London Wonder

Autumn has Arrived!

After the excitement of London Fashion Week, where some of the best in British design were showcasing wonderful SS14 pieces (Stella McCartney, PPQ, J.W Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Burberry Prorsum - above - to name just a few of my highlights), it seems London is now cosying up.

The days are getting shorter, leaving the office is getting darker, and you wouldn't dream of setting off in the morning without your umbrella in your bag. This calls for the Autumn/Winter wardrobe.

I personally love dressing for Autumn. Laying is a favourite; there aren't really any strict rules and you can be as adventurous as you wish with it. Be bold, be brave, be fun, but be comfortable.

My key pieces/trends for this season will be:

- Leather Sleeve and Lapel Wool Coat. For those particularly cold Autumn days, wrap up in a stylish and comfortable updated version of last years' Autumn trend. This French Connection Wool Coat is a great piece, I love that it also hones in on this seasons boxy/oversized trend too!


- Slogan/Motif Jumper. I live for this trend - it's something you can quickly chuck on in the cold mornings with messy hair when you're running late. Wear it with leggings or a cute floral mini skirt, and great accessories (a chunky gold necklace, for example) to really style it up. This Brian Lichtenberg 'Homies' Sweater is perfect! NB Please stay away from slogans like 'Geek', 'Dork' or 'XOXO', they're absolutely dire.


- Bobble Hat. This is probably more of a personal trend rather than a general Autumn trend (the motif beanie being it's new season replacement), as I break it out every year, but I cannot tell you how much I adore my chunky woolly bobble hat. It's cute as anything, and keeps my ears so toasty in even the most bitterly cold days. I bought mine about four years ago from Warehouse, but you can get a similar one for this season from Accessorize (completely got distracted and went off on an Accessorize spree... mine!)


- Emerald. We're nearing the end of the year now, but Pantone's 2013 Colour of the Year is still going strong. Buy an emerald piece as a midi-skirt, chunky-knit scarf, this beautiful LK Bennett Rosamund Leather Bag or a blazer to really make an outfit pop. Team it with structured wovens and subtle gold accessories to make an outfit that even Victoria Beckham would lust after.  L-R: Vera Wang, Acne, Burberry Prorsum and Michael Kors, all from their SS13 collections.


- Tartan/Plaid Accents. Every few seasons this grungy trend is revived, and I don't blame people for doing it. It's not about making a massive bold statement with this trend, it's more about giving a modern and classic look, a fun and alternative accent. Just because it's tartan, it doesn't necessarily mean red - think deep blues, tree greens, even mustards. All perfect for Autumn. These shorts from Urban Outfitters are adorable (they have loads of plaid and tartan in at the moment), as are these Tripp NYC Jeans, don't forget you can accessorise too. The Stella McCartney Falabella is a must have! And if you're feeling really brave, check out this Checked Cape from Zara!


- Winter Floral's. Just because the weather is miserable, it doesn't mean with have to dress accordingly. I love digital print floral's in the springtime, but it seems that the trend tends to die down as the trees begin to lose their leaves. Big, fat, no! This season saw plenty of designers showing what they called 'Winter Florals'. Still as beautiful as ever, but slightly toned down and in darker shades to reflect the change in season. Zara have caught on to this trend beautifully with a wide range of different pieces to match your staple Winter Wardrobe Essentials. This Floral Print Jacket is to die for, and Thakoon's AW13 RTW line was all about the Winter Floral!


- Flat Ankle Boot. We saw this a lot last year, and they're back. For their easy to wear and comfortable traits, these are a must for this Winter. I'd say two staple pairs would see you through the season. A classic brown leather Chelsea Boot, like these from Office are comfy as anything and can be worn with a variety of outfits to create looks ranging from boho-chic to cosy-girl-about-town. I'm obsessed with these Toga Pulla Buckled Suede Ankle Boots, but if it's a bit over your budget, these Office Black Leather Boots are a near enough match to add a little edge to your wardrobe!


Well that's my Autumn round-up for what to look out for! It's going to be a chilly winter, so wrap up warm! I'm heading to M&S to stock up on my tights for the Winter!!