With the summer sun setting, and the last of the rosé having been plied from my hand, it is now time to embrace Autumn. According to The Great Gatsby himself, "life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall," and after the inevitable boho wisp, wander and pom poms you were likely adorned in over the last few months, it’s probably time your wardrobe had its seasonal revamp too. Luckily, the first of the Autumnal drops have arrived on the great British high street and Monsoon have particularly embraced the trends we saw on the AW’16 catwalks back in February. Although the idea of embracing fashion trends can sometimes worry many of us, this season the key looks were so varied that thankfully there really is something for everyone to enjoy, and at a snip of the runway price!
The catwalks earlier this year were particularly awash with rich velvets, regal ruffles and eccentric florals. Being an avid fan of all the aforementioned, I was thrilled when I recently visited Monsoon to see that they have perfectly channeled these trends, in such stylish, yet attainable ways. I decided to style up some of my favourite pieces to share with you, and hopefully you’ll be as inspired as I am to embrace those Pumpkin Spiced Lattes…
As I said, an AW’16 trend to note is velvet. Taking the lead from Valentino and Ellery, this sumptuous fabric is no longer to be reserved for cocktails parties or goths, but can be incorporated casually into your daywear.
The Harper Velvet High-Rise Skinny Trousers (£59.00) are so flattering and I found them to be the easiest gateway into experimenting with daytime velvet. Worn with some Electra Simple Flat Chelsea Boots (£49.00) and an oversized Libby Coat (£119.00), I feel the overall look was really relaxed, yet smart enough for my daily meetings. These trousers are so versatile and can easily be paired with a heel for the evenings.
Full Disclosure: I loved these Harper Velvet High-Rise Skinny Trousers so much (wearing them with heeled boots on the first day of London Fashion Week) I had to go back after the shoot and buy them in black too...
Taking the velvet trend to the next level, I decided to jump head first into a top-to-toe look, pairing these high-waisted Vivienne Wideleg Trousers (£69.00) with the loose-fitting Arlo Velvet Top (£59.00) which is subtly patterned with a mix of dots, stripes and florals.
The overall look may be perfect for night, but once worn with some leopard print Bianca Pony Point Ballerina Shoes (£39.00) the outfit instantly became more daytime and casually chic.
The ‘I just raided my Grandmother’s Attic’ vibe on the AW’16 runways was clear for all to see. From Mary Katrantzou to Kenzo, a wild variety of eccentric, mix-matched, and frequently floral, prints were presented with wild abandon and I for one, was thrilled. As a long-term fan of the flamboyant, nonagenarian fashionista Iris Apfel, and an avid admirer of the unconventional style of Little Edie, you don’t have to ask me twice to get my maximalism on!
I was excited to see Monsoon embrace this quirky Autumnal bloom, and fell pretty hard for their Blythe Devore Print Midi Dress (£129.00) with it’s vintage florals, and three-quarter length sleeves. I wore this dress with some vintage-inspired heels, and my mother’s old belt from the 1970’s and some bubblegum pink sunglasses (try Illesteva's Leonard Sunglasses) Similar to add some fun colour pops. For the brave, the addition of a headscarf, or some fishnet ankle socks would certainly ramp up the eccentric notch.
Ruffles will be HUGE this Autumn, as we saw with JW Anderson through to Gucci.. As a real frill-seeker myself, I snapped up Monsoon’s high-necked Lacey Victoriana Lace Frill Blouse (£59.00) immediately, without passing go, or collecting 200. You can wear this blouse with a vest or slip underneath, or if you’re feeling a little more risqué, a black bra (try Anine Bing's Velvet Bra with Lace Trim or Rossell England's Crescent Bra) and a plum-stained lip (try Tom Ford's 'Wild Orchid'). The cuffed, statement sleeves are particularly regal!
Photography: Eva Salvi
Hair and Makeup: Secret Spa (with thanks to Dr. Paw Paw)
In Collaboration with MONSOON
