What to buy for fall

With a myriad of fashion magazines and websites proclaiming the many new looks for fall, shopping for new items becomes a daunting prospect. How do we differentiate between what is truly fashionable and will actually look good on us? How do we keep ourselves from spending to much money on 'silly' clothes that will be relegated to the back of our closets without ever being worn? Thankfully there are a few fashion journalists who have made it their business to show us through the jungle that is fashion and recommend a few key pieces to add to our wardrobes without breaking the bank.

Clare Coulson of the Daily Telegraph has reduced the new looks to eight key pieces for fall. The first purchase to make is the military coat or jacket. It shows the fashion savvy of the wearer and looks cool and timeless, without looking like you're trying too hard. Hurry to TopShop or Primark for brilliant high street prices and fashionable versions. Next on the list is velvet. Any sort, in deep rich hues, will do. Whether it's a coat, dress, skirt or scarf, velvet dresses up your look in an instant. Paired with a pair of jeans, a velvet jacket can look great for either day or evening.

Also a must-have for fall is delicate knitwear. A fine cashmere cardigan or v-neck looks great when paired with a pencil skirt and worn with an elegant belt around the waist, reminiscent of the Prada look. Gap does great, simple v-necks if you're on a budget.

The print, empire-waist dress carries effortlessly from summer to fall. To update the look, wear it with a chunky knit cardigan, velvet jacket or military coat and with a pair of stacked-heel boots. Speaking of boots, Chloe does a fabulous pair, but if the budget doesn't suffice, rush to the high street for a pair. According to Coulson it really doesn't matter what type of boot you buy, as long as you invest in a pair rather than in pumps or loafers.

After all the hoopla about structured bags, what are we to do? Coulson recommends investing in shoulder bag and not paying too much heed to frame bags. She suggests Jigsaw's washed leather versions or Miu Miu's saddle bag. Finally, fall is all about the skinny scarf, which will add cool to your look. Whether made of wool, chiffon or fur, skinny scarves look great in rich, jewel colours. Pair them with a jaunty looking cap, and make people's heads turn. Now you can shop your way to a hipper you!