Fall Trends

As the new season's clothes are decorating shop windows everywhere, it's time to look at the key trends for fall and plan ahead for a fashionable winter. The summer sales have almost finished, and directional boutiques such as Matches, Browns and Liberty are luring customers back into their stores with the much anticipated new AW05 collections.

The Indian-inspired looks of summer have been replaced by a distinctly more South American feel, adding a little more cohesion to the popular boho look. While you may not be looking forward to cooling temperatures (have you noticed the nights are getting longer) it's not a bad investment to snap up a sheepskin coat for winter, while they're still around, as they are supremely wearable and the new must-have trend in coats. There's a vintage feel to fabric this autumn, with appliqué and texture screened over wool and velvet. Look out for pieces with an old-fashioned appearance and antique-style detailing such as jet beading.

And don't forget that for winter black is back. It's been conspicuous by its absence, but with every major designer heralding black in the season's collections, it can't be ignored. To break the head-to-toe look, contrast matte and shiny fabrics and play with intricate lace, crochet and beadwork detailing. For those a little more fashionably adventurous, the rolled under hem was a major trend at designers such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Jacobs. At first, the dynamics may look a bit odd, but the more wearable distillation of the puffball appears on skirts, tops and jackets and gives clothes a modern, feminine feel.

Another trend for winter is velvet, a fabric mostly associated with American prom ceremonies and elderly ladies. Forget these thoughts, as designers such as Louis Vuitton, Armani and Bottega Veneta all featured velvet in their winter collections. It's officially ok to wear crushed velvet again, and designers are using it for daywear as well as the usual evening pieces. Velvet shoes and bags are a fast, easy way to buy into the trend.

And lastly, according to Easy Living, 2005 is the year of the sweater. Never before has knitwear become so important in fashion as this season. Take homage from designers such as Christian Dior, Missoni and Marc Jacobs to get the feel. Opt for oversized jerseys, offbeat styles and eccentric necklines as key pieces to see you through the summer to fall transition.