I seldom shop at the Gap, but occasionally they come up with a killer item and I’m all over it. Right now I’m totally smitten with their hot off the press legging jeans. They are super soft, comfortable and a pretty good fit. The rise measurements are not available online, but the rises on the pair I bought are 8.5 inches in front and 13 inches at the back. A decent length of rise.  Remember that you can have the waist adjusted if that part is too roomy.

They are available from sizes 00 to 20 in regular, petite and tall in both blue and black denim washes. That’s an incredibly deep assortment of size and colour! They are $69.50 full price but with a 45% off coupon I managed to get them for about 39 bucks.

Don’t let the super tapered detail of these legging jeans or “jeggings” scare you. I plan to wear mine tucked into all sorts of boots (from over-the-knee to mid calf lengths) which makes the tapering ideal (no bunching!) I shan’t be wearing them with ballet plats, pumps, sandals or booties because I prefer a bit of hem scrunching volume on my skinnies when they aren’t tucked into boots. And these leggings jeans clearly don’t scrunch.

I sized down because I wanted them extra snug. They are quite stretchy so nothing is cutting off my circulation yet.

I know, I know. In the northern hemisphere temperatures are soaring and the last thing you want to wrap your head around is Autumn merchandise. But that’s the way the crazy retail cycle works. So without further ado here are the trends for the next six months of fashion. Some of it is already in stores:

1. Boots, boots, boots and more boots: From flat heels to towering sky scrapers, skinny stilettos to the chunkiest of wedges, ankle booties to over the knee lengths, super feminine styles to tough masculine looks, casual to dressy, black to cream, and everything in between. Start getting your collection up to scratch because your cold weather wardrobe will be incomplete without a great pair of boots and booties.
2. Pants, jeans and leggings: This is not much of a skirt or dress season because it’s all about pants, jeans and leggings. That’s okay. Last season’s skirts and frocks will do just fine and I’ll continue wearing them and hope you will too.
3. Longer and roomer skirts: I’ll believe that when I see it.
4. Masculine shoes: Like flat oxfords and rugged boots to tone down feminine pieces. Love that.
5. Leather or pleather jackets: A must have in my book. And it’s not only about cropped biker styles but rather any type of leather of pleather cover-up that tickles your fancy. Edgy, retro, classic or avant-garde so take your pick.
6. Drapey long sleeved blouses: Love this silhouette tucked into skirts or worn loosely over sleek bottoms.
7. Floppy drapey tunic shirts: Just as fab as drapey blouses. Have many and wear them frequently.
8. Military influences: My all time favourite jacket and shirt look. Think rolled tab sleeves, double breasted buttoning, cargo pockets, strict tailoring and camouflage.
9. Strong extended shoulders: Both on jackets, dresses and blouses. Another trend I adore and have been sporting for a year.
10. Tuxedo jackets: I just bought a cropped tuxedo jacket and I’m going to wear it with just about everything.
11. Green: Strong military influences make olive green a no brainer. But there’s also chartreuse, forest green and teal.
12. Blue: In all its hues from the lightest of baby blue, to the richest of cobalt and the deepest of navy.
13. Red and purple combinations: This is how I like purple best. Rock on, red and purple.
14. Lace leggings, gloves and handbags: Expect to see lace trim on everything, not just dresses, tops or skirts.
15. Fur: Both real and faux.
16. Tweed Chanel-esque jackets: Fabulous. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale was full of them and that’s just the start.
17. Sequins: Daytime sequined tops and skirts show up every season, but I see few people actually wearing the look outside evening occasions.
18. Feathers: Expect to see bags, shoes, hats, dresses and skirts with feather trim. How do you wash an item with feather trim? I guess you don’t.
19. Moto jeans: A fringe trend for the more daring among us.
20. Capes: Cute when they are cropped but I will pass on huge overwhelming styles. You need to be tall to pull off a long, voluminous and dramatic cape.
21. Muted tonal coloured tights: This is still not my thing but can appreciate the look on others. I’m sticking to black and grey hosiery and letting my boots and scarves do the talking .
22. Structured handbags: Retro and very lady-like. Move over slouchy styles.
23. Silver mixed with gold: I am a recent convert and enjoying the versatility. Can’t believe it took me 20 years to feel comfortable mixing metals.
24. Waist-bags: As a bag lady I feel compelled to find the perfect one.
25. Pearls: YES! The best trend of them all. Not just plain classic strands but as a standalone bead mixed into all sorts of new combinations on rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Clusters and layered pearl necklaces are big too.

Pick out the trends that tickle your fancy and add your personal style stamp to the look. Remember that fashion unites us but style sets us apart. So make these trends your own. I sound like a broken record but at the end of the day it’s HOW you wear something that makes the difference.

I blossom in Autumn rather than Spring, so I’m always excited about Autumn trends. How does the list grab you?

For me this is the easiest poll of them all. I am 100% Team Brights. The only muted colours I wear are certain shades of grey, dark denim and black. And even when I wear these neutrals it is always together with a contrasting bright colour, white or bright cream.

I look sickly and awful  in muted tones and pastel shades. If I’m going to wear a colour other than a neutral it has to be rich, bright and very saturated. (My citron trench?  Enough said). But I totally love a muted and pastel palette on a person who wears it well, even though it doesn’t work for me.

Over to you. Are you Team Brights or Team Muted. Tell us why and by this stage of the game you know the drill – no batting for both Teams.

If you loathe skinny jeans and anything biker inspired, look away now.

Moto jeans were a fringe trend at the start of Spring and there are more on the way for Autumn and Winter. It’s the reinforced lower thigh/knee detailing and topstitching that makes them “moto” jeans. Some styles are more heavily reinforced and topstitched than others.

I’m on the fence. I don’t dislike the trend but don’t love it either. Moto jeans can look great when pulled together with the right soft feminine pieces, thereby creating an interesting contrast against the severity of the moto detailing. But combine these with rugged biker boots and a tough biker jacket and it’s not so fab. That’s too much biker inspiration going on in one outfit when you’re not a real life motorcycle rider.

Moto jeans are also quite a hard style to wear in a flattering way. I for one do not want to draw snug horizontal attention to my thighs with reinforced topstitch detailing. So I’m sticking to basic, streamlining skinny jeans. I guess I am drawing horizontal attention to my thighs wearing jodhpur jeans, but because they aren’t tight around the thigh I’m fine with sporting that look.

I hope moto jeans stay fringe because I don’t see them as a great mainstream denim silhouette. As always there will be those who pull off the look with effortless perfection, and in the name of fashion that’s fun to watch too.