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No sooner as the last snow flake falls and the biting cold is replaced with fog and milder weather instead of donning our S/S12 gear we are already onto A/W12/13! Of course transatlantic this is Fall and I feel like falling in a never ending wave of fashion confusion.

Well if you want some clarity in your life then NYFW has produced a few pointers non more so than orange. The summation of colour from New York has to be black, grey, a greyish blue, magenta pink in dark and lighter hues and orange. Orange orange and tomato red the nearest red to orange.

 Marc Jacobs

 DVF

 Victoria Beckham

 Caroline Herrera

 3.1 Phillip Lim

Uptown Girl

With the warmth of the sun back to air our summer clothes, it really is time to think about your winter wardrobe. I say this every year to deaf ears but the window for coats is a small one. If you haven't got it by the first week of September, you will be officially on sloppy seconds.

All around the high street is suffering with a lack of consumer confidence and therefore a lack of spending. The clever retailers will be looking at keeping their costs down to ride this all out so don't make the mistake of thinking stock levels will be what they were before. It won't mean bargain's galore - just less availability.

This season there will be lots of collarless coats a la Prada's influential chic European Sixties homage. Lots of masculine jackets and coats with a minimalist vibe plus longer ones. Miu Miu and Gucci to name but two kept the nostalgia for 40s and 70s alive respectively.

Gucci has got it covered on the coat front. I'm afraid it is an uber chic, almost dare I say Liza Minnelli-esque, look for coats, jackets and accessories. It's a step away from the formality of the lady like look that has dominated of late when it comes to winter coats and despite the shaggy collars, coats and snakeskin leather jackets, this is no boho rock chic look - we are talking an uptown girl! I suspect this look will be a slow burner but a strong finisher for the adoption of trends. Mainly as it allows you to emulate the look with some handy wardrobe items, the fedora, the skinny belt, the faux fur collar, knee high boots, your pussy bow shirt. You might like to get dying the faux fur collar (a cold Dylon dye should work a treat in a teal or violet) and getting use to dark lipstick again with sleek hair rather than bed head. But if you fancy injecting colour, then use the Gucci colour palette as your base with its gorgeous use of teal, violet, ochre, orange, fuchsia and burgundy, with navy, grey and black as neutral options. Of course look to Zara to provide the affordable high street options!

images: Style.com (click here for full link to the collection)

Prada - I died!

Funny how the last Prada show felt a bit of a let down. Now the dust has settled, I can appreciate it for its influence I knew it would provide is for all to see on the high street.
This spring summer Prada collection will not be one I coveted but there are some nice touches to admire especially the shoes.

The recent A/W 11 collection was a different matter. Pure spectacle and pure admiration for the design of the collection, the styling, the setting and the show. It was slightly annoying it was so late for those sat there I'm sure but it was well worth waiting for. Miuccia reworked her favourite aesthetics the sock became part of the shoe to make a boot, the early sixties was reworked with new materials and colour ways but with some nod to her idol Yves Saint Laurent.

Equally the femininity was coltish, a liberating view of womanhood with out the need for overt sexualisation. I didn't like the use of snakeskin as print as I loathe snakes but you can't have everything! It felt light and refreshing even with the inclusion of a beautiful red dress. Ah, all is well with my world again when Miuccia is on top form!

my favourite

Sublime & beautiful

If only I had the funds!!

Be Prepared - a fashion stylists working wardrobe

Fingers crossed I'll be working flat out from now (ish) until a week or two before Christmas. Knowing my likely schedule and the fact I need a working wardrobe for different situations, I've used my time off to a) attend to the petit garcon first and foremost, b) decorate, saving Mr MDS decorators fees and c) compile my A/W10 look.

I've mixed old and new items. It is my usual mix of a few designer pieces with mainly high street and some secondhand. I've omitted to throw in my few t-shirts, my skinny grey polo, accessories and gloves that I'll be donning but you can imagine those!

Evening

I do mix and match day and evening wear but I've separated them to illustrate in their more dominant environments. I tend to keep it simple upon an eve, although that is probably true of all my outfits.

The evening items

l to r, years old ankle boots in a patent faux snake skin, with kitten heel, Suede purple courts with detail 2 years old, this season Prada heels and my very old Sacco boots from New York.

l to r, Gerald Darel tuxedo jacket from Oxfam Wimbledon 2 years ago, Zara metallic v cardi last year, Toast navy velvet trousers and Gerald Darel ruffle white shirt both 5 years old.

l to r, Viktor & Rolf black long sleeve silk dress, a few years old, recent Moschino dress from Outnet and a sample sale Pink Soda dress coat.

Daywear

The day time items

l to r, M&S granny wedges this summer - will wear with ankle socks, heeled Brogues 4 years old, this season suede ankle boots from Oasis and lace up brogues from Topshop. I realised that my choice of tan shoes demonstrates a repeat pattern. I hold my hands up it is my favourite colour for shoes.
l to r, recent blog shop dress purchase from Mrs Bossa (will do a separate post on this as have altered it), See by Chloe floral print dress from Liberty sale and my See by Chloe pea coat jacket.

Reiss a-line skirt, expect a lot of wear of this item

l to r, Topshop this season floral blouse, last season Topshop blouse, ditto Ted Baker blouse and this season Zara one.

This is my favourite buy, I love sheer material and the pattern and colours are wonderful. It sold out straight away.

l to r, Last season Topshop red jeans, Many, many years old Topshop jumper, which I love so much I'm glad it will get an airing this season. Normally it only comes out for very cold days. This season Zara knitted cardigan with geography teachers elbow patches.

Overall my look is a reference/nod to Mad Men, Celine and the things I always like. I would if I could buy some Chloe or Chloe inspired trousers and a D&G lace number wouldn't go a miss but the make do funds are emptied.

UPDATE: completely forgot to mention my black M&S cardi which is in the daywear section but then I've mentioned it loads already. It will continue to be used a lot.

Back to Black

If you are in any doubt about the usefulness of black in your wardrobe then banish those doubts and embrace the black. At the my-wardrobe A/W10/11 press event there was an abundance of black. I had to hunt for the colour and actually I sort of liked the familiarity of the ...well black.

See by Chloe and Love Moschino bags

Keep your furry things!

Twenty8Twelve Black Leather Jacket

White looks so good near or next to black

I loved these boots by Sam Edelman

Headpiece modelled by Claire of Wacey Style

DVF gold jacket (but the lining is black!)

Close up of gold material

By Marlene Birger black leggings with sparkly detail

The detail on the leggings

A gorgeous pale pink tunic top or dress from By Marlene Birger - I made the effort to hunt this number down for Faux Fuchsia. The rest of the dresses and tops By Marlene Birger were ...black

Beautiful ruffle detail on Paul Smith Black - you've guessed it black dress!

Halston Heritage Faux fur caplet

Halston Heritage Dress

Manoush Black Dress