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London. Winter has officially arrived and is here to stay (for a while at least!). The leaves have fallen from the trees, the air is chill and crisp, people are adding logs to the fire and thoughts are turning to Christmas time, mistletoe and wine. As the festive season approaches, the fashion magazines fill their glossy pages with promise and glitzy cocktail dresses (yes, please!) But what is the best way to keep warm between parties? Here are some of my favourite ways to wrap up this winter.

1. Fur

Fake or real (vintage or inherited, obviously!). Head to markets, granny's closet or even the high street (Zara in particular have done a great range)

Lambskin by Zara (I clocked this today in the store and it looks stunning and is quite different than the usual options out there!)

Stand to attention and raise a salute to Burberry. Yes Sir.

Nail the camel trend too in the Alexander Wang cape coat

This winter, it is all about neutrals; however this does not mean that you have to stick with one colour scheme. Be bold and mix up your neutrals in unexpected ways. 2 of my favourites for autumn:

1. BLACK AND NAVY

This colour combination DOES work and looks quite fresh as not many people wear these colours together. Try, for example, a simple black structured mini dress with navy merino wool tights and black suede wedge boots.


2. CAMEL AND GREY

Again I really like these colours together as the warmth of camel offsets the coolness of grey to perfection. Opt for deeper shades of oatmeal with cobalt and charcoal.


Pictured: camel and grey as seen at Marni

Once again, for Autumn Winter 2010, designers have taken inspiration from the wild as leopard, ocelot, and cheetah prints stalk their way onto our fashion consciousness. When worn correctly of course, animal print can be extremely high-octane glamour. It cries out for perfection: immaculate makeup and killer accessories to offset its impact. It demands a certain amount of dramatic flair and attitude. It is the attention seeker of the sartorial world, the fashion equivalent of a high maintenance friend or lover. That is what makes it just so irresistible to wear and to experiment with, and why it has become one of the most enduring trends of our time. Let your animal instinct take over and dare to wear.

The preppy look was one of my most unexpected trends this autumn. At the same time however, it is a very simple trend that anyone can carry off.

Style references: Clueless, Empire Records, Miu Miu, Ivy League colleges

Styling tips: be a back-to-school rebel with ankle socks in bright pops of colour worn with wedge heeled ankle boots; add classic touches like leather gloves or a prim handbag; accessorise with fierce cuffs or bangles piled high, Gap Year style; wear shirts under pullovers and roll up the sleeves and undo the buttons on your cuffs and collars.

Best of the high street: Cos, Zara, Tabio, H and M

I bumped into my best friend's brother the other night; I had just arrived at her house for a girlie dinner as he was heading out for the night. As he was leaving he put on his overcoat, and I nearly died. This super mannish city coat is EXACTLY what I am after this season. I never really did the whole Diane Keaton in Annie Hall 'girls will be boys' look: before now I have always favoured femininity, which in coat-terms meant princess cuts and furs. However.....I have changed my mind, or rather my aesthetic sensibilities and am loving the idea of contrasting such a coat with a slip dress or structured skirt/silk shirt. (It sort of reminds me of turning blue with the cold in marquees at black tie events in the English countryside, only for a chivalrous gentleman to slip his dinner jacket around your shoulders).

'Nice coat', I remarked.

'Yes, gorgeous', said another friend of mine also in attendance. 'My brother has one just like it'.

'I want one for myself!' I had to explain. I was positively drooling, almost more than over the delectable smells coming from the kitchen.

Luckily, this season designers have answered my sartorial prayers and there is a plethora of such coats to be found around town. I especially like this type of coat in traditional menswear fabrics, such as tweed and with a smart collar. This week's mission: find my dream coat before the chill sets in for winter.

(Pictured: Men's City Coat by Chloe)