As a style professional I need to pay attention to the runways of fashion week because that’s where trends are born. These trends in turn have a huge impact on what we see in retail stores six months from now and even years beyond that. I enjoy seeing which trends make it through to retail stores, which trends go mainstream, which ones stay fringe, which are well received by the public, and which trends get no traction at all. Also, if you watch these shows every season, you build an appreciation for the general direction in fashion, although it may take a couple of years before things finally filter down in a meaningful way. 

This season we didn’t attend any of the shows in person, but I have watched every aingle Spring 2013 runway show online. With that as a frame of reference, this is how I see the trends for Spring and Summer 2013 shaping up. 

• Colours: To recap an earlier post, all colours will be represented. From pastels, muted tones, jewel tones and brights, to earth tones, light earth tones and neutrals. I mentioned that blue will be big and that white was its runner up. But I’ve changed my mind now that I’ve seen all the shows. White might just be the colour of the season. 
• Colour Blocking: I haven’t seen as much colour blocking since the ’80s. Colour blocked garments ruled the runways in every colour and in every wardrobe item. 
• Pattern and Pattern Mixing: We are still in the middle of a gigantic pattern-rich and pattern mixing period. There is no holding back this trend. Think patterns in every single wardrobe item — clothes, footwear and accessories. 
• Spring Leather: Leather garments and leather trimmed garments were shown in full force on the runways for Spring and Summer. This was unexpected after a leather and pleather-rich Autumn and Winter. Black, white, bone, grey and taupe leather were most popular. 
• An Assortment of Lengths: Pants cropped to just above the ankle or further up the calf are still huge. Hemlines are short, knee-length or midi, which provides great variation. Generally, hemlines are getting longer although maxi hemlines are taking a back seat. I’m most excited about knee length long shorts, with short shorts no longer centre stage. And it looks as though we are once again heading for a trouser season. 
• Silhouettes: Blouses, blouses and more blouses. Tops are soft, drapey, feminine and quite voluminous. Lots and lots of buttoned up blouses too. There’s also a blouse cut in the shape of a roomy t-shirt that looks interesting. Jumpsuits were very popular, but I just don’t see them becoming more than a fringe trend. Jackets with low stances and dropped waists are the new look. Peplums and suits are still on trend. Culottes might make a comeback. High-low hemlines are strong.
• Turn Up The Volume: Although all three fit categories  — body con, tailored, and oversized — will be represented next season, the oversized fit reigns supreme. Clothing could not have looked more baggy and slouchy than what I saw at the shows. Intentionally oversized clothing is extremely on trend and fashion forward at the moment. I suspect it’s a direct reaction to the super tight silhouettes that have flooded retail stores for several years. 
• Soft and Hard Dressing: Head to toe soft dressing was the name of the game last season, but now there is lots of mixing of hard and soft fabrications in one outfit. Mix leather and lace. Silk and rigid cotton. Faded denim and soft Spring knits. Linen with silk. Stiff cotton with soft cotton. Sci-fi with soft cotton. 
• Sheer Layers: We’ll see skirts, tops and dresses made of ultra sheer fabrics. Clothing will also have sheer fabric insets and garments will be made of multiple layers of sheer fabrications. Watch those camisole sales soar! 
• Tuxedo Striping: As part of the colour blocking trend, this look is already very popular right now. And it’s going to be bigger than ever next year
• Sharp Angles: More and more we’ll see clothing with sharp angles like oversized vests, sharp shoulders on jackets, hemlines that come into a point and collars with sharp points. Boxy clothing made of stiff fabrications also tends to give off that sharp angled look. Lots of straight lines on clothing. 
• Boxy Short Sleeves: I am not fond of this sleeve style on already boxy soft tops and jackets. The length finishes a few inches above the elbow, is wide at the hem, and is set into a wide armhole opening. The effect is overwhelming and very boxy. 
• White Footwear: All shades of white footwear ruled the runways. WOW. As a lover of light coloured footwear it took my breath away. We can expect to see lots of white footwear six months from now.  
• High Vamped Footwear: Peep toe booties are the shoe of the season. Spring booties are also big, as are loafers, slipper flats, fashion sneakers, sandals with wide straps, flatforms and flat oxfords. There were generally fewer platforms and many, many shows showcased flat footwear. Quite the breath of fresh air.
• Clutch Handbags: Still the number one bag featured on the runway for for day and night. Structured satchels are a close second. 

My favourite shows at New York Fashion Week were Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Altuzarra, Zero & Maria Cornejo, 3.1 Philip Lim, Derek Lam, J. Crew, Vera Wang, Diesel Black, Michael Kors and Proenza Schouler. I enjoyed the Emilia Wickstead, ACNE and Gucci shows best at London Fashion Week. Jil Sander and Salvatore Ferragamo were my top fancy at Milan Fashion Week. And the Dries Van Noten, Rochas, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chanel and Louis Vuitton shows were my favourites at Paris Fashion Week. 

I enjoy the start of a new fashion season because there’s always a fresh way to interpret a look that tickles my fancy. I’m excited about all the trends, especially white footwear, Spring leather, clutch handbags, long shorts, blouses and slouchy silhouettes. Although I love the look of intentionally roomy clothing, part of me is apprehensive as to how the oversized trend will be interpreted and received at retail level. In my experience women generally prefer structured clothing — not too tight and not too loose — and its shortage will be problematic.

