My Fall Must-Haves

This time of the year every fashion magazine I pick up is filled with the key trends for fall. Somehow they don't all stick to me as I don't see myself walking around in those Harlem pants that look like you're wearing a diaper. But maybe I shouldn't say anything because I didn't think I'd ever wear huge sunglasses as I had laughed at pictures of my mum in the 70's with them on when I was younger. Anyhow I composed a little list of the trends that did stick and that I will definitely explore this fall.

Cuffs:

This fall has focused a lot on the jewelry and it's all about in your face statement pieces like large gold cuffs. I also quite fancy this studded one that incorporated two trends in one. I find that sometimes you find the coolest accessories at the most unlikely places like punk clothing stores. It's all about mixing influences. (1. Witchery.com.au, 5. leatherpunk.com)

Layered gold necklaces:

I've been wearing this look for a while. I love layering necklaces as it adds a certain element to an outfit and you can mix different chains to create a totally unique look. I love these two necklaces with many golden chains that remind me of the ones seen in the Givenchy show, the ones that sparked this trend. (2. emitations.com, 3. ladoreboutique.com)

Wedged ankle boot:

The wedged ankle boot, or any ankle boot really, is the footwear for fall. I personally like the wedged ankle boot as I find them much easier to walk in plus they look really cool, like a hoof. (4. brownsfashion.com)

Studs:

Studs have been an IT item for the alternative for a while now but when Carrie stepped out in that waist cinching studded belt with a floral dress to match we were all caught with a bit of stud hysteria. They had a replica that could be bought at Patricia Fields website (patriciafield.com) that went like butter. I find that even here you can look at punk stores for cheaper versions. (6. oneposter.com)

Lace:

Previously confided to wedding dresses and grieving ladies they are now everywhere. Miuccia Prada based her whole collection on them, proving that Lace can be very elegant and worn in many different ways, for day and evening. (7. viktorviktoriashop.com 8. oli.co.uk)

Ruffles:

One of this summers biggest trend finds a way to stay on through autumn. I will be wearing them on well sculptured garments in muted colors. This cute shirt would be great to break off with a pair of men's pants and a studded cuff to toughen it up. (9. missselfridges.com)

Fake fur vest:

I like the look of fur, It looks elegant and classy. I like the feel of fur, it is warm and cosy. Though I don't think I could stand up for wearing real fur, then this faux fur vest is perfect. (10. evans.co.uk)

Grandmah skirt:

This fall the skirt hem is going dooooown. I have been collecting these kind of skirts a long time from second hand stores not sure if I wanted to cut them shorter or what. Good thing I didn't because this fall they are supposed to be going down past the knee. They will also keep your knees happier in colder weather as they won't be shaking as much. Ask your grandmah! (11. brownsfashion.com 12. net-a-porter.com)

Checks:

Probably this falls most prominent trend, it was seen everywhere on the catwalk. Agyness Deyn has been rocking the checkered shirt for a while without looking like a lumberjack and I will give it a try too. (13. net-a-porter.com 14. dorothyperkins.com)

Daisy, I Lowe your style

It's hard to go wrong when you're the secret love child of model Pearl Lowe and hunky Gavin Rossdale. With friends like Peaches Geldof and Agyness Deyn, Daisy Lowe has become one of London's spectacular IT girls. Growing up in a world of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll she has come out on the other side more than fabulous. Daisy Lowe makes her own destiny: She says"If I'm going to be famous, I want to be famous for doing something good – having talent". She has modeled for some of the biggest names in fashion and I choose her as my StyleCrush of the month because she never apologises for who she is and what she is wearing. Posing nude on I-D magazine with her then boyfriend Will Blondelle, she is not a shy violet and her rock'n'roll heritage clearly plays a part in her style choices. Her style might not be for everyone but that is the point : she has her own style. With a style that grabs your attention and exeptionally beautiful looks she is a real StyleCrush. She mixes cute dresses with leather jackets and always wears fabulous shoes and she never ever blends in the background, her style is always a great mix of feminine and rock n' roll. Plus I just like the name Daisy a lot.

GET THE LOOK:

Clockwise from left: Leather jacket (topshop.com), T-shirt (alloy.com), Cherry Print dress (topshop.com), Strapless dress (Oasis), Footless tights (hue.com), Shoe (topshop.com), Platform shoes (garageshoes.co.uk), Nailpolish (OPI), Tights (Hue.com), Skirt (jcrew.com), Biker boot (topshop.com) Marc Jacobs Bag (e-luxury.com)

Search: Perfect fall/winter jacket

Matthew Williamson

Versace

Much like the perfect man the perfect fall/winter jacket is there to keep you warm and go with your lifestyle. Much like the perfect man the perfect fall/winter jacket is hard to find. It is a choice I make every year when this season comes. I am a bit of a coat junkie, buying a new one every year. Perhaps because in this cold climate it's basically the only thing that shows because it covers your well thought outfit. So the questions are: shall it (he ;) be short, long, dark, light? So many questions! I say don't go for the generic black, white or khaki this season and opt for some color: orange, lime, purple and pink has been seen on the runway a lot. A little color to brighten up the colder months sounds like a good idea to me.

Here are some of my picks for the (soon) cold and grey nights.

