New Mood, New Fashion

The catwalk collections from autumn/winter 2004 will soon be hitting the shops and next season's trends are the talk of the town. There is a new mood in fashion that is moving away from the girlie looks that have dominated the London shows for the last few seasons, making for an exciting shift in fashion dynamics.

The national press seem to be no less obsessed that designers such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and John Galliano have defected London Fashion Week to show in Paris, but reports from the catwalks show that London is very much on the map when it comes to fashion and is a seedbed of creativity. International buyers and press still flock to the capital to as it is still the dominant city where new talent emanates from.

The autumn/winter catwalks showed that the key looks for winter are definitely polished and grown-up. Be inspired by elegant film-star tailoring with a serious attitude. Think military-inspired shapes but with feminine detailing.

The silhouette is definitely about figure-hugging shapes, sometimes layered with sheer chiffon for a fluid look, with the base tailored or fitted. Masculine versus feminine - such as a tailored pant suit with a sheer ruffled shirt will be a treat for evening. Hourglass jackets, wrap coats, capes and ponchos and drainpipe trousers are key pieces for the winter season. Dresses have added texture such as layers, draping or irregular hemlines.

For colours think rich autumn shades. Pumpkin and yellow, copper and antique gold, plum and prune, and rich emerald green-tones.

For the ultimate Brit look choose fabrics in tweed, tartan or fabrics that wrap twist and drape.

It is evident that the girlie look of past seasons is being replaced by a slicker, neater silhouette. Next season is very 1940s; elegant and classy, totally different from this summer's freer look.