PUSH YOUR BOUNDARIES...

I've never identified much with the Chloé girl - she has always felt a little too feminine and girly for my liking. That all changed though when I saw the photos from the Autumn/Winter 12 collection that showed in Paris recently...

The milky pastel colour palette that is so popular for spring was taken through and used on thick utilitarian winter gear. Swoon. I honestly couldn't be happier about this. While I love a good burgundy, forrest green and navy I've been itching for something different to see me through the cold months. The soft pink cocooned shaped bomber jacket with curved shoulders is absolute heaven. I also love the slouchy taupe trousers with dark stripe up the side and the straight skirts that hit at the knee. As a girl that has been struggling to transition into dressing like a semi-serious adult this collection is right up my street. It's feminine, pretty and natural (signature Chloé) but also wearable, practical and a bit edgy.

There was one aspect of the collection that had me squirming uncomfortably in my chair: long shorts. They came in a slew of colors, hit below the knee and had a distinctively sporty vibe. Elasticated waists, a plastic-y sheen, plus a scrunched leg opening... errr, forgive me for saying, this sounds like the least flattering idea ever. Nothing about it should strike a chord with me.

Notorious for wearing offensively short-shorts, my poor mother has had to take me aside on countless occasions and ask me to swap into more appropriate summer attire: 'No one here wants to see your butt cheeks', she'd say. 'But long shorts suck' I'd think. They're unflattering and so lame. Plus, everyone knows the allure of a girl in short shorts (hello, remember Daisy).

The reality is that longer shorts have crept their way into quite a few collections - at Topshop they were tweedy and at Valentino they came in caramel colored leather. Every bit of respect I have for my legs is yelling that this is a bad idea, especially for winter (I have an instinctual hatred towards tights, you see). Somehow though, I've been won over by the shorts from Chloé. I love that they push the boundaries of what the brand is known for. Yeah, they probably won't jive with every woman and they might be a bit tricky to style... but, if I'm honest, they're the main reason I've fallen so hard for the collection. I like a bit of a challenge and appreciate that Clare Waight Keller isn't taking the brand down the most obvious, or easy, path.

Other covetable and notable moments from the collection include the detailing on outwear (could I fit my canon 550d in the pocket of that coat?!), the simple clutches and heels with ankle straps (oooo la la, I never thought I'd want to wear an ankle strapped shoe but now I do).

Photos compiled from Style.com - view the full collection here

BURBERRY & WANG SITTING IN A TREE...

Topshop Unique AW12

The allure of the Topshop show is bizarre. Surely, there should be the least amount of excitement around it. It is, after all, a collection that will be sold on your very own high street. So the pieces that come floating down the runway need to be wearable and relatively inexpensive to produce. The margin for error is huge. Throw enough money at a collection and it's bound to be incredible but will anyone be able to afford it? When you have to make clothes that you can produce on mass scale... well, that's where it gets interesting.

There is always a huge amount of buzz around the Topshop show. First of all, the venue is 'off campus' (if we're referring to Somerset House as campus, that is) so it's more difficult to access. If you don't have a ticket there's no point in showing up. The security is intense and the organization runs like clock work. Have a seated ticket? You're quids in. You'll be enjoying the most delicious nibbles and sipping on juice while watching the hottest of celebrities walk in - through a separate entrance no less (a genius move as it eliminates a paparazzi frenzy outside). Lucky enough to nab a standing ticket? It's still worth showing up, just make sure you get there early. If you're at the front of the line then you're likely to get in. This is a show that starts on time and treats its guests well.

PHOTOS: Poppy Delveigne being photographed inside pre-show. Carrie Harwood outside the venue with a cute bunny ring and Oliva Palermo getting struck by the paparazzi.

Let's be honest though. While organization and the way a PR team treats its show-goers is undeniably important - the true success of any collection is judged on what we're all really interested in... the clothes. 

As soon as the show ended I let out a giant sigh and said to the person sitting next to me, 'It's like Burberry and Alexander Wang had a baby!' A few minutes later when I regrouped with Shini and Susie by the door Sandra came walking over... 'Oooo, something felt very Burberry about it' one girl said. 'Yeah, but Burberry mixed with Wang!' cooed Sandra. Huh? Major déjà vu moment... clearly we were all on the same page.

It did feel reminiscent of Burberry (the colour palette) and Wang (the cool - 'I want to be her' - models off duty vibe) but in an amazing way. It felt grown up and sophisticated like the Topshop girl had just entered her late twenties. Maybe that's why it spoke to me so much - I felt like the collection was designed for me. Every winter I struggle with outerwear... I don't want to wear another cocoon shaped coat or a plain parka. With this collection Topshop has single handedly made the ankle grazing coat wearable again.

Not only that. The prints were delectable and understated - the little two-tone patterns with x's were my favorite. The knits were big and chunky but flattering - the sort of items you could throw on with a pair of skinny jeans (or slouchy jeans, or pencil skirt, or anything) and look effortlessly put together. There was a navy one that looked exactly like what I've been missing from my wardrobe plus an army green one that resembled animal skin (how did they even do that?). A velvet jumpsuit, leather dungarees, crossed back fastenings (I am all about back details right now) and oversized bags that resembled Phillips Lim's pashli (which I've been dreaming about for about 2 years) worn just tucked under the arm as an oversized clutch.

If I had to pick a single favorite item it would have to be the red and black checked dress with black harness layered over top.

Sure, there were a few pieces that weren't quite to my taste. I can't imagine, for example, wearing a pair of knee length wide shorts or a dress with the side cut out. Who's to say I won't change my mind by next autumn? It's always good to have your boundaries pushed. To those who say it doesn't quite fit with the 'Topshop clientele' - well, the show closed with a slew of little barely-there dresses. You know, the type you'd be likely to spot at clubs across the country on 16-24 year old girls. At first I thought they weren't for me, but actually... layer a long sleeved t-shirt underneath and pair with those to-the-knee boots (ohhhh, those boots... Topshop if you don't make those on mass scale I will actually die of sadness) and it's far more fashion focused. This collection will be successful and not least because there's something in it for everyone, from your gran right down to 12 your old niece.

Massive thank you to Liz and Susie at Topshop for inviting me along. I had a blast. xx

p.s. all my photos from the show are now on Facebook. Complete with psycho musings on each look. Enjoy.

Inspired by: Burberry Prorsum

Don't get me wrong, Summer is by far my favourite season. Nothing beats flip flops, wash-and-go hair, long days, and sunshine... but I can't get Burberry Prorsum's Fall 2010 show out of my head and it's got me dreaming about next season's wardrobe upgrades. Never before has outerwear led to such a stir within my sheepskin-craving-heart. If I happened to have a spare grand sitting around I'd throw it all away on Acne's gorgeous black aviator jacket. It's the stuff dreams are made of... since I spotted it in the their shop in Stockholm earlier this month I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I want to wear it paired with a soft floaty sheer black dress like the one from Urban Outfitters and some chunky (but sensible) wedges. Gone are the days of me craving a pair of statement heels, that is... if it means I can squeeze my feet into these little Mentor beauties. Paired with some skinny jeans and an oversized khaki shirt? Fall 2010 sorted. All I need is the Patouf faux-fur to wrap around my neck and I'll be good to go. There we have it... my Autumn/Winter 2010 wishlist in a five piece mini-shopping basket. Done and dusted.