what i'm going to be wearing from my wardrobe in Autumn

I think it’s time to face it. Summer isn’t coming back.

While the calendar may well still say summer, one quick glimpse out of your window will tell you that meteorologically, we're far from it. But rather than dwell, I am looking forward to the new season’s styling and dressing in fresh new ways, taking the opportunity to maximise what is in my wardrobe whilst we go through the transitional period before the cold temperatures hit us.

Whilst the first drops from the high streets and designers can give us a good indication of what is going to be popular this Autumn it’s also worth looking back to previous seasons and seeing what you can continue wearing but just in a different way. The trends are full of florals, checks, leather, lots of sparkle, puffy sleeves and fancy ruffles. Looking at that list I know I own something from all of those categories so I am going to show you how I am going to style them for this coming season to inspire you to dig into your wardrobe and re-style.

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The big styling trends for AW19

SHOULDERS

I’ve always loved a big puffy shoulder, some shoulder detailing and pleating at the shoulder - it gives some height to your outfit and adds some style to your tops, jackets and dresses. This Autumn is the return of the shoulder and the high street already has a few of them online, this would be by top tip to buy now and wear all Autumn before the weather changes to having to wear knitwear.

Here is how I am styling my current wardrobe puffy shoulder items -

Here are some new items to buy now -

Puff shoulder blouse, £65, & other stories

Ruffled denim blouse, £29.99, Zara

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LEATHER / FAKE LEATHER

Top of my Autumn wish list is a leather shirt (or shacket) which I will tuck into skirts, put over dresses and wear casually with jeans. In the meantime I will be pulling out these fake leather culotte’s that are a couple of years old from ASOS and wearing them more casually rather than just for evening as that is what I have tended to do in the past.

See how I will be styling them below -

Here are some new items to buy now -

Burgundy PU shorts, £32, Topshop

Faux leather shirt, £29.99, Zara

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CHECKS

Let’s face it we all have a check shirt lurking in the back of our wardrobes which we tend to pull out every Autumn and wear it with jeans. This season will see another load of checks out there from ginghams to windowpane checks and Prince of Wales checks. I brought a fab coat from Warehouse in the Winter sale that I will no doubt be wearing alot this Autumn, and this check shirt from Zara which is years old will be styled up over dresses in the coming weeks.

Here is how I am styling my check shirt -

Here are some new items to buy now -

Check oversized shirt, £49.99, Zara

Faux Sherling collar plaid coat, £120, &other stories

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FLORALS

My Winter jumpers are currently packed away so I know that when they come out I will be wearing them over these dresses with tights and boots into the cold weather. For now I will be adding layers and high tops so I can stripe or keep warm depending on what the weather will do.

Here is how I will be styling my floral dresses -

Here are some new floral dresses to buy now -

Jenna Floral dress, £120.00, Ghost at John Lewis & Partners

Rae dress, Lily & Lionel, £220, from The Dressing Room

My first fashion obsession of 2019 - Boilersuits

There are fewer things you can be comfortable in over wearing a boilersuit. Loose-fitting but flattering, casual but chic with heels and easy to layer throughout the year, this pedigree breed of an all-in-one is a true wonder. I have an age-old Topshop cotton / linen boilersuits lurking in my Summer wardrobe as it’s the kind of throw-on piece that is easy to wear and comes back around in fashion every couple of years.

At the end of 2018 I noticed a resurgence of the boilersuit on the high street, in social media and I started feeling the urge to wear one with a roll neck underneath. I tried Topshops stitch denim one but I seemed to be inbetween sizes to make it work. Selling out twice now, this is the third delivery of the denim one and they now have it in different fabrics and colours which makes me think this trend is only going to get bigger and better into Spring Summer.

Since this big hitter I am confident that like the jumpsuit the boilersuit is versatile, stylish, easy to wear and well translate well into next season.

So I have done all the hard work for you and found the best boilersuits on the high street right now so you can get yours before everyone else - you can thank me later!