How do these Spring 2013 trends grab you? Do you long for a look that is no longer on trend? How do you feel about the huge resurgence of oversized clothing, baggy fits and slouchy styles?

Creative Director of American Vogue, Grace Coddington, “suddenly” became famous after making an indelible impression in the 2009 documentary The September Issue. But for many years before that she had been an inspiration to those behind the fashion scenes. In Grace, A Memoir, Grace tells her own story, sharing both her personal and professional life with the reader. From her childhood in Anglesey, her early career as a model, the car accident that nearly ended it all, her trajectory from London in the Swinging Sixties to the years working at British Vogue, crossing the pond to work with Calvin Klein and then joining American Vogue in 1988. She talks about her two marriages and thirty-year romance with renowned hair stylist Didier Malige, the death of her sister and her relationship with Anna Wintour. Along the way she shares her views on everything from plastic surgery, cats, photography in the digital era and the nature of beauty.

Like Grace, many models continue to work in the fashion industry or related creative fields after they quit or cut back on modelling. Think Lauren Hutton, Isabella Rossellini, Andie MacDowell, Elle MacPherson and Helena Christensen to name just a few. Here are two other (former) models whose careers I’ve been following with particular interest:

Iman — because my friends and I used to pore over her arty high-fashion images during class breaks. In retrospect, I believe she was our introduction to the international world of fashion and style.

Somalian-born Iman was perhaps one of the most well-known supermodels of the 1970s-1980s. She landed her first modelling job for Vogue in 1976, and became the muse for acclaimed designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Issey Miyake. After almost two decades of modelling, this statuesque beauty started her own cosmetics firm in 1994, focussing on difficult-to-find shades for all women with skin of colour. She has also co-hosted The Fashion Show with Isaac Mizrahi and has created the “Global Chic Collection”, a line of jewellery, handbags and accessories that is sold exclusively via the Home Shopping Network.

Sophie Dahl — because we share a passion for writing and cooking.

The granddaughter of British writer Roald Dahl began her career as a (plus-size) model, and caused quite a stir when she was photographed nude for Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium billboard campaign. Sophie moved on to acting, both in the theatre and on the big screen, and in 2003 she returned to her first love: writing. She has published a novella, a novel, numerous articles for international magazines and has chronicled her misadventures with food in “Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights”. Following this successful cookery book, she wrote and presented a very popular BBC cooking series, and starred in a documentary in which she explores the life and times of her food heroine Mrs Beeton.

Do you like to keep up with what models are doing after they have left the fashion limelight? Is there anyone in particular whose career you have been following closely over the years? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Chunky knit pullovers add a lot of extra bulk so I was surprised that so many people like the trendy item. The positive response made me think that I should share this particular outfit combination right away. You might have the pieces in your wardrobe already so get cracking! 

Match a pencil skirt with a chunky knit pullover just like the photos illustrate below. A leather or leather trimmed pencil skirt is ideal, but most pencil skirts in an Autumn fabric weight will work. Shorter pullovers tend to look best. Fitted silhouettes will probably make you feel more streamlined, although I’m liking the cropped boxy pullover just as much. Add in a somewhat refined, ladylike heeled pump or bootie and a dressy bag to keep things feminine. Scrunch the sleeves to showcase some skin for an alluring touch. Throw on a coat, trench coat or furry vest if a third layer is required. Add a little arm candy if desired. You’re done. 

This outfit combination was not love at first sight for me because initially I thought it had a tendency to look frumpy, or unintentionally fashion forward. But it has grown on me a lot, and now it looks fresh and quite modern to my eye. My favourite aspect of the look is how it de-bomshells the pencil skirt. 

Who is going to try this outfit formula? Do you think it’s appropriate for an office environment?

The New York Times reports that “sewing, like knitting before it, is making a comeback”. Sewing seminars, beginners’ classes and private lessons are very much in demand and sewing machine sales are booming. And this time around it’s all about self-expression and wanting to make something unique.

Gretchen Hirsch of the extremely popular Gertie’s New Blog For Better Sewing talks about her recently published book, the revival in crafting and home-sewing, and what sustainability means to her.

For the not so confident seamstresses among us, Refinery29 has Five (Mostly) No-Sew Tips for Perfecting Any Vintage Find.

Fab Links from Our Members

Have you seen these hilarious videos in which Laura Barton in her own inimitable way explains current trends like the peplum look and how to wear tweed? Thanks for the laugh, Krishnidoux!

“Skinniness is increasingly common on the catwalks of West Africa, but on the street it is seen as unattractive and even taboo.” Bj1111 recommends this article in The Guardian about a different cultural take on slim fashion models.

If you’ve got straight leg jeans, a tunic sweater, a biker jacket, high top sneakers and a fedora, Angie suggests that you create your own take on this fun Fabsugar street style outfit.

Janet over at The Gardener’s Cottage recently discussed her feelings about packing for a trip to New York City. Carole found the realization that not everyone dresses like they are hot off the fashion runway quite refreshing.

Neon love is in the air. Annagybe absolutely loves this leopard plus neon clutch. While Laurinda points us to a simple DIY on how to sew a fab neon snakeskin clutch, a very fresh look.

And last but not least, if you are interested in fashion history and happen to be in Paris over the next few months, Caro thinks you will enjoy the very creatively curated “Impressionism and Fashion” exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay.