PicTunic

I'm not ready to give up on the Summer yet. I'm one of those sad souls marching on stubbornly with the tight-free look, choosing instead to flaunt the natural pattern of my chicken-skin in the now so frosty mornings. Subtle reminders of the August sunshine are still fresh in my mind, and I want to hold on to that thought for just a little bit longer (thank you very much!) Rachel Zoe's Autumn/Winter take on the tunic injects the lightness of the brighter seasons into my steadily thickening wardrobe, and is the perfect smart-casual balance for a Friday. And for a more dressed-up affair, with a bit of an edge, here's a sneak peak of Zoe's SS15 collection - fresh off the catwalk today.

Uterqüe snake skin ballerinas with chain detail

If you haven't come across Uterqüe yet, you have been missing out on a paradise for the smart-casual minimalist. Created in 2008 by the Spanish group Inditex, the brand is the most recent addition to the likes of Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Oysho…with a twist: it heralds the revival of accessories as the key to a well-finished look. Garments are discreet, handbags inconspicuous, but accessories are gold, bold and the life of the look. 

These snake skin ballerinas, accessorised with a gorgeous chain strung over the front, is the epitome of what the brand is about: basics framing the beauty of detail. It's an immaculate recipe for well-rounded wardrobe.

Corporate Culottes

When culottes first made their comeback on the catwalks, I imagined a short-lived celebration in the world of androgynous, futuristic fashion. They do have that trendy 'recycled' vibe - like you've just chopped off your grandfather's old summer bests just above your ankles, and drowned yourself in them, your torso just about peeking over above the waist. But this year's collections, both SS and AW, have proved just how diverse and truly wearable these knee-breachers can be, and most importantly that they can be worn at the office for an effortlessly brushed-up appeal. I am completely sold on Proenza Schouler's chic transformation of the genderless cut, as well as Alexander Wang's slightly more tailored interpretation. Wangling them in to my mid-season work wardrobe may just be the easiest thing in the world. 

A Ruby in the Rubble - London Fashion Week AW14

London Fashion Week is like a ruby in the rubble. Just when the saturation of the Winter sales sinks in, when all the frustrations of your favourite shoes you never bought now available only in size 3 or 14, when the Spring/Summer collections tease you through the icey windows in all their impossibly sunny colours, and when you've been wearing the same boot and coat combination for a week out of sheer lack of inspiration… That's when Fashion Week comes about. 

Following Fashion Week is like being granted a golden ticket to the Chief Charm Factory, where colours you had forgotten existed come flooding out in a catwalk concoction; fabrics, both old and new, float by around the ankles of a power strut; and new forms are born: shapes to adorn the human body - some re-awoken, others pioneered.

And patterns are formed: patterns to tell the story to come. And AW14 is born...

Isle of Wine

Think Radiant Orchid after a long summer's sun. The aubergines come out to play, Port grapes are collected and oak leaves turn maroon. A rich and complex foliage for a classic Autumn trend.

                                     Hunter                                                 Emilio de la Morena

                            Lucas Nascimento                                       Roksanda Illicic

                     Mulberry                                                   Burberry Prorsum

Re-Smoking

French Le Smoking? The Brits are Re-Smoking it. Nothing clouds the air with timeless androgyny like peak lapels, cummerbunds and a sleek, midnight palette. General revivals of the tux are to be expected…with a feminine twist.

                        Joseph                                                    Richard Nicoll

               Temperley London                                              Mary Katrantzou

                        GILES                                                        OSMAN

Whack & Blite

It's no secret that Black and White are the perfect harmony. But when played about with in a craze of dizzying patterns, they can be as exciting as colour itself. Meet Whack and Blite…or Blite and Whack? Either way, their intermeshing is extraordinary.

                       Orla Kiely                                                Margaret Howell

         Vivienne Westwood Red Label                                    Antonio Berardo

                                      Issa                                                          David Koma

 *Images borrowed from London Fashion Week.