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Best Boilersuits to buy now

1. Black belted boilersuit, River Island, £65

2. Pink boilersuit, Oliver Bonas, £59 (sale price)

3. Khaki washed cotton boilersuit, ASOS, £45.00

4. Denim zip up boilersuit, Topshop, £59.00

5. Utility boilersuit, &other stories, £89.00

6. Pink zip up boilersuit, Madewell from Zalando, £134.99

7. Contrast stitch rust boilersuit, New Look from Zalando, £39.99

Animal instincts - how to wear coloured leopard print

I have written many blog posts about Leopard print over the years, for me it is one of the fail-safe prints that never goes out of style, out of fashion and always makes a statement. Over the years I have collected many pieces of Leopard print items for myself from coats, to shoes, to bags and a skirt, and I often advise clients to add the print into their wardrobe if in nothing more than accessories to liven up an evening outfit. This season Leopard print is having its moment in the spotlight and has been in every fashion magazine, glossy supplement and style website for the past month as it is a great transitional print and can update your outfit in an instant. But the tones in the Leopard do not suit everyone. If you are choosing a Leopard print that is predominantly stone then this can often drain you of any colour in your cheeks as it might not the right stone.

So know this for Autumn, fashion is really, really wild for animal print. Right now on the highstreet you can get Leopard print in an array of different colours so you can match your favourite print to your perfect colour. Why not go bright and zingy in your leopard print choices, you are already making a statement with the print so go that extra style mile and choose it in the right colour for you.

My 'SWAG BAG' that I took everywhere with me on holiday - Scamp and Dude, £28.00

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Follow my pinterest board for more styling inspiration - Coloured Leopard print 2018

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Here is my pick of how to do leopard the colourful way

1. Pink Leopard print satin dress, Ghost London, Next £165.00

2. Green jungle cat animal print tee, Whistles £55.00

3. Lola animal print frill dress, Kitri Studio £125.00

4. Leopard print blanket scarf, Warehouse £22.00

5. Red leopard print dress, Hush £55.00

6. Loui Red leopard print shirt, Gestuz Studio B fashion £99.00

7. Multi Leopard print belted dress, 2ND DAY, ASOS £160.00

8. Jaspre Cheetah Rust skirt, Never fully Dresses, £59.00

9. Animal print soft sweatshirt, Scamp and Dude, £50.00

Going dotty for super spots

Polka dots are back for Spring say all the magazines! Trends may come and go, but there are few prints that truly never go out of style. Spots, stars, leopard print are the only prints I advise my clients to buy for longevity, these never look old or out dated. But polka dots are absolutely everywhere this season so if you are looking for something to refresh you current transitional wardrobe, then you should invest in the super spot.

 It often gets a bad rap, and if you associate polka dots with Minnie Mouse or the party dresses you wore as a little girl, it's time to rethink the surprisingly versatile and elegant print. In the right hands, polka dots can strike that tricky balance between modern and elegant. Cropping up repeatedly on the SS18 catwalks, including Balenciaga, Self-Portrait, Mary Katrantzou, Giorgio Armani and Dior, we were offered multiple ways to wear polka dots, from Demna Gvasalia's chiffon dresses worn with sock booties to Maria Grazia Chiuri's monochrome sheer skirts and blouses. Additionally, street style stars have been giving us a masterclass in putting together perfect polka dot ensembles, proving the print isn't just for the catwalk but can be incorporated into a casual look too. Read my 5 style tips for inspiration and follow my pinterest board for more looks - Going dotty 2018.

Double spot

Wearing 2 different pieces in spots gives the print a fresh take and you an updated look.

Spots &frills

Mixing high & low styling, pair a jumper with an evening skirt for a fresh daytime outfit.

Jump to it

You can't go wrong with a spotty jumpsuit. You can play with colour too - using tones such as brown, red and navy give a cool impact.

Biker it up

By adding a biker jacket over your dress or jumpsuit you have instantly created a chic day to evening look.

Office dots

The spot print is perfect for the office, lunch out or a meeting - presentable yet stylish.

Marc Jacobs said “There is never a wrong time for a polka dot”. And how can you blame him? Polka dots are a timeless classic that always see come back on trend in their many changes of style. Probably it’s because dots take us back to 50's elegance, to the curvy pin-ups and unforgettable style icons like Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe. Or can be seen in many iconic movies, style moments and even royalty.

Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

Princess Diana

Kate Moss

So while ‘mix and match’ still takes centre stage with the street styles, its' the black & white polka dots that are stealing the scene. So make dots the newest addition to your wardrobe because if there was one trend that works in all seasons it's this one, so if you invest in a polka dot top or dress you can wear it all year round. See my picks to shop now.

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TOP 5 POLKA DOT BUYS

1. Soft spot jacket, Topshop £39.99

2. Polka dot Midi dress, Karen Millen £199.00

3. Polka dot kitten heels, Marks & Spencer £19.50

4. Polka dot long jumpsuit, Mango £59.99

5. Black & Ivory polka dot top, Finery London £69.00