LEARN HOW TO BE AN AW13 LADY

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

PRADA AW13

 When Autumn comes- which WILL be after we've had a lovely long, warm summer, please weather man- fashion will be all about dressing like a lady. This will mean only the most luxurious of fabrics, think silk, velvet, cashmere and fur. Lengths will be demure- the ideal skirt being a slim-fitting, calf length pencil. Marc Jacobs and Miuccia Prada were both really pushing this look at their respective shows, however there was something not quite, completely lady. "It's like the most glamourous walk of shame ever" Jacobs exclaimed, alluding to the darker side of his primly-attired but bed-head hair models. Meanwhile, the most-used phrase to describe the Prada show has been "done, undone". So while there were all the elements of a meticulously elegant, pulled together outfit, the hair was wet and dresses were slipping off the shoulders. There was potential for supreme ladydom on the AW13 catwalks, but designers were playing with it.

The catwalk fashion zeitgeist collides perfectly with the BBC four programme schedule tonight as Rachel Johnson explores "How to be a Lady". The former editor of "The Lady" (and sister of Boris) will learn ladylike pursuits such as riding side saddle. No doubt the headmistress of Cheltenham Ladies College, an establishment which Johnson visits, would balk at the towel dried hair or unbuttoned jumpers on show for AW13. Never mind, now's the night to learn.

How to be a Lady is on BBC 4 at 9pm tonight

LOUIS VUITTON AW13

THREE'S A TREND: SKROUSERS? SKIRTS OVER TROUSERS

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

They were made from scratchy nylon. I wore them with an embellished lilac top and sparkly hair clips from Claire's accessories. I felt good. I was 11 years old and they were skrousers, or whatever you call a skirt/ trouser hybrid. Mine came from New Look and were properly attached together so there was no making them just separate pieces. I felt awesome at the time, but soon afterwards consigned my skrousers to the "Regrettable/ Embarrassing" category in my own personal fashion history.

And yet, a glance at Dries Van Noten AW13 gives a newly glamourous slant to the item I thought would never see the fashion light of day again. Dries' jacquards, drop waists and feathers are worlds away from my young self's cheapo skirt over trousers styling but the idea is, in many ways, the same. A skirt is girlish while trousers, especially in an evening context, are cool and a bit unexpected. When the two combine, they form a silhouette which makes you not sure what to think. I think we like that, being a bit undecided. Dries's skrousers are very chic and lady like, as were the option shown by Alexander Wang as part of his debut Balenciaga collection. Then, thinking back to London, Marques' Alemeida did little pelmet denim skirts over super baggy frayed jeans. And there you have it, three's a trend. I know that other designers have done this too by now ( ACNE, Clements Ribeiro) but these three feel like the strongest anchors for the look. Whether we'll be brave enough to actually wear them again is another matter entirely. One thing's for sure, I'm still glad I haven't kept my old New Look jobbies but I would be more than happy to roadtest the Dries Van Noten version...

Dries Van Noten AW13

Marques'Almeida AW13

Balenciaga AW13

THREE'S A TREND: BIG JIGSAW CAMO

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

From the coolest store on the high street to the most talked about designer brand of the moment to exciting young designers, camo is set to be the big print of AW13...

CHRISTOPHER KANE

 WHISTLES

MARQUES'ALMEIDA

And just because.... It's the Harlem Shake, Army edition

NYFW AW13: CREATURES OF THE WIND GROWS UP

Posted by Bethan Holt, Junior Fashion Editor at Large

We are huge fans of the Creatures of the Wind guys, Shane Gabier and Chris Peters, at FEAL. We'll put it out there... this is pretty much the best start to AW13 we could hope for. Just the right balance of the boys original aesthetic with a new slick, grown-up edge which is very appealing indeed. Behold, five brilliant first looks at the new season...

Images via Style.com