SO HERE we are. It’s almost the middle of August and that barbecue summer they promised us is looking like a lot of hot air.

Yes, those balmy days of May and June seem a very long time ago and I bet your summer 09 wardrobe has barely had an airing.

But while we hold out hope that our gladiator sandals, broderie anglaise dresses and playsuits will come out to play again before Christmas decorations go on sale, the high street has been quietly changing seasons.

After a mere sniff of sale, the bright summer stock has been dumped and the deep hues of autumn/winter 2009 now flavour our stores.

Not ideal if you have yet to take your summer holiday. If you haven’t bought that new bikini yet, it’s game over I’m afraid.

As much as I enjoy the summer (however little we get of it), I have to confess, I’m happy to see the new season fashion in the shops.

Winter fashion is so much more interesting.

Cashmere coats, scarves, hats, boots, leggings, thick coloured tights, sexy, sparkly dresses, leather… you really get to dress up when the mercury drops.

And while we secretly know that, given the British climate, most warm weather fashion is likely to spend more time in the closet than on your back, at least this stuff is going to get worn.

Here at Style City we held back as long as we could on showcasing the new season. However we have succumbed to the charms of Scarlett Johansson (it’s hard not to) and overleaf you will see her modelling the new autumn/winter designs for Spanish fashion house Mango.

I want all of it… now.

In fact I have already started filling my winter wardrobe. I snapped up a sparkly bodycon number from Topshop on Saturday – the shopgirl had barely had chance to get it out of the box. And on Sunday I was just inches from buying a winter coat, a heavy marl grey wool cape by Vivienne Westwood sprinkled with giant magenta roses.

The problem was that it must have been 25 degrees outside and I was trying it on over a white sundress and gladiator sandals. Not the ideal ensemble I think you will agree.

In the end they didn’t have it in my size but it’s on order.

Now the new season shopping genie is out and I am already making lists of what I want to buy.

There’s a stiff shouldered minidress at Asos, a slouchy leather bag and studded glads from Zara, and so many gorgeous shoes at Kurt Geiger my head is spinning. Meanwhile this little outfit pictured here from Dorothy Perkins, has got my name all over it (and will leave me enough spare cash for an expensive handbag).

Suddenly I couldn’t care less if the sun never comes out again.

I don’t really like barbecue food anyway!