And The A/W Trends Are...

Summer isn’t even over yet, but the previews of the Autumn/Winter collections are coming out by the dozen! Whereas the summer collections were filled with colourful dresses and floral printed designs, this autumn things will settle down a little bit. Worried about it being boring? Don’t despair; there are some extreme pieces which will be seen out and about on the highstreet that will most likely please the more artistic fashion victims (especially if you’re considering wearing leather shorts). Intrigued? Read on to discover more trends in store for this coming winter...

Brown
Out with the floral prints….in with the brown and other neutral colours! No matter what shade of brown; from camel, tobacco, tan to nude and beige; all will been seen this autumn and winter. They are slowly taking over stores everywhere from the highstreet to the smaller boutiques.  A personal favourite is this camel coloured jumper from Topshop, which isn’t too extreme and has a cute button detail on the shoulder.

Knitted Short Cable Jumper, 38 pounds, Topshop

Faux Fur

Seen in almost every Autumn/Winter collection so far is fur. Obviously not the real deal, seeing that nowadays fake fur can look just as real and glamorous. From coats to hats, fur manages to pop up everywhere. Furry details are one of the main fashion trends this winter, decorating everything from handbags to boots. Nice and warm, but still fashionable at the same time. Looking for something which will keep you warm during the autumn, but not smother you? Then go for this faux fur cropped jacket for a vintage chic look.

Faux fur cropped jacket, A-wear, 50 pounds, From their A/W collection ‘Antique’.

Capes                 
If you thought capes were for superheroes or fairy tale-like characters, then think again. Capes are the thing to wear this winter!  They come in various lengths, from short to ankle-sweeping, to suit all body shapes. Combine them with skinny jeans or leggings to fully accentuate the A-shape. Most capes come in neutral colours and are very plain (read: no prints), so combine both of these trends and go for a camel coloured cape! Or combine it with the faux fur trend, and go for this cape from Miss Selfridge with a fur detail around the neck line.

Cape, Miss Selfridge, 60 pounds

Leather Shorts
Very refreshing and also quite daring; therefore definitely something for the extremists among us. Preferably worn with cropped tops or a tucked in blouse; some warm tights and a cardigan are also a good idea! Topshop and Zara are definitely selling them this autumn, in all shades of brown.  Still think leather shorts aren’t daring enough? Leather leggings were also huge on the Autumn/Winter 2010 runways and are even more extreme (and probably a lot more difficult to get into)!

Leather shorts, Topshop, price to be confirmed

Clogs
A lot of people will be extremely disappointed to hear that clogs are still going to be one of the main fashion items this autumn and winter. But, this time with a slight twist! There will be added details, like tweed and fake fur. Even though they’re quite chunky, there might be a small positive side to them; to fit into the winter collections, they have been transformed into clog boots. They’re not as chunky, and have a nice heel to them. Personally I feel they’re more elegant then their ugly sister, the clog. One of my personal favourites is this clog boot from Miss Selfridge, which will be coming out this autumn.

Clog boot, Miss Selfridge, price to be confirmed

Après ski inspired knitwear

Even if you’re not planning to go skiing this year, you can still dress the part by going for après ski inspired knitwear. In case you have no idea what I’m going on about, think: cable knit jumpers, knitted boots (thick knits and chunkiness, in a nutshell). Seen throughout most Autumn/Winter collections, they are best combined with tweed and plaid for that great outdoorsy look. Definitely a no-brainer for this coming winter!

Skirt £4, Hat £7, Belt £5, Mittens £5, Tights £3, Boots £12, Jumper £25 all F&F at Tesco