouchy styles, ankle boots were drab. There were plenty of styles with interesting features on the ankle part of the boot, but this is a wasteful feature when the detail is covered by pants or jeans. Interesting design details on the toes of boots are better for this look and there weren’t many of those around. I guess that this season’s ankle boots were meant to be worn with dresses and tights.
• An abundance of unflattering voluminous pieces gave the trend a bad reputation. Billowing sack dresses and overly roomy pieces are unflattering, and there were a lot of them.
• Trapeze jacket overload. The style has flooded the market and there wasn’t enough variety in the jacket category.
• Light grey and acid wash denim for women. I’m not a fan. I do like light grey jeans on blokes though.
• Too much black for the party season. I’d have welcomed more non-black holiday party pieces.

There were also a few missed retail opportunities:

• A deeper assortment of fab looking shoes and boots with one to two inch heels always go down well. It’s interesting that these lower heel heights were not overlooked in Europe this season.
• Winter skirts were few and far between. Knee length skirts go hand in hand with knee length boots and are a great alternative to wearing dresses.
• Denim skirts are a missed opportunity every season. I’m looking forward to the time that they become a fashion statement again.
• Pants without side entry pockets are universally more flattering and they are still hard to find.
• A greater assortment of jackets that weren’t trapeze or baby doll in style would have satisfied all body types.

Bring on your rants for Autumn & Winter 2007 before we close the door and concentrate on Spring 2008.

Adorable winter booties with hectic heel heights. I rest my case.

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?

The space age trend started coming through last year and there’s no stopping it for 2008. Metallic trapeze jackets, biker styles, blazers and trenches are an ultra modern, fashion forward look that has just recently gone mainstream. Metallic jackets are not created equally and you’ll find that some are more overtly shiny than others. If you like the idea of wearing a silver or gold jacket that’s not that shiny, choose one in a natural fiber like cotton or linen. The effect of metallic fiber (lurex) woven together with natural fiber is more subtle, than metallic fiber woven together with non-organic fiber. I purchased a metallic linen jacket last season and it’s an indispensable neutral in my wardrobe for both daytime and evening.

A collection of subtle and very shiny metallic trapeze jackets, bikers, trenches and blazers. I like this look best with jeans or over a dress.

Leather jackets were big in the ‘80’s and pleather or “faux leather” jackets were big in the ‘90’s. Now a mod twist on the once classic item is becoming a fashion force to be reckoned with. Funky designer leather jackets, like streamlined biker styles, trapeze styles and baby doll silhouettes, started coming through a year ago and I was convinced that the trend would not filter down to mainstream fashion. But I was wrong and the cheeky cropped leather or pleather jacket is here to stay. They are everywhere and just as big for Spring as they were for Autumn. I like the look and there is always some form of cropped and playful leather or pleather jacket in my wardrobe. I love the contrast that is created when a short, stiff, structured boyish leather jacket is paired with a soft, flowing, girly blouse. Add a pair of jeans, slacks or a skirt and pretty shoes, and you’ve got yourself a timeless yet current little look.

Leather jackets are expensive, but you’ll find many on sale at the moment. I personally enjoy refined “rock-chic” biker looks. You can’t get that early ‘80’s streak out of me I suppose.

This interesting, ultra-mod frock is available at Nordstrom for $295. It is described as a “modern sculpture” turtleneck dress with dolman sleeves that attach just above the hem. Yes, the sleeves are actually attached near the hem. So how do you eat, shake a hand, embrace someone, or do anything that involves reaching and lifting without pulling up your dress to crotch point? Definitely an eye-catching and creative piece for the catwalk, but seemingly impractical for any stylish occasion. Perhaps it would be fun to wear for Halloween with a pair of leggings, pointy-toed shoes and a witches hat.

I’m surprised to see this over-the-top style selling at Nordstrom, but then again a bit of drama can’t hurt.

