The Sixties

Jean Shrimpton’s time is here again with fur trims everywhere, neat-as-pin jackets and ladylike box bags making a comeback. Think “Mad Men” and “Pan Am”.

Team an A-line coat with a stand-up collar, or try this fabulous outfit: a cocoon coat with 3⁄4 sleeves and elbow-length gloves over a navy/white striped top with a Peter Pan collar, worn with skinny jeans and pumps for a nod to the sixties trend.

And for the full ensemble, wear nip-waisted, form-fitting day dresses or sharp, but round-shouldered, suits.

Suited And Booted

This season’s borrow-from-the-boys’ trend demands a fabulous tailor. Think Marlene Dietrich or Charlotte Rampling in a slim-fit tuxedo.

Rich, black velvet jackets can be accessorized with a floppy bow tie collar and hat.

The masculine/feminine balance can be softened with sheer shirts and pencil skirts and, if you prefer your clothes to be even more ladylike, hint at a man’s accessory such as a silk scarf, worn with a blouse with contrasting collar and cuffs or a women’s fedora.

Heritage

For a chic, royal and enduringly classic feeling, the Heritage trend has it all. Midi-length skirts, high-waisted tailored tweed trousers and silk blouses lend old world glamour to the look.

To keep it modern, team contemporary pieces such as jeans with a tweed jacket and keep accessories neat and small.

Fabrics include tweed, plaid and herringbone.

Fetish

The fetish trend can be executed in a lovely and very subtle way. By introducing key pieces such a leather pencil skirt to your wardrobe and mixing with softer items such as mohair or cashmere knits, you will be bang on trend without going over the top.

It’s about looking sharp, sexy and empowered in a clean and modern way.

Tame constricting lace-up bodices and domineering footwear with a demure hemline and glints of refined jewels. Details and trims with leather, laces, studs and cuffs are the perfect way to start the party season…

The Shift Dress

Opt for plain and simple in a neutral tone over coloured tights and boots or go for a brighter, shorter style worn over trousers or leggings, tunic style.

For added interest, find a polka dot version. If you’re petite, keep the spots small, and if you have a large frame, go bigger with the spot size.

Pussy Bow Blouse

This is a great addition to any wardrobe as it’s suitable for work or play.

Sheer fabrics are just as versatile as heavier ones as you can add or remove layers underneath.

It can be worn with denim, leather or fur. Try tucking the blouse into wide-leg and flared jeans, or wear longer and looser over skinny jeans and trousers.

Turtle Neck

A fantastic wardrobe basic for colder days. Perfect for layering and accessorizing to the max.

Looks great with jeans, leather skirts or tweed trousers.

Wear it glammed with hair up, bold, dangly earrings and a chunky metal cuff.

Or wear over tailored shirts, with a tiny piece of collar just visible for the ultimate in Heritage chic.

Leather Trousers

Leather trousers look their best when worn as fitted and slim cut as possible. For most people this means wearing them with longer, looser tops or dresses such as oversize silk shirts, shift dresses or tunic tops.

Team them with chunky knitwear and boots for daytime or killer heels for evening.

They also look great with tuxedo jackets on slimmer, taller frames worn with masculine shirts for the brave amongst you!

A-Line Skirt

An instant body enhancer with the potential to create very different looks, the A-line skirt is a very versatile piece that can be dressed up or down.

For high-octane glamour dress it up with furs, lux silk blouses and killer heels. Or channel the Heritage look à la Lauren Hutton by teaming it with knee high boots, a turtle neck and floppy hat.

Choose from a mixture of fabrics – leather, wool, corduroy or denim.

Go for short, knee length or midi.

Tuxedo Jacket

It’s always worth investing in classic pieces like a tux because they add to your capsule wardrobe and can be reworked season after season. However, if you prefer not to look too masculine, team your tux with a pair of flat pumps and a dress, or a sheer shirt and pencil skirt.

If you do want to push the androgyny envelope, go for a tuxedo suit worn with brogues or killer heels, or try a tuxedo jacket worn over a wide shouldered blouse, tucked into wide-leg trousers with flats.

Alternatively you can make the look a bit more rock ‘n’ roll by wearing the jacket over skinny jeans, a striped long sleeve top and seventies knee high boots.

Flared Jeans

Fitting inbetween the wide-leg trouser and boot cut jeans, the flare is back. It’s very flattering on all body shapes, the rule being the more petite you are, the narrower the flare should be.

Keep the cut slim over the hips and go for big heels when you can – wedges sit best under flares.

Seventies Knee High Boots

The wider cut, mid-heel height leather boot is perfect with midi or knee length skirts, shift dresses or over skinny leather trousers or jeans.

Opt for tan, caramel, mustard, burgundy or charcoal grey for a move away from black.

Cocoon Coat

An elegant cocoon coat is the easiest way to work the sixties trend into your everyday wardrobe. Go for big volume and luxurious fabrics such as wool with leather trim.

A slim silhouette works best under the volume of this coat so opt for fitted trousers and a chic turtleneck.

Winter ‘11/’12: Key Colours/Fabrics

Soft Colours: Champagne/ Lavender/ Cantaloupe/ Stone

Garments in soft colors are stylish and elegant. They look sexy without being too aggressive.

It’s too easy to revert to black, gray and brown during the colder months but by injecting a bit of colour into your wardrobe, it will refresh every outfit.

Keeping colours subdued is a chic and classy way to update your look. The soft hues listed above look great with all neutrals. These colours are also a great way to feminize the androgynous suit trend.

Bright Details: Fire Engine Red/ Marigold/ Lemon or Sun Yellow/ Klein Blue/Bright Plum

If the softer hues are too draining for you, add these bright accents and details to your wardrobe.

Accessories such as scarves, bags, hats or a great-looking pair of boots can really lift a dull outfit and turn it into something special.

Do keep the balance – too many vivid colours in summer is fun and vibrant, but in winter can look too much.

Klein blue has continued from summer and looks amazing with greys, black, silver or yellow.

The New Neutrals: Midnight Blue/ Burgundy/ Bottle Green/ Felt Grey

If you want colour but believe orange, lemon and magenta are too much for you, try luxurious burgundy. It looks good on almost anyone and adds glamour to any outfit.

To add to your black and brown winter wardrobe, try experimenting with bottle green, a soft felt grey and midnight blue (a very deep, inky navy).

Texture: Shine/ Sequins/ Fur/ Maribou/ Leather

Mixing and matching textures, layering and building fabrics can add interest to even the most basic outfit.

A chunky knit cardigan worn over a silk blouse with leather trousers is a fabulous way to wear all black, all grey or one potentially boring single shade.

The very nature of mixing shine with matt, heavy with light, opaque with sheer, creates exciting outfit combinations you’ll come back to again and again.

Print And Pattern: Animal Prints/ Polka Dots/ Plaid/ Modernist Geometry

Print always plays a significant role in the winter wardrobe. It dilutes the monotone scheme and allows more experimentation.

The safest option is to combine printed items with monotone ones. However, if you are confident about your styling skills, you might want to coordinate various patterns into one look, eg. leopard with plaid, or leopard with python.

The rule when mixing print and pattern is stick to similar colour palettes and similar sizes, eg. don’t mix a large Mondrian style graphic with a small cheetah print, as it will be drowned out and look messy.