How to wear autumn fashion trends

This season was always going to be an interesting one. How would the world's designers choose to arm us against the recession? Would financial worries see the rise of commercially viable looks over avant-garde style? Not quite. Instead this season is divided into two very distinct camps - the timeless classics and the fabulously frivolous.

The timeless classics

With the credit crunch biting there has never been a better time to invest in one wardrobe classic, rather than numerous one-season wonders. This is very much the philosophy behind the sombre land girl shades and subtly luxurious bags at Prada, and the beautifully cut leather jackets at Yves Saint Laurent.

Leather is one of the key fabrics for autumn, best worn as a jacket, knee-length skirt or long gloves. Equally long-lasting are the camel coats at Maxmara and Derek Lam, the liberal use of fabrics such as tweed and hounds-tooth, and the long-awaited return of the skirt suit.

When it comes to shoes and boots longevity and wearablity are the underlying trends again. Countless pairs of not-too-high ankle boots, such as Isabel Marant's studded pair paraded, down runaways in each of the fashion capitals. In fact why bother with heels at all when Christopher Kane's beautiful dresses looked so fantastic with classic Oxford brogues? 

The fabulously frivolous

Classic buys are one way to go this season, the other is to follow Marc Jacobs' lead and march out in bright jewel colours of teal and magenta in luxurious velvets and silks. The message here is clearly ‘recession, what recession?' Jacobs isn't alone in his refusal to tame down the colour palette, there are also Galliano's sumptuous silk dresses at Dior, and Marni's clashing prints to contend with.

And it's not just about colour; this air of joie de vivre is apparent in the folds and drapes at Balenciaga, while the frills and bows at Gaultier and Louis Vuitton are undeniably ostentatious but fun. Sequins too, have found their way onto dresses, jackets and skirts.

But perhaps the easiest way of translating this trend for the OTT is by investing in a statement necklace. Oversized gems, diamante, silk ribbon detailing - the bigger the better is the only rule to abide by.

Click here to discover our pick of the best on-trend high street buys. Whether you love the classics or delight in the frivolous; we have something for you... 

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