New season wardrobe boosters
A few small additions will render your existing wardrobe new-seasonready, says Caroline Leaper
Autumn is coming. I don’t mean that to sound ominous or bleak, it’s just that we’ve reached that point in summer where the holidays are wrapping up, the mornings are cooler and the sun in the evenings looks more orangey than before.
To shop for a winter coat in August is defeatist, I think. I’m not quite there yet. But I am willing to start dipping a toe – or hand, or neck – into the new season’s trends, via a couple of easy accessory updates that are arriving in stores now. Add one or two of them to your wardrobe rotation to move on your summer stapes with ease.
FRAME BAGS
Dainty metal clasp bags are set to be A Thing for autumn. The new trophy version for day is Simone Rocha’s framed Bean Bag, which comes in sweet butterscotch and pink Angel Delight colours. Erdem presented his – neatly embroidered silk pouches that would hold little more than an iphone and a debit card – as an eveningwear essential. My favourite incarnation so far on the high street is this clasp-topped mini crossbody from New Look (£13.99). It’s rendered in a shimmery gold chainmail-look material – wear it with a white shirt and light jeans now, and a black trouser suit or dress come party season.
ANIMAL‑PRINT FLATS
When trying this particular trend, you must endeavour to source a pair that looks unusual and expensive, rather than tacky and cartoonish. It’s a fine line, especially if your print of choice is leopard, which can be bought at all prices and carries risky associations with Bet Lynch, Kat Slater and even Theresa May.
Zebra-printed ankle boots are easy to find on the high street, but while the inspiration may be New York label Khaite’s £1,000 pair, the reality is more suited to a hen-do in an Eightiesthemed nightclub in Nottingham.
My recommendation? Snake-print. There were Seventies-tinged loafers and low-heel ankle boots on the catwalk at Chloe, and the look has translated well into high street fashion. Aeyde’s multicoloured slippers strike a good balance between price and quality.
LADYLIKE HEELS
Slingback, T-bar and Mary-jane styles are all stylish this autumn, ideally loaded onto an easy to wear kitten or low block heel. Dior’s new Gang pumps were the pick of the catwalks but, elsewhere, Zara and Charles and Keith have the best selections with pastel colours and faux-croc leathers. The best way to style your most elegant shoes is with denim – it’s all about the contrast. If you’re going “out-out”, find a pair with a statement buckle or brooch and wear with sharply tailored trousers to offset the prettiness.
BIG, BOLD BELTS
As in, a wide waistcincher that will tie everything else together. There are a lot of layers to clip down this season – blanket capes atop jackets atop dresses and blouses. Even if all you’re wearing is a voluminous white shirt, it will look
infinitely more interesting when a contrasting belt is added.
In terms of fabrication, anything goes.
These are not discreet, functional belts to hold up trousers: Dries Van Noten did strips of silver lurex, JW Anderson championed thick metal buckles, and Johanna Ortiz made snakeprint belts that Margot Robbie might have worn in character as Sharon Tate in the new Tarantino film. Staud’s new belt collection captures the Tate vibe, too, with acetate buckles and croc-print leathers. Look for things that are as exciting at the back as they are at the front.
PRINCESS ANNE BROOCHES
The Princess Royal’s jewellery box, I suspect, contains a lot of brooches that are very Chloe AW19. A general resurgence of heritage checks and horsey motifs has seen Anne hailed a style icon once again, but it is her nature-themed collection of pins that could provide one of the most nuanced trends for the season ahead.
With The Crown coming back onto Netflix in November, we may decide via osmosis that it’s time to start pinning an object of interest onto every outfit. A proper heirloom brooch is, of course, to be treasured, and you can find vintage gems at Susan Caplan’s e-boutique (susancaplan. co.uk) if your granny didn’t leave you any. There are decent lookalikes on the high street, too – exhibit A, left, comes from M&S. Positioning is everything – try it on the collar of a minimal white shirt or the breast of a navy pea coat, for the chicest effects.
SQUARE-TOE SHOES
The Nineties square-toe sandal has been the It Shoe of the summer and its silhouette is set to translate into autumn via pumps and boots. London-based label Miista has a huge collection of quadrangle soles in glossy tan and Indian yellow leathers, sometimes with statement metal toe caps.
SILKY SCARVES
Princess Anne might be inspiring our jewellery boxes, but the printed satin scarves beloved by her mother are also having a moment. Adding a splash of vivid print to an otherwise dullcoloured outfit is something that our royals do so well at Balmoral. On the catwalk, it has become a styling trick, used at Burberry and Rejina Pyo to introduce another element of pattern into an outfit. Tie it kerchief-style around your neck, or wind around the handle of your favourite bag.
SEVENTIES CROSSBODIES
From Celine’s country-check messenger to Etro’s tan leathertrimmed satchel, designer day bags have a Seventies sensibility. Look for door-knocker gold hardware, tassels horsebits and tan or burgundy leathers. Boden’s new saddle bag is unfussy with subtle hole-punch detailing if you’re looking for a version to take out in the city, rather than to the stables.