1. SWEATER WEATHER
There's a plethora of practical knitwear to purchase this season but here's a quick pro-tip: don't be dull. Take a cue from Alberta Ferretti's Instagram friendly days-of-the-week rainbow-coloured sweaters for Pre-Fall, or the soft-to-the-touch cropped sweaters at Giorgio Armani (pictured) and team with a fancy skirt; it's fresh take on casual glamour and suits our national preference for understated dressing just fine.
2. AMERICAN CLASSICS
There's no better time for designers to explore what American fashion really stands for than right now. Belgian designer Raf Simons debuted his vision for iconic US brand Calvin Klein this week as its new chief creative officer. It extracted various elements of US dress, including quilt lining on parkas and steel-capped cowboy boots. And what's more American than a denim jacket? This iconic sheepskin-lined version from Levi's adds an easy touch of Americana over a dress or with a T-shirt and jeans.
3. HANDI WORK
Bold sculptural jewellery with an organic mood makes a statement, the kind that evokes a sense of individuality. From Sophie Buhai's sculptural pieces at Simon James Concept Store to the handmade pieces made by our emerging jewellers from Jasmin Sparrow and Natalia Peri, jewellery with an organic, artistic bent adds uniqueness to a look. For a luxe interpretation, you can't look past this hand-etched Marco Bicego Jaipur 18ct gold link bracelet, $5280, from Orsini Fine Jewellery.
4. THE COVER UP
Boots that slide up to meet mid-length dresses and skirts offer complete coverage in the lead-up to winter, and nod to the working women of the 70s trying to keep their pins warm on the way to the office. Fast-track to autumn 2017, the knee or thigh-high boot and shin-grazing lengths is silhouette changing and chic, with mid-length skirt and boot pairings providing an anchor for tidy blazers and tucked-in shirts.
5. RETRO-REMIX
Some might argue that fashion's mood for polished mid-century shapes is regressive, but in a time of chaos those sharp shapes can highlight a sense of order. Approached with a modern sensibility, this clean-cut wide shirt dress by Ingrid Starnes ($549) is anything but pastiche. With its whimsical print and tailored shape, it's a reliable dress requiring low maintenance grooming and simple black heels or flats for maximum impact.
6. OPEN SEASON
Ubiquitous off-the shoulder tops and dresses see no sign of disappearing just yet and, for autumn, designers inch a little further up the shoulders to elegantly frame the decolletage. Zambesi's aptly named Decollete dress ($480) is the perfect example of just the right amount of skin, and nods to the off-kilter mid-century lines worn by a sassy Elizabeth Taylor as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? Looking for a versatile LBD update? This is it.
