Key pieces for your autumn wardrobe

With the sale rails turning into dreggy remnants… there’s a new season of treats for us to consider, but is fashion having a taste crisis? Victoria Moss investigates

After a colleague pointed out that there are barely 18 months left before we have to reel off all manner of end of the decade summations, I’ve been thinking a lot about its aesthetic offerings. What began as a reaction to the naff Noughties (Naffties?), all pared back minimalism and stiff white shirts, has morphed into something that, while retaining in essence that idea of simple wardrobing (crombie coats, jeans, great knitwear), has an altogether more exuberant burst of life to it. Whether in response to the glum state of world politics or in spite of it, fashion has put its head into a pit of rainbow coloured sand.

There’s an abundance of crystal embellishments, giant sleeves, overzealous ruffles, prints upon prints, shoes with weird heels and ones that are just plain ugly; combined of late, with such a breathless explosion of colour that the Pantone marketing department must surely be getting all round bonuses.

The proliferation of this fashion joie de vivre has also given rise to atrocities on which we will surely look back on with confusion.

Are Crocs the new Ugg boot? I ask, as they’ve morphed from a practical footwear option for toddlers and NHS staff to something crystal emblazoned, platformed, and even with a stripperstiletto tagged on the heel – as spotted last night on Instagram (where else). Unfortunate. Is this a style era which counsels that anything goes with everything? The persistent underlying idea is that we must be free to wear whatever we want

– from burka to dental-floss bikini. Of course within this, strong ideas of conformity exist, throwing out mixed messaging: wear what you like! But also, wear this, like that. It’s enough to have you running to the nearest Uniqlo to stock up on a Steve Jobs uniform of black knitwear and no-name jeans.

What we need is a safe house in the crazy. I offer this counsel as there are a lot of new season offerings that I’d personally file under “not on my watch.” Some are rushing through with the notion that you need to dress as though it’s 1989, all spangled Lurex and knicker-grazing “dresses”.

Others are very keen on head to toe pillar box red. There’s a movement towards leopard, zebra and snake prints (yes, all at once); if you’re going to cocoon yourself in a satisfyingly chunky honey hued coat, then you must offset it with a Mr T gold necklace to add punch (to be fair, this I am all for).

There is really something for everybody. If one had to pinpoint one message of this autumn season, I’d say it’s FUN. Add a jaunty jolt to your everyday, mix and match, do something a little bit wrong: we’re still in the teenage throws of this century, might as well dress like it. With that in mind, herewith are my picks for a just-enough jazz-hands stylish autumn wardrobe refresher.