Winter Trends (started as a Candid Article!)

New Season, New Style

October is upon us, and so it seems, is the winter weather. Rather than feeling forlorn whilst packing away summer maxi dresses and banishing bikinis back to the suitcase, think of all the exciting new pieces that you can now invest your hard earned money on without feeling guilty…

Coats

I must admit, I do hate having to hide a well-planned outfit underneath a coat, but with the latest trends to hit the catwalk, at least your cover-up doesn't have to be dreary. Top of the list, as it has been for a few years now, is the fur coat. Real or fake, whichever takes your fancy, but it is definitely a material that is here to stay. Moving on from just edging sleeves and lapels, this year’s designs have taken it one step further, not only being made entirely of fur as seen at Fendi and Joseph, but adding extra wow factor by playing with bold colours and patterns such as at Gucci, Moschino Cheap & Chic and Alberta Ferretti. Try Topshop if you are looking for one on a high street budget – they have some seriously crazy coats that are guaranteed to brighten up a dull morning!

If fur is a tad formal, or just not your thing, another style that is prevalent is the oversized or voluminous coat, as seen at Celine, Balenciaga, Acne and Yves St Laurent. The name speaks for itself; these coats drown any shape, preferring a silhouette with wide shoulders and no waist, long sleeves, large lapels and a loose fitting hemline. Go for either a statement colour such as coral or periwinkle, or muted stone tones. This is not the most flattering of garments, so team with skinny jeans, bare legs or leggings to show that you are not shaped like a sack of potatoes. At least you can eat dessert without worrying about it showing. Zara have some lovely versions whose price tags won’t make you weep.

Accessories

The main accessory to look out for as the cold weather sets in is the hat. Personally, I cannot stand the things, as I seem to have been blessed with the worst possible shaped head that looks ridiculous in anything from a baseball cap to a beanie. If, however, you are fortunate enough to suit hats, then there is a plethora of shapes and sizes to deliberate over. There were tweed ones at Burberry, black fur at Lanvin, Trilbys at Donna Karan, and knitted designs at Victoria Beckham to name a few – so there’s bound to be one that takes your fancy.

Another accessory to splash your cash on is a supersize scarf. Whether you choose to go all the way with a thick, 3 metre long one, or just stick to a cable knit cowl, the high street is bursting with patterns and colours that will engage even the most dubious of shoppers. For both hats and scarves look to autumn for colour inspiration: burgundy, aubergine, navy, grey and emerald green. Just don’t wear both in the same colour, we wouldn’t want to be too predictable now!