Drapers - Online Catwalk Trend Talk!

I love a good online chat!  Fashion editor Khabi Mirza and assistant fashion editor Laura Jackson of Drapers typed away until their fingers were raw giving us the hits and misses of this seasons catwalk.

Things to pay attention to:

Khabi Mirza:  "The oversized bag trend has almost entirely disappeared in favour of structured styles inspired by the 1940s."

Laura Jackson:  "80s trends are all over the high street in the form of neon T-shirts and graphic prints (as mentioned earlier) but are set to move over into womenswear for spring 09, and I think the high street will love them - we've already spotted jumpsuits and peg leg trousers on recent shopping trips so expect more and more as we hit the new year.

Khabi Mirza:  "This season is all about looks that will be really tricky to replicate with cost in mind. The draping trend only really works on softly fluid silk, structured shapes are tough to follow and the prints are super intricate. Easier to copy may be the architectural shoulders and also the peg-leg and harem trousers which you can already get in Topshop."

Khabi Mirza:  Belts were massive and they came in lots of permutations. Skinny belts were the strongest look and were used on tailored jackets and dresses.

Just because these are the trends we're seeing on the catwalk it doesn't mean we have to wear them but for fun let's ask ourselves: how do they translate into our everyday lives? I've always felt London girls love oversized bags because they can fit their high heels into a big bag after a night out but I can't resist a structured hand bag! So the solution is I have a pair of ballet flats from Bloch that fold up so small they can be hidden in a small structured handbag and I'll just have to carry the high heels home! I confess I'm not big on the 80's look, big hair, big shoulders - but I have ordered a Harriet's Muse silk jumpsuit for the next season -it's more chic than 80's (or so I'd like to think). I love skinny belts but they don't look good on everyone. You have to try one on and look at yourself and see how it sits on your waist. There are so many wonderful trends this and every season just don't get caught up in a trend just because other people are wearing it or you see it in a magazine. Choose a trend that you love and that suits your style and shape!