The curtain has finally closed on another London Fashion Week. Autumn/Winter’12 is set to delight in more ways than one with an array of fresh new design concepts and trends we’ll all no doubt be coveting come the colder months. This season in particular, it felt like there was a trend to suit every taste. While some people might favour a fuller skirt, there was always a slinky alternative. Similarly with trousers – for every kick flare there was a legging substitute. But which aspects will we be working into our winter wardrobes? – or possibly even our summer ones?!

Big knits

A staple in anyone’s winter wardrobe, big knits are one of fashion’s more fit-for-purpose products. Of course, on the catwalks, they were paired with micro gold skater skirts and bare legs! (See Felder Felder)… I don’t know about you, but I’ll be adding a pair of 80 denier tights to that ensemble!! Jonathan Saunders and Acne also produced some quality knits, giving them a sporty feel by incorporating acid colours and check patterns.  

Want to wear it now? Why not! Chunky knits are a great transitional piece to see you comfortably into spring.

Full skirts

Skirts, by and large, took on a whole new length this season and are set to be the ‘bottom’ of choice for A/W’12. We saw billowing ones, structured ones, dippy hem ones, peplum ones, pencil ones… the list is quite literally endless. The objective? To be unashamedly feminine. Stella McCartney favoured fuller, more structured styles and along with Giles, chose standout prints. Whereas Burberry Prorsum opted for plainer knee length styles, pencil in shape with feminine ruffles.

Emphasised hips

This was one feature that dominated the A/W’12 catwalks – clever detailing to emphasise the shape of the hips. Peplums took on a whole new meaning and were even introduced on the bottom of jackets, with ruched material oft’ kicking out to the side and round to the back (See Burberry Prorsum). For a spring-ready alternative, why not give our Lace Peplum Top a whirl?

Cinched-in waists continue to be a popular silhouette for winter with all manner of coats (puffa – yes, puffa… parka, military…) being belted in place.

Animal motifs

One other gem we will definitely be incorporating into our A/W’12 wardrobes is animal motifs. Burberry Prorsum was undoubtedly the biggest pioneer of this with beetle clasps on bags, owl print on t-shirts and duck-heads on the handles of umbrellas…

But you don’t have to wait until winter to embrace this trend. Our Dalmation Sweater  will look cute paired with some indigo skinny jeans and layered under a quilted jacket.

On the whole, London Fashion Week churned out a multitude of trends, ones that are wearable and ones that we can see making their way into our wardrobes come winter.  For now, we’ll leave you lusting after some pieces we love…