Transitional Trends

Molly Taylor reveals the top trends for autumn/winter 2010, and how to make them work while the sun's still shining

In the fashion circuit, the month of August is often referred to as the ‘transitional period’ between summer and autumn, which means that it’s almost time for you to decide what to buy, store or throw away in time for the colder months ahead. Lucky for you, there’s a plethora of different styles to choose from straight from the international catwalks which will suit every woman, whether you love a minimalist look, want to embrace your curves, or if you’re a grunge rocker at heart. The best news is that you can stay ahead of the fashion curve by working the trends now and investing in key trends that can be worn throughout the rest of the year. It’s all about organis ing your wardrobe early, in order to make autumn 2010 your most fashionable season yet!

Simplicity
To move your wardrobe forward for autumn, it’s time to focus less on summer’s infatuation with print and more on great fabrics and shapes. This goes hand in hand with the nude trend as seen this summer with catwalks awash with a palette of beige and cream. Simplicity is key as this trend is all about the understatement, where less is infinitely more. Wear simplicity now with a great pair of buttery leather shorts and a brilliantly cut jersey vest, and move to autumn with a tuxedo-style jacket and tights.

Feminity
Designers for the autumn/winter fashion period seem to be thinking ‘Mad Men’ with the new key skirt shape: the wasp. Tailored heavily at the waist and stopping at a somewhat demure below-the- knee length, this season you should be looking to the 50s for inspiration. Prom dresses were also a big trend. with designers such as Louis Vuitton pairing them with clever balcony corsetry to embrace and accentuate
every woman’s curves. For the final weeks of summer, stick to feminine details such as a framed bag or a pretty headband to ease yourself into the new nostalgic aesthetic.

Tailored Trousers
Ditch your slouchy harems and jogging bottoms - the trouser is back. No longer does the average woman have to battle with the dressing dilemmas associated with the previous trouser shapes; the new trousers are cut brilliantly, they are easy to wear and are super flattering. There are two styles to choose from: the Cigarettes (think ankle-exposing slim fit!) and the High Waisted Flare. Dubbed fashion’s new fail-safe, a great pair of trousers can take you anywhere, as illustrated by different designers such as Chloe and Valentino. For now, stick with your tailored shorts for the luxe look before investing in your wardrobe’s new best friend for autumn.

The Coat
Last winter marked the birth of the statement jacket, and it looks like the trend is here to stay this autumn, only turning the focus to coats. With an array of different styles to choose from, there is an on-trend coat for every woman. Look for camel coats, capes and aviation jackets, and don’t forget to dig out your festival parka. All of these coats are dying to be belted - look to Prada for inspiration and choose a skinny waist cincher to balance out the almost masculine shapes as seen on the catwalks.

Grunge
Good news - you can keep your maxi dresses out of storage this autumn as we’ll all be working the mash-up grunge look. Think heavy knits with opaque maxi skirts and dresses, a new take on the pretty lingerie styles as seen this summer. Take inspiration from designers such as Marc Jacobs and look to the high street and charity stores for a Fair Isle knit jumper and team it with a summer dress for the ultimate
transitional look. Striking both the glamorous and grunge boxes, this look is both cosy and pretty- perfect for autumn days as well as for summer nights.

Invest/Spend/Save
INVEST in a great pair of trousers or a coat, as they will continue working
through summer nights and into the winter months.
SPEND on a wasp skirt or a prom dress that will keep you party perfect as
well as bang on trend.
SAVE on a heavy knit jumper to suit the grunge trend- this look is all about
worn-in chic, so look to charity and vintage stores to score the best buys.