Heritage
There was always going to come the day when, like your dad, fashion said “Stop! What on earth are you wearing? You are supposed to be a lady.” And so for AW 08 fashion has done away with our kiddy clothes, and has sights on turning us all into proper prim ladies. Think Ralph Lauren’s sophisticated American – all nipped in waists and skirts of a certain length. Or D&G and their collection of all things plaid (some of us may call it tartan). Even, Chloe are belting us into military inspired coats, and hiding a more frivolous look underneath. Dress with your mothers ideals in mind, but keep it tight for a sexier edge, with angular shoulders for a modern shape.
Costume Jewellery
This season is all in the details. Big details. Massive details in fact. Even when you are channeling the lady in you, you can accessorize with a mother of a ring on your finger, or some heavy stud detailing all over you. There is nothing subtle about jewellery, and everything should make a statement. Think knuckle-dusters, but choose them in delicate colours, or heavy bracelets and necklaces that work better than gravity. High shine and patent flowers are key, and they work on anything, from head to toe. They even add that touch of summer, when it is all but a memory. Treat jewellery like your dressing up box and throw it all on at once. Experiment and weigh yourself down.
Tomato Red
There is little room for shrinking violets this season, not when red is the dominating colour. And this isn’t just red, this is RED! Unashamedly confident, sexy and glorious. Alexander McQueen created bold dresses reminiscent of the biggest bunch of poppies, while Valentino always ends with head to toe tomato red. By day you need to treat red with respect, wear it boldly but not all over. Try a ruffled blouse, or draped t-shirt. But at night, red comes alive. Wear something short and sumptuous, and wear it over as much as you are confident in, but wear it in RED.
Super Structure / Statement Coats
The bigger the coat, the bigger the statement, of course that is true, but let’s be practical here; the bigger the coat, the warmer the wearer. And boy are they big. Big in details. Collars are exaggerated and frame the neck, buckles emphasize a belted waist, and buttons take us back to our majorette childhoods (or dreams of it at least). Then of course there are the details that pay homage to the military of old. Not the stuffy uniforms of new, no, no, these are the super elegant, brass buttoned, sharply cut coats of days gone by. Alexander McQueen made them in red with brocade detailing, and the idea is to either run with the theme (with over the knee boots, not a bayonet), or modernize it with the new trouser shapes. With all the coats to choose from, it would be rude to just pick the one!
Tunics and Trousers
Everyone knows that winter is about the trouser. You spend all year psyching yourself up to reveal your legs for a fortnight, and then it is straight back into the comfort of the pant. After the popularity of the skinny last year, other shapes are making a comeback – the wide-leg, Capri, flare, classic, jeans (everywhere and every kind), even banana (see Yves Saint Laurent) – but the most flattering, on everyone, is the long, lean and high waisted. Cinch yourself in with a belt for definition and a narrow silhouette, throw on a cropped angular jacket (as we mentioned earlier) and you will find yourself power-dressing for a new generation.
