Make the autumn trend transition (From Halesowen News)

Make the autumn trend transition

7:00am Saturday 30th August 2008

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Ease yourself into next season's collections.

Mark up your fashion calendars - with September looming it's time to take stock of your summer wardrobe and embrace the new season.

High summer hasn't exactly delivered on the sunshine front, leaving some of our S/S 08 trend-led buys barely worn and redundant. But if there's one season we really get our wear out of, it's autumn/winter.

Fret not about the changeable weather. Come rain or shine, the fashion forecast for next season is set in stone, taking its lead from the designer catwalks.

Worried about what to keep, what to chuck in the charity bag, and what key pieces to invest in for the season ahead? Read on and make the stylish transition from summer to autumn.

With these additions your wardrobe will be fully fashion recharged for the season ahead.

:: DAYTIME UPDATES Hang on to those super-sheer tops and nautical shorts and hypothermia may beckon. Work these daytime transitional updaters into your wardrobe and you'll be streets ahead.

BUY: :: Two-in-one dresses: Forget the dilemma of matching a top and skirt together, these double-dose dresses do all the deciding work for you. Fab for fashion-friendly officewear.

TRY: Primark two-in-one belted shirt dress, £12 (17 Euros); or Miss Selfridge two-in-one printed blouse dress, £45 (65 Euros).

:: Folk: Potentially the A/W season's easiest trend move from summer to winter. Think paisley, folksy prints and purple for autumnal hippy chic.

TRY: Oasis Liberty paisley tunic dress, £65; or Next Signature paisley sheer dress £40 (60 Euros).

:: Tartan: The Scot-inspired print is big on day dresses, blouses, jackets, trousers, tights... just about anything! Bump up the transition gradually and wear head-to-toe tartan brights if you dare.

TRY: Warehouse tartan check coat, £100 (155 Euros); or Matalan tartan ruffle blouse, £10.

KEEP: Maxi dresses; floral prints; embroidered pieces.

CHUCK: Tribal prints; crochet; shrunken blazers.

:: EVENINGWEAR ESSENTIALS Summer frocks won't cut it when temperatures start to plummet. Glam up for an autumn/winter night out with these hot must-haves.

BUY: :: Red: The eveningwear colour of choice for the catwalks. Move over LBD, you have some stiff competition with the look-at-me red dress.

TRY: Dorothy Perkins red bandeau dress, £40 (65 Euros); or Betty Jackson. Black red cowl neck dress, £55 (85 Euros) at Debenhams.

:: Lace: Fashion fabric of the moment, a dramatic lace piece will send your wardrobe into 'of-the-moment' status.

TRY: Next black lace top, £25 (38 Euros); or Miss Selfridge gold and black lace dress, £45 (65 Euros).

:: Evening blouse: The perfect evening wardrobe revitaliser if you're not a dress fan. Keep them flouncy and elegant.

TRY: Wallis georgette bow-tie blouse, £35 (45 Euros); or Principles purple ribbon blouse, £45 (69 Euros).

KEEP: Fringe dresses; one-shoulder pieces; sequins.

CHUCK: Dip-dye dresses; star prints; tiered frocks.

:: ACCESSORIES ALLOWED Updating your accessories box of tricks is the easiest and cheapest way to transform your look to A/W 08 and rival the catwalk's coolest looks.

BUY: :: Patterned tights: As seen at Chanel and Rodarte catwalks, the newest way to cover your pins is with a funky pattern or eye-catching print.

TRY: ASOS lace cut-out patterned tights, £10; or Bebaroque feather print tights, £19.50 at mytights.com.

:: Over-knee boots: Yep, move over Dick Whittington. Play at the pantomime game in thigh high boots but wear with tights to avoid the Pretty Woman look.

TRY: River Island over-knee patent boots, £150; or Moda in Pelle Seline black over-knee boots, £150.

:: Bow neckties: One for the fashionistas. This showstopper of a trend will transform natty outfits in an instant.

TRY: Topshop lace bow tie, £20; or Urban Outfitters black bow tie, £6.

KEEP: Ethnic scarves; clutch bags; vintage-style jewels.

CHUCK: Cowboy boots; wooden jewellery; acid bright bags.

:: STOCKISTS ASOS: www.asos.com Debenhams: 08445 616 161/www.debenhams.com Dorothy Perkins: 0870 122 8801/www.dorothyperkins.co.uk Matalan: 0845 330 3330/www.matalan.co.uk Miss Selfridge: 0845 121 4517/www.missselfridge.co.uk Moda in Pelle: www.modainpelle.com Mytights: www.mytights.com Next: 0845 600 7000/www.next.co.uk Oasis: www.oasis-stores.com Principles: 0870 122 8802/www.principles.co.uk Primark: www.primark.co.uk River Island: www.riverisland.com Topshop: 0845 121 4519/www.topshop.co.uk Wallis: 0845 121 4520/www.wallis.co.uk Warehouse: 0870 122 8813/www.warehouse.co.uk Urban Outfitters: www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk :: ASK THE EXPERT Q: I adore designer clothes but I'm feeling the credit crunch pinch. What are my options?

A: You don't need to take out a bank loan to invest in the GOLD by Giles collection. The 2007 British Designer of the Year's latest collection lands in New Look stores on August 28 and fashionistas are chomping at the bit to bag one of his statement pieces. We love the versatile black sequin hem skirt, £40. It's designer chic on the cheap!

:: BUY IT NOW Tartan, check. Bubble hem, check. This Primark wrap dress might as well have 'next season' written all over it. Do the highland fashion fling and pick up this £14 bonnie wonder now.

FASHION FLASH :: TREND TIGHTS Tights are an easy way to update your look for autumn. Check out Aristoc's Best of British collaboration with designer John Smedley. The premium range of socks and tights will give your undies drawer a fashionable boost to kick off the new season. The range is available from end of August, priced £8-18, at Fenwick, Selfridges, House of Fraser and Harrods stores.

:: ONLINE FASHION FIT Newsflash: women can damage their breasts by wearing the wrong sized bra - that's according to science boffs at the University of Portsmouth. Bravissimo have stepped in with a bra SOS campaign. The retailer for D-K cup women has launched a new online bra fitting service and you don't even have to leave the house. Choose from the Quick Fit Guide, or Full Experience at www.bravissimo.com/perfectfit.

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