Fashion Victim: Sartorially inclined towards those autumn days

Aug 28 2008 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE may still be a handful of days left in August and some very optimistic weather forecasters predicting an Indian summer but I think we can, to all intents and purposes, say summer is O-V-E-R.

Some of you would say it never began and it’s hard to argue with that. There were the obligatory few hot days in May, the sun came out for a week or so in early June and... well, and then the rains came.

From a fashion perspective summer ended earlier than ever this year. By the second week of June, prices had been slashed in dozens of high street shops. A good three or four weeks before most people go on their annual summer holiday.

By the time I hit the high street to stock up on buys for my hols in the middle of July, the bikinis had been replaced by biker jackets and the shorts by suits.

This week I unearthed my black opaque tights again, confirmation that it is game over as far as the warm weather is concerned.

I can’t say I am mourning the passing of summer too much. In fact I am quite looking forward to putting it behind me because sartorially at least, autumn and winter are a much more exciting time.

For a start, in the cold months there is not the issue of inappropriate dressing. Unlike in June, July and August when we leave the house to blazing sunshine only for a monsoon to have moved in by hometime, in October, November and December the days start cold and end colder and you layer up accordingly.

It is also much easier to look stylish in the cold months.

My winter wardrobe has always been streets ahead of my summer one in the style stakes. It is packed with Vivienne Westwood coats and dresses, tailored trousers, fantastic hats and delicious handbags not to mention the shoes.

Aah winter shoes. Chunky leather and patent, with big buckles, in rich inviting shades of plum and chocolate and slate grey. My (not-so) little feet are getting frisky at the thought of them all.

As someone who struggles with casual dressing, I feel much more together in winter in my polo necks, jeans, boots, dress coats and snuggly scarves than in vests and sorts.

So far my winter fashion buys have been one oversized, slouchy boyfriend cardigan and a butter-soft leather jacket with pussycat bow from New Look, but I have my eye on so much more.

The prom dresses at Dorothy Perkins and the fantastic Westwood-esque tartan number at Primark (pictured) are top of my list followed by a military coat from French Connection and a pair of the to-die-for “surreal heels” at Faith.

Just one small problem I spent that much money on summer holidays I probably won’t be able to afford any of them!

* READ more of my columns at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/fashionvictim