WHAT'S HOT AND WHAT'S NOT

The new season is the perfect time to reassess your wardrobe and for the fashion forward, it’s time to swap frumpy cardigans for stylish blazers and embrace clashing prints and colours, says personal shopper Laura Russell

Personal shopper Laura Russell's advice on how – and how not – to dress sharp this season

W hat’s hot Wearing an eclectic mix of styles

When it comes to being more sustainable in fashion there is no better place to start than in your own wardrobe, mixing it up with some vintage or eBay finds and some high street new collection pieces or even renting your clothing. It’s not all about wearing the latest trends from head to toe, but using more of what we own and wearing it in our own individual ways.

Versatile day dresses

The Zara spot dress is definitely the dress of 2019 and has shown how easy it is to put a different style twist on the midi dress. Easy, functional, day-to-night dress options are exceptionally hot right now. Wear by day with trainers and socks or in the evening with a knee-high boot.

Sequins

Sequins are typically classed as more of an evening option, but this autumn/winter they are for the whole day. Wear sequin skirts and cashmere jumpers with trainers for the perfect daytime look.

Tonal dressing

Pick a colour and go for it from head to toe, in all different shades of the same colour. Try it in some of the hottest colours for the next season: neutrals, blues, reds, spiced pumpkin, yellow and raspberry.

Crazy colours

We have never seen the high street so colourful and this autumn/winter it’s not dulling down; crazy colour and crayola colour clashes are also hot when it comes to colour dressing.

Animal prints

Animal print isn’t new, but what about clashing up your animals or, better still, mixing your animal with florals or other patterns and prints to move that leopard on a little.

Dark floral print

Floral is never not on trend but this autumn/winter it’s all about dark based florals. This is ideally worn with tights and knee-high boots.

Tailoring

Suiting is so hot for autumn/ winter that anything goes; checks, colours, stripes or patterns, all will be great for this season.

W hat’s not: Rainwear

This is another area of your wardrobe that can look quite frumpy, but there are so many cool brands that create stylish practical rainwear. So nowadays pacamacs are a thing of the past. Look for cool shapes, styles and colours. Check out Protected Species for great styles.

Cardigans

Cardigans are one of the year’s biggest fashion not-hots. They can be shapeless and have a very thin line between stylish and frumpy. I would always advise wearing a blazer rather than a cardigan.

Right: Laura Russell on the hunt for the hottest pieces.

Below: Don’t fear the colour clash.

Right: Florals with a dark base colour are in for A/W.

Above: Embrace multiple animal prints; T-shirt, £29 from neverfullydressed.co.uk.

Left: Swap cardis for blazers to earn style points.

Right: Update your rain gear by opting for fun colours and cool shapes.

Below: Tailoring never goes out of style.