THE last of the sad, unwanted sale items have been cleared away, the September issues have hit news stands and the first drops of winter coats have landed – on Planet Fashion, autumn is officially here.
This month is easily the most enjoyable in the shopping calendar, but before you go splurging on the first frock that catches your eye in the window, it's time to cast your mind back to February, when the AW16 catwalk collections were revealed.
Designers took a largely dark turn, as black lace, moody woollens and lashings of velvet ruled the runways. But there was brightness, too, with eye-catching textures and embellishments, and flashes of 80s excess.
Choose your favourites and let the high-end trends guide your high-street shopping list...
VELVET REVOLUTION
The undisputed fabric of AW16, velvet was fashioned in louche, rock star-style at Roberto Cavalli; given a sporty spin at Opening Ceremony; and rouched to perfection at Preen.
Your essential purchases? A two-piece suit (the high street is full of homages to Alberta Ferretti's sublime pink, pyjama-esque set) and a midi dress in a jewel or pastel tone – this season, black velvet takes a back seat.
:: Dorothy Perkins Velvet Dress, £45; Top, £26; Shoes, £32 (available September; www.dorothyperkins.com)
:: New Look Velvet Bag, £17.99 (www.newlook.com)
BREAK WITH TRADITION
Tweeds and woollens return pretty much every winter without fail, but this season it's all about how you style these countrified fabrics.
Forget prissy skirts or fitted jackets, and instead opt for mannish check trousers (3.1 Phillip Lim's high-waisters are uber cool) and generously-cut coats, a la the Gucci and Isabel Marant collections.
Take a tip from the Burberry catwalk and team a tartan coat with a thigh-split dress and biker boots, for flawless boy-meets-girl cool.
:: Anthropologie Maurizio High-Neck Blouse, £78; Noelle Tweed Trousers, £118 (www.anthropologie.com)
:: Dickins & Jones Coat, £199, House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)
THE DARK SIDE
The phrase 'gothic glamour' is bandied around a lot in fashion, but for autumn/winter we got oodles of exactly that, thanks to the Marc Jacobs, Erdem and Simone Rocha collections, all of which featured masses of black lace, tulle and feathers and had a high-necked Victoriana feel.
It's a bit of a tough sell on the catwalk, but in the real world, a long-sleeved black dress or burgundy pussy-bow blouse couldn't be easier to wear.
:: SimplyBe Lace Trim Dress, £55 (www.simplybe.co.uk)
:: Miss Selfridge Blouse, £35 (available September 12; www.missselfridge.com)
WALLPAPER PACE
This autumn, you're going to have to wallpaper your wardrobe – but that doesn't involve any DIY.
Instead, you'll be rolling out shining, swirling brocades and dense florals, just like the ones on the Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Miu Miu and Prada catwalks.
:: Monsoon Florence Top, £79 (www.monsoon.co.uk)
:: Glamorous Pink Floral Brocade Skirt, £28 (www.glamorous.com)
THE SILK ROUTE
Summer's silk slips and camis get a new lease of life, as Celine and Alberta Ferretti make the case for languorous fabric in the cooler months.
Considered layering – a strappy vest over a roll-neck, or a knee-length dress over trousers – will let your silk shine in the dead of winter.
:: Atelier R Best Quality Pure Silk Camisole in Dark Green, £49, La Redoute (www.laredoute.co.uk)
EMBELLISH THE TRUTH
In contrast to the simplicity of silk, there was a multitude of intricate embroidery and embellishment at Alexander McQueen (the diaphanous sequinned gowns were to die for), Dolce & Gabbana (embroidered birds, flowers and even teddy bears) and Gucci (more animal motifs).
There are no half-measures here: tap into the trend with a show-stopping floor-length frock.
:: Miss Selfridge Maxi Dress, £99 (available September 5; www.missselfridge.com)
EIGHTIES ENCORE
If all this talk of gothic glam and moody hues leaves you cold, try the sequin-covered, power-shouldered, skinny-waisted stylings of the 80s renaissance heralded by Isabel Marant and the ever-influential Hedi Slimane at Saint Laurent (his last collection before parting ways with Saint Laurent earlier this year).
It may seem a little brash right now, but come party season, we'll all be hankering after one-shoulder super-short minidresses and 10-denier black tights.
:: Little Mistress Zig Zag Dress, £62 (available September; www.little-mistress.com)
THE CAPE CRUSADE
If you buy one coat this winter, make sure it's not a coat at all, but a cape.
From military (Dsquared2 and Mulberry) to minimalist (Chanel and Marni) to ornate (Roberto Cavalli and Marc Jacobs), the runways were covered with caped crusaders, and it's time to join their ranks.
:: Evans Cape, £70 (in store October; www.evans.co.uk)
GET THE LOOK
On the Burberry AW16 catwalk, covetable python patchwork bags were shrunken to miniature proportions, while the interchangeable straps remained wide and weighty. New Look has followed suit with its Guitar Strap Bag, £15.99, and a range of textured and embellished straps, £6.99 each. Curate your own combination when they arrive in store and online in the first week of September (www.newlook.com).
BUY IT NOW
New and exclusive to House of Fraser, the Linea Limited range has got us wishing for autumnal weather already. The concise edit focuses on luxury fabrics and sophisticated cuts – think soft grey cashmere, chocolate leather and chunky knits (in store September; www.houseoffraser.co.uk).
:: Linea Limited V-neck Dress, £99, House of Fraser (www.houseoffraser.co.uk)
FASHION FLASH
:: LUXURY LOVES
Everyone loves a fast-fashion bargain, but new research reveals than nearly half of shoppers (46 per cent) rate designer items as important to them. The survey, by TK Maxx, found that on average, people splash out on two or three designer buys a year, with men tending to purchase clothing (58 per cent), whereas women favour handbags (38 per cent). Whatever the item, luxury splurges are seen as 'retail therapy', with 40 per cent saying their motivation is to treat themselves and feel good.
:: GLOWING REVIEWS
Big sports brands hope Olympic kit sponsorship will drive sales, but the Rio Games have led to an unexpected boost for one company. Lancashire based Simon Jersey, which created the red, white and blue light-up shoes worn by Team GB in the closing ceremony, has seen traffic to its website increase by 400 per cent, leading to the firm releasing men's and women's styles for a limited time, priced at £35.99. Pre-order yours at www.simonjersey.com
STYLE STEAL
Summer may be almost over, but now's actually a really good time to snap up some bargain sunnies, as last season's lines go on sale. Look for classic frames, like wayfarers and aviators, that won't go out off style by the time next summer rolls around.
:: Ray-Ban Wayfarer Black Blue and Purple, reduced to £57 from £143 (Sunglasses-shop.co.uk)
