We might still have a good few months of winter weather ahead us, but we’ve seen the last of this season in store. Spring 2007 is about to explode and I can’t wait to see shops filled with the promised eruption of colour and print. Every season has its share of good and bad trends and this one in particular was rife with watershed changes in fashion. Here are my feelings on the best and worse trends of Autumn/Winter 2006.

Best:

• Longer length tops – Hallelujah! The extra coverage meant that I could say goodbye to drafts up my back and down my bottom. This fundamental shift in fashion made dressing in layers easy, flattering and comfortable.
• Ruffles and volume – ultra feminine styles like these were welcomed by my girly side.
• Skinnies – initially my heart sank at the prospect of having to wear what I did 25 years ago. But wearing skinnies tucked into a pair of fabulous boots made me love this trend and I was converted.
• The resurgence of red – it took 12 years for red to come back as a major fashion colour and I love it. There is a shade of red for everyone.
• Patent – gloss is great. It always seems to add an extra dimension to your outfit (even when it’s black on black).
• Flat Riding boots – chic, sophisticated, elegant, comfortable and practical. Who can’t love a trend like that?

Worst:

• Black, black, black – I enjoyed this season’s monochromatic palette, but I missed the colour. Trying to find great items that weren’t black was very hard.
• Mini skirts – very short skirts are only for those of us with beautiful legs. I think that mini-skirts are harder to wear than a pair of skinnies. Skirt lengths are most flattering somewhere at the knee.
• Skinnies – I loved this trend when tucked into boots; but it also makes my “worst” list because I saw too many women wearing the style in a less flattering way.
• Black nail polish – it looks evil no matter how beautiful your hands.
• Platforms – I’m just envious that I can’t walk in them.

How did you feel about the trends this season? I’d love to know what made it to your closet, and what got left dangling on the store rail.

Black nail polish, platforms and mini dresses were hot in Autumn/Winter 2006, but never made it to my personal shopping list.

Does your briefcase add that extra bit of sass to your look? If it doesn’t, think again. Confident, chic, creative and sophisticated women shouldn’t be carrying boring black canvas laptop bags sold at office supply stores. If you mean business – make sure that your briefcase also reflects your own personal style.

Whether you are classic, funky, artistic, trendy, bohemian or retro – there’s a briefcase or laptop bag out there that’s perfectly stylish for you. An oversized, long and lean tote might also do the trick if you need to stow away books and papers instead of a laptop. You might even find a fabulous messenger bag to hold your professional daily stash if you work in a more casual setting. With today’s range of options, your stylish briefcase might double as your handbag during work hours.

The best assortments of briefcases are usually found online. Try sites like LeatherTree, LuggageOnline, BagsBuy and eBags. Brands like Coach and department stores like Nordstrom also have good online selections.

A few less conventional styles to whet your appetite!

One of America’s largest retailers is in trouble. After experiencing negative sales growth over the last 2 years, the company has announced management changes and is reviewing its Gap and Old Navy brand strategies (The Gap Inc. includes Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Forth & Towne chains). Rumour also has it that the company is considering a sale.

When was the last time that you bought anything for yourself at the Gap? Unfortunately, it’s been years since I’ve done so and this makes me sad. I’ve always enjoyed the Gap’s consistently good quality and casual all-American style. But their clothing collections have gone from bad to worse. Criticized for having bland apparel for youths, and fashion-forward apparel for baby boomers, the chain seems to have lost its target focus. 

Where is Gap’s gap? Perhaps it is that they are no longer the destination store for jeans and t-shirts. The Gap built its reputation and profits on selling the best basics in the business. Perhaps “basic” is the problem. People today seem to want more for their fashion dollar, and they are getting it from stores like Zara and H&M. It is being left behind in spite of the millions it has spent on its celebrity advertising campaigns.

The Gap is definitely having a hard time defining its position within the retail sphere and sales are eroding because of it. Whether it can be rescued remains to be seen. What would you do to save the chain?

Transitional merchandise has begun to blossom in stores and it’s all about the nautical spirit. Dark navy and white basics are highlighted by a few touches of red, jade and lemon. The shade of navy is virtually black and I particularly like that aspect of this trend as lighter navies tend to look less rich and more uniform-like.

On the other hand, I’m not sure whether the nautical collections give us enough of a change from all the black, white, red and striped merchandise we’ve seen in store for the last 6 months. Transitional collections are most effective when they contrast with the season that’s on sale. But the newness of colours like jade and lemon, and silhouettes like wide-legged sailor pants, might be fresh enough to entice us to buy the odd item before Spring merchandise really hits stores.

There are modern classic and trendy interpretations of the nautical look:  

• For a modern classic look, combine navy and white basics with a striped knit top, cream/ navy trench coat, pointy toed boots and an oversized leather tote.
• For a trendy look, match sailor pants with a ruffled shirt, cropped cardigan, funky short trench coat, converse sneakers and lemon accessories.

Nautical looks are versatile and easy to put together. The theme is timeless and always open to re-invention.

	Striped knitwear (Bebe)	Plain knitwear (Bebe)
Short Trench and Sailor pant (Anthropologie)	Yellow coming in (Old Navy)	Converse sneakers (Nordstrom) White & lemon tote (Nordstrom)

Have a bash at experimenting with some of the transitional season’s trendier silhouettes with items like these.