5 Style Hacks I'm Stealing from London Fashion Week (And a Couple I'm Not)

London Fashion Week is renowned for styling sleights whose recreation outside the rarefied confines of Brewer Street NCP would see their proponents running the risk of a lifetime Tesco ban. But it's also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for those of us who fancy a little wardrobe shake-up... And nothing need stop you receiving your Ocado delivery in glittery pyjamas, eh?

Here are my Fashion Week-inspired resolutions for 2016...

1. Discover New Layers

L-R: Topshop Unique; Fyodor Golan; Mother of Pearl; Simone Rocha

Skirts over trousers: Yawn. Skirts over... skirts? I'm listening. Skirts over suits? *Yelps with excitement*

2. Try the New High/Low

L-R: Peter Pilotto; Mother of Pearl; Preen; Preen

Sports/luxe: done (over and over and over and...) But prim/prairie, demure/disco and sports/vamp, on the other hand...

3. Ruffle Some Feathers

L-R: Erdem; Mother of Pearl; Paul Smith; Huishan Zhang

Or, at the very least, some neck and hemlines.

4. Pop Some (Statement) Collar...

L-R: Burberry; J. JS Lee; Osman; Roksanda

After 400 years in the fashion wilderness, could 2016 see the return of the ruff? Roksanda (incredibly) put forward a pretty convincing case... But, whilst I muster the requisite courage (and wait for Zara to rustle up a copy), I'll be following Burberry's failsafe formula: fun fur + parka + peppy prints + preppy accessories = trans-seasonal style perfection.

5. Jazz Up My Hosiery

Clockwise from L: House of Holland; Osman; Mother of Pearl; Ryan Lo

And once I've finished rifling through the darkest recesses of my sock drawers in search of those Burberry-alike textured tights, I solemnly swear to finally try out the socks-and-sandals thing... Before investing in some new-style pom pom-adorned accessories (because, come next season, a bag charm just isn't going to cut it) and (*squeal*) some glittery tights. The '80s party dressing trend is going to be the best Crimbo gift an adult woman ever received.

And 4 I Won't Be Trying At Home...

Gareth Pugh; Ashish; Christopher Kane; Mother of Pearl

1. '80s power suiting? YES. Contouring using tights? No.
2. Glittery pyjamas? Yes (please). Hair of Marge Simpson and Krusty the Clown's lovechild? No.
3. Bag-for-life-based millinery? Call me old school, but I think I'll be sticking to umbrellas for the time being.
4. Skirts-over-skirts? Intrigued. Skirts-over-trackies-over-socks-under-slippers? Baffled.

Need to Know: Your LFW Crib Notes

• The Hottest Colours: Olive Green, Yolk Yellow, Rose Pink
• The Greater Spotted Prints: Gingham, Houndstooth, Florals
• Most Referenced Decades: '60s, '70s (yes, I know), '80s
• Most Commonly Credited Concepts: Fading Beauty, High/Low
• Most Unexpected Trend: Corsets over everything...

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The Print-cess and the Blog

Rounding off 2015 in a sixties-inspired animal vs. geo, citrus vs. mustard mash-up courtesy of Santa and friends...




















Coat: Very, Blouse: Primark, Skirt: River Island at ASOS, Boots: Stradivarius, Lipstick: Velvet Touch Lipstick in 153 Flirty Orange by GOSH

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Suede on Suede... for under £80

Up until recently, I'd always treated '70s style as a transient summer trend - doesn't the sun always bring with it an irresistible urge to indulge our inner bohemian? But, this season, suede macs, flares and culottes have been dropping almost as fast as those autumn leaves, bringing with them the even more irresistible urge to take our love-in with '70s fashion to the next level...

Since I, for one, refuse to countenance either (a) draping myself in the skins of dead animals from head to toe, or (b) spending more than £50 on any one item of clothing, I was beside myself with glee on coming across H&M's faux suede beauts... at £29.99 for a buttery-soft, second-skin-like pair of flares, and £49.99 for the most beautiful coat I've seen on the high street this year, they're surely a gift from the fashion heavens...














Coat and Trousers: Both H&M, Jumper: Tu at Sainsbury's, Scarf: Marks & Spencer, Shoes: Topshop

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How to Wear the Blanket Wrap (Take II)

Blanket wrap, cape, poncho or just plain old picnic rug: however you choose to refer to it, there's no denying one thing: it's back with a vengeance.

I picked mine up last summer, to throw on over playsuits and sundresses (see its first appearance here), but this year's tricky transitional period is providing it with a brand new lease of life... in fact, crazy as it may sound, a little bit of me is actually rejoicing in the resurgence of this damp, dreary weather - bring on the layers!

Blanket Wrap and Shirt: Both Primark (Past Season), Trousers: Missguided, Boots: Forever 21

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