When the world’s busy paying attention to the big picture, there’s much joy to be found in the little things, and this season, fashion is all about the details.
In an autumn where designers are obsessed with bringing the outdoors indoors, it’s not surprising that many of its finishing touches come courtesy of Mother Nature herself.
Call of the Wild
From birds of prey to the tiniest insects, accessories are taking on the great outdoors with style. The high-street is pinning its colours to this trend by turning out quirky bird and animal-themed jewellery that matched with the textures of the season (sheepskin-lined boots or a mohair sweater), do their thing by stamping your outfit with bags of personality.
One of the biggest accessory trends has been the rise and rise of the hat. Once a neglected aspect of dressing-up, hats have now become fashion’s sign posters. What got them their comeback is how they transform what could be a no-go trend into something that’s wearable. Trapper hats have shed their ‘roadkill’ image and are emerging as the hat of the season. They are the perfect accompaniment to an existing winter coat, or you can punch above your fashion weight by pairing it with a D&G-inspired coatigan (cardigan that doubles as a coat – don’t you love it when fashion invents a new must-have!). The trapper hat works particularly well with military styles and blends beautifully with the country trend, taking Fairisle from the fashion wastelands into something that is absolutely of the moment.
If you find the frontier look a little too reminiscent of squirrel stew and banjos, the urban alternative is the trusty beanie. Fast becoming a modern classic, the slouchy beanie has yet to lose its appeal. Perfect with winter maxi dresses and biker boots for a cosy weekend, the beanie prides itself on being low on effort, but high on impact.
The Lady
If Fairisle makes you itch, and the thought of camping brings you out in a cold sweat, channelling lady-like charm may be much more your speed.
Spear-headed by Prada and Louis Vuitton, this vintage-inspired look has been the star of the season. With emphasis on polish and finesse, the key to getting this right is putting in the legwork when it comes to accessories, and no accessory gets you to cocktail hour quicker than a pair of gloves.
Again, long leather gloves are a recent revival from fashion’s vault. Once a fashion curio, they’re now bang up to date and a particularly deft way of referencing the time period. It can be a fine line between ‘fashion’ and ‘fancy dress’. If you arrive at the office and someone asks you to take a memo and mix them a Martini, you know the balance isn’t quite right.
Pairing a pencil-skirt and kitten heels is a no-brainer, but what takes this look from retro to now is a pair of elbow-length gloves in a neutral, buttery leather. Best worn in a tan shade or black, the gloves will cross-over into other looks too. Think of the capes currently seen everywhere from Erdem to Giambattista Valli – when the temperature drops, those gloves will be a perfect, stylish accent.
Buy the right pair, and your leather gloves will prove surprisingly versatile, even lending themselves to the tougher, urban looks that are still hanging around, thanks to designers such as Isabel Marant and Zadig & Voltaire. You can’t fail to miss the note that this winter is all about texture, and while sheepskin and shearling are enjoying their moment in the fashion spotlight, there’s a lot to be said for the staying power of leather. Of course, no accessory round-up would be complete without a nod to a girl’s best friend.
In the Bag
It’s finally time to say farewell to the oversized luxury tote that has become almost part of the family since its arrival on the catwalks five years ago.
I know, it carries everything you could possibly ever need, and it’s been a loyal friend over the years. But it’s time to let go and find a new favourite. If you’re all about practicality when it comes to bags and were dismayed at the introduction of baby-sized bags for daywear, prepare to be charmed by the satchel.
As far as old-school revivals go, this may possibly be the best. Whether you go for the much-featured and much-loved Alexa from Mulberry, or something from the high-street, this beauty will fast become your new best friend. Not only does it hold everything you actually need, but it has one major advantage over the trusty tote: you can go totally hands-free. The satchel is a marriage of beauty and practicality, slung over your shoulder in one easy move.
It suggests itself as a tomboyish, jeans-with-everything type of accessory at first, but there are a myriad of satchels out there. Proenza Schouler offers a range of suede satchels in mouth-watering colours, Topshop and www.asos.com do their own incredible designs and Miu Miu have gone one step further with a jewelled beauty of a bag covered entirely in sequins, and there’s nothing tomboyish about that.
The rebirth of the satchel is about more than simple nostalgia. Fashion loves to dig up favourites from the past, but this revival, perhaps even more than the aviator jacket and the trapper hat, reveals the most about the state of the fashion industry. This is fashion that takes the best of comfort and style and merges the two to come up with a season packed with hits. It doesn’t matter if you choose to align yourself with Stella McCartney’s selection of neo-classics, or go for coquettish charm in Louis Vuitton. There is no weak spot this year, because everyone has upped their game to produce clothes that are rare: memorable and wearable. Chances are you’ll remember how it felt to snuggle up in your aviator jacket for many years to come, and that’s how fashion should be. If it doesn’t carve a little spot for itself on your soul, it’s not worth the closet space, end of story.
However you choose to wear them, the trends of 2010 will be remembered as the year fashion realised that needing practicality didn’t mean leaving your stylish self behind. This season’s looks may have sprung from details, but they tell us a great deal about the bigger picture. Take a tip from Keats, and wallow in this season, because it’s going to be fabulous.