Coats come in a wide range of different cuts and silhouettes and there are many different things to consider if you want to make the purchase a good investment. You’re after a strong shoulder line, a skimming silhouette and the correct sleeve and hem length in order for coats to look their best. Here are some simple rules to apply:

• Layer properly. You need to comfortably wear two layers underneath a dressy coat (a camisole or shirt, and a fine piece of knitwear). If this is not the case, go up a size or try another style. Casual parkas are usually a little roomier and allow for thicker knits and more layers.
• Ensure that you can move freely. You’ll need to drive, reach out and lift in your coat. This is achievable when a coat is too big, but you’ll have lost your shoulder line and skimming fit. Make sure that your coat is tailored and comfortable at the same time.
• Choose the length that works best for your height. Petites look best in coats that are on the knee or shorter, while taller girls can pull off most lengths. I’ve found coats that finish at the knee best because they work perfectly with dresses, skirts and pants.
• Sleeves should clear the top part of your gloves. Long sleeves are too short if they finish on your wrist. Bracelet length sleeves finish just above the wrist while three-quarter sleeved coats should finish halfway between your wrist and elbow.

Whether it’s quilted, furry, woolen or sporty, a coat needs to drape well and create a flattering, unbroken vertical line. Finding a coat that fits well is challenging and there are unfortunately no shortcuts. You’ll need to try many to begin with, get to a shortlist of candidates and then make a careful final decision.

Fab fitting coats from Nordstrom.

The Today Show’s Natalie Morales took a look at fashion trends and styles for the New Year. Buzzwords like “pattern”, “colour”, “multicultural” and “fluidity” describe what lies ahead. I had a hunch that the voluminous trend would stick around and I’m happy to see that this is the case. A bit of volume in the right place makes for an interesting outfit. Bright hues and ethnic patterns will be a refreshing contrast to the sea of black and white retail collections we saw for Spring 2007, but it’s going to be a tricky season for those who prefer neutrals and plain items.

Brights are back and I’m thrilled.

Then cut it off, but be mindful how you go about the chop. You’ll need to leave about 2-3 millimeters of fringe behind so that there’s no unraveling. You don’t need to have the ends of the scarf hemmed after you’ve cut off the fringe, but this is an option if you prefer the look of a straight finished edge. I’ve never hemmed the edges of my scarves and pashminas after I’ve cut off their fringe because I prefer the look of a scarf that does not have an official front or back. In this way, a scarf is “right side up” no matter how you tie it.

Cutting off scarf fringe might sound a little dicey, but I can safely say that I’ve been doing this for years and my pashminas look great after loads of laundering and travel. No unraveling… promise!

I personally prefer fine knits because I find it hard to layer a chunky knit underneath a jacket or coat and still feel comfortable. I also feel more dressy and streamlined in a piece of fine knitwear that I can either dress up or down. But styles and preferences are different and I’ve dressed and seen plenty of people who look great in chunky knits.

The trick is to choose the right silhouette and pair it with the right items.

• Choosing a cropped style that shows your waistline is a good idea because you can pop a sleek, longer layer underneath that peeks out below the knit, allowing you to retain your shape.
• If you prefer longer length knits, keep them tailored and the length just above crotch point. If you go tunic length, stick to sweater coat guidelines.
• Keep your bottoms long and lean with straight cut or boot cut pants or jeans, or a knee-length straight skirt and knee-high heeled boots.

Chunky knits can be flattering in an uber casual way if you add the right amount of structure to your ensemble. Add a pair of casual boots and a slimming scarf and you’ll look fab.

A long scarf that’s “pulled through a loop” or tied in any other way so that the ends form a vertical line down the front of your body has a slimming effect. Worn this way, the scarf creates a long lean line that is surprisingly flattering. Remember to think of a scarf as an item that you can add to your ensemble on mild Autumn and Winter days without a coat. The scarf is often the first accessory to come out in Europe when it gets chilly (before a jacket or coat), so don’t feel that you have to save the item for freezing temperatures.

I love everything about scarves. They keep me warm and elongated, add colour to my outfit and complete the look. I keep my scarf pulled through a loop because that works best for my style (the blue scarf on the right), but here are more ways to tie a scarf in keeping with its vertical appeal.