GET THE LOOK:

1. PPQ Purple Dial Coat (www.my-wardrobe.com) 2. Pink Cocoon coat (www.oli.co.uk) 3. Juice couture pink trench (www.net-a-porter.com) 4. Green trench (www.onatako.com) 5. Aquascutum coat (www.net-a-porter.com) 6. Blue swing coat (www.topshop.com) 7. Purple coat (www.topshop.com) 8. Miu Miu purple princess coat (www.net-a-porter.com) 9. See by Chloe yellow mod coat (www.net-a-porter.com) 10. Orange coat (www.mytheresa.com) 11. Blue jacket by Marc Jacobs (www.to-dress.ru)

Photo source: www.style.com

How to: Print on Print

Carrie Bradshaw first brought the miss-matched look to the masses. Before we were just afraid of what was acceptable and what was not. What we all loved about Carrie is that she had no rules when it comes to fashion, and fashion shouldn't be confided to boundaries. Mixing two different prints on your top and bottom has always been seen as a big NO-NO but I say in this day of age when there is no real style do define the century I think we should flush that NO-NO down and turn it into a big YES. I am not even going to give you any rules - except that when you start to look like the quilt your grandma made, you should probably start over. My tips would be to perhaps stick to the same color scheme if it turns to confusing or the same pattern "family", like floral on floral and break it off with a one colored belt. Here are just some of my picks on how to wear this look.

GET THE LOOK:

1. Marc Jacobs Coat (mytheresa.com) 2. See by Chloe skirt (net-a-porter.com) 3. Shoe (viecouture.com)
4. Fabulous jacket (topshop.com) 5. Bird print skirt (newlook.co.uk) 6 and 7. Cutest coin purses (haydenharnett.com) 8. Plaid Jacket (charlotterusse.com) 9. Skirt (jcrew.com) 10. Miu Miu Carnival dress (miumiu.com) 11. Shoes (shop.creaturesofcomfort.us) 12. Alexander McQueen (net-a-porter.com) 13. Zebra print skirt (wetseal.com) 14. Prom dress (republic.co.uk) + zebra belt ( agacistore.com) 15. Shoes (viecouture.xom) 16.Tulip hobo bag (store.delias.com) 17. Trench (haydenharnett.com) 18. Gloves (girlprops.com) 19. Derek Lam animal print dress (brownsfashion.com) 20. Floral Print Corset (topshop.com) 21. Belt (agacistore.com) 22. Skirt (topshop.com) 23 and 24. Jacket and matching skirt (topshop.com)

Fashion Forecast: Exposed zipper

Ever since I saw this picture of Adriana from "the Hills" wearing a bright yellow 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt I have been strangely drawn to it. Maybe it is the color, because yellow has caught my eye a lot lately, or the fact that it has a black zipper exposed on the outside. The exposed zipper has been peeking out in many of Phillip Lim's pieces and now we have also seen them strutting down the runway this fall. Most of them were put on otherwise simple garments to give them that little extra. The exposed zipper has been around a while actually, the pioneer is thought to be Albert Elbaz who exposed the zipper as far back as 2003, and we see it again in his Fall 2008 collection. Wonderful feminine evening dresses that when you turn around, expose a zipper. Some people shy away from this because they think that exposing a zipper ruins the garment, maybe because zippers belong hidden or the fact that it just doesn't look finished in a sense. Well, I like it because it can give a bit of contrast and edge to an otherwise simple garment or gives the contrast of hard on soft. I also find the zipper to add a bit of sexiness, think of what a zipper actually does and it sends that message: Unzip me ;) This trend is quite easy to DIY. Just remove your old zipper and put on a new one on the outside, perhaps in a contrasting color? You don't even have to be that good of a seamstress because the whole idea is that even the tape of the zipper is exposed.

If you don't like it on your clothes you might like it on your shoes, like these from Christian Louboutin or these sandals from Mark Bernson Swain. Cute!

GET THE LOOK:

Clockwise from left: zipper necklace (shop.80spurple.com), exposed zipper skirt (charlotterusse.com), dress (net-a-porter.com), jacket (net-a-porter.com), exposed zipper leggings (shopbop.com).

Inspiration: Goth

Luella Fall 2008

I think a lot of people stay away from the term "Goth" because they connect it to the kids on the street walking around with black lipstick, purple hair, black tutu's and to characters like Mortisha Adams. It's a costume, not something you want to describe a part of your outfit as. Me, I think of old churches and black gloves.

Everything is about moderation though. I wouldn't want you to go out and buy the lace umbrella and wear it together with the black dress and the killer heels. But adding a bit of the dark side to our wardrobe is the way to go this fall. I quite like the idea of a pair of lacquered 4 inch lace up heels peeking out under your Levi's.

Just as the term "Goth" leads us to think of words like dark and mysterious so does the connotations, a dark plum lipstick covering your otherwise pinkish lips, a bit of luxurious velvet and a top hat together with a sweet dress can add a bit of dimension to your character.

Lately a lot of Goth influences has popped up on the Catwalk. Luella had given her Goth girls dark lipstick and she even goes as far as putting her models in witch hats. Her collection is dominated by the goth girls of the 80's with crimped hair and dark lips. One thing to be aware when wearing the dark lips is that it makes your lips smaller, but if that's no problem. Go for it! And as for the witch hat, wear it carrying a pumpkin shaped basket, never ever else.

So let's all try to find our dark side this fall.

GET THE LOOK:

Clockwise from left: Lace Umbrella (sohos.co.uk), Top hat (topshop.com), Lace shoe (argoth.co.uk), Ring (purejewels.com)
Velvet shorts (target.com), Lace Dress (topshop.com), Cross necklace (burton.co.uk), Black pearls (thepearlsource.com) Cross (amphigory.com), Lipstick in Black Orchid (makeupstore.se), Pearl earrings (overstock.com)