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Folk fashion: three pieces you will need to nail the trend this winter

Darkly demure dresses and statement skirts and shoes are the main characters in this fashionable fairy tale

Phase Eight Maylin Dress, £160, available from Phase Eight
Phase Eight Maylin Dress, £160, available from Phase Eight Phase Eight Maylin Dress, £160, available from Phase Eight

DARK, dramatic and decorative, the fairy tale-inspired gowns that hit the AW17 catwalks at Valentino and Simone Rocha were truly breathtaking, and had us wishing summer away so we could pour ourselves into one of these gothic winter wonders.

Clearly, this is a trend that only works in the months plagued by miserable weather – and that's a good thing.

Never have florals looked so melancholic but been so mood-lifting at the same time, especially since the high street has taken the opulent catwalk aesthetic and translated it into accessible clothes for everyday wear.

Folkloric fashion is as easy as one, two, three. Here's how to get the look...

1. Folk dresses: The simplest way to try the folk-inspired look is by centring your outfit around a flowing midi or maxi dress in a dark floral print or velvet, adding black tights and ankle boots for a chic daytime look.

To move the trend into evening territory, look for embroidered or lace overlay dresses and swap your boots for suede or velvet court shoes.

SimplyBe Tiered Velour Dress, £49; Sole Diva Charlotte Boots, £50

Phase Eight Maylin Embroidered Dress, currently reduced to £120 from £160

La Redoute Floral Print Folk Dress, £49; Black Ankle Tie Leather Heels, £55

Peacocks Women's Black Floral Dress, £25

2. Decorative skirts: A decorative skirt offers a cosy way to play with the folk trend. Pair a dark embellished skirt with a cable or cashmere knit in creamy colours like oatmeal and fawn, adding tonal opaque tights and suede accessories for a rich texture clash.

Fenn Wright Manson Petite Lulu Skirt, currently reduced to £104 from £149

White Stuff Neve Skirt, £125, John Lewis

Airfield Flared Skirt with Decorative Edging, approx £216.39

3. Statement boots: Folkloric footwear tells its own story - whether that's ankle boots embroidered with an enchanted forest's worth of blooms, or super-soft over-the-knee styles, with these babies you'll be well on the way to your happily-ever-after...

Tamaris Embroidered Ankle Boots, £65, LookAgain

SimplyBe Sole Diva Callie Embroidered Boots, £40

Miss Selfridge Koko Velvet Over the Knee Boots, £65