Autumn has officially begun so it’s time for my top 15 must-haves for Fall and Winter 2013. This year’s list is quite different to last year’s Fall and Winter list. Booties are not the first item on the list. Patterns and pattern mixing do not feature as strongly, and burgundy is not the colour of the season (although there is a lot of it on the shop floor). Green in all its hues is supposed to be the colour of the year, but I’m not seeing that reflected in stores at all. 

The items cut across all body types, lifestyles, budgets, style personas and age groups. It’s a question of finding the right version of the item that works best for you. 

1. Fluid Fits: This one is top of the list — wear your clothes a little looser. This is not a one season thing, but rather the way fashion silhouettes are moving in general. Body con fits are still in style — heck, skinnies have never been as tight and stretchy as they are this year — but combining tight pieces with looser pieces is more on trend. Wearing fluid pieces from top to toe is even more so. Oversized items are the trendiest and most fashion forward at the moment, but tailored fits are also always in style. Refresh tailored fits by combining them with a fluid or oversized piece and you’re sorted. 
2. Pointy Toe Footwear: Huge, huge trend especially in refined styles like pumps, slipper flats, d’Orsay flats, heeled booties and Beatle Booties.
3. Mixed Media Items: This means wearing a wardrobe item made of different fabrications, like a tweed blazer with leather collar. Or a cashmere pullover with lace inlays. Upscale sweatshirts are particularly fab in mixed media and so are jackets, coats and skirts. 
4. Raglan Sleeve Tops: They are magical for many reasons. Wear them in upscale sweatshirts, knitwear or knitted tops and in a fluid fit. 
5. Trendy Topper: We’re talking bombers, motos, one-button blazers with low stances, tuxedo jackets, military jackets, avant-garde jackets and round shouldered jackets. Introduce a few of these Fall jacket trends into your wardrobe if you’re a jacket gal. Moto jackets, although very on trend, are also a classic with particularly high longevity. 
6. Leather: Think leather items like jackets, pants and skirts in a colour that tickles your fancy. Or wear leather as a trim on these items. Faux leather is fine too. 
7. Tall Boots: Knee-high and over-the-knee-boots are trending again, in both dressy and casual styles. Fab over sleek jeans and trousers for wet, slushy and snowy weather. And great paired with skirts and dresses. 
8. Menswear Fabrications: Think jackets, coats, trousers and skirts in herringbone, houndstooth, tartans and Glen plaids. 
9. Colour Blocking: Any wardrobe item can be colour blocked. Tuxedo stripes down the sides of trousers get my top vote, and toppers with colour blocked insets or sleeves are following close behind. Remember that colour blocked bags and footwear count too. 
10. Chunky Knitwear: Fine gauge knitwear is refined, classic, dressy and lovely, and I’m a huge fan of delicate cashmere knitwear. But chunky knits are trendier, so don’t leave them out. Here’s how to feel streamlined in chunky pullovers. 
11. Non-Denim Pants: There is life after jeans. Think wool trousers, Ponte knit, stretch-cottons, jacquards, flocked fabrications, and all sorts of patterns and checks in fabrications other than denim. 
12. Black Footwear: I bet most women have this trend covered. I cheated a little and had black booties on my shopping list, but bought a dark ink blue instead. These are “my black booties” for the season, and I’ve already worn them three times. 
13. Daytime Clutch: Clutches are still the trendiest and most modern bag option, although simple satchels and crisp structured bags are hot on their heels. 
14. Winter White: Never underestimate the power of shades of white in a Fall and Winter wardrobe. White is the brightest of the neutrals and looks fresh, crisp and clean year round. So chic. Wear white jeans year round, and don’t be scared of white bags and outerwear. 
15. Wild Card: Add an atypical item for your style persona to your wardrobe that speaks to you in some way. Just for fun. 

Cut-out booties, slouchy pants and jeans, peplums, two-piece dresses, cocoon coats, sci-fi metallics, wedge sneakers, metallic booties, lace, menswear coats, midi skirts, tuxedo-inspired items, twinsets, upscale backpacks, kitty tops, quilted textures, cropped pants, drape front blouses, skater skirts, turtlenecks and utility jackets are more ways to add seasonal refreshers to your cold weather style. And textured items are always a hit in a cold weather wardrobe. 

One final note on colour. By all means embrace the on-trend colours, but also know that your favourite and most flattering colours do not date and are always in style. Wear them all season and every season.

How does the list look from your point of view? Are you covered?