Milan Fashion Week - day 3

I'm off to Milan in two months time for 3-months of maxed-up stress for my MA final project. Two months late for Milan fashion week. 

Bummer.

However, I am enjoying perusing from afar this week's offerings. 

Blumarine. Thank you. Autumn/winter 2012/13 and there shall be colour. The Italian label's collection for the solemn winter months began with a cascade of bright fluffy coats over virginal white trousers and stark polo necks.

We as a nation, nay, as lovers of fashion, seem only too keen to shun colour as soon as the first leaves begin to fall. This is silly. 

Now who knows how I'm to feel when summer has ended and the winter months start to draw in. But I can bet I shall be thankful for the small glimmer of sugar-coated, e-number filled colours Bluemarine have just shown as part of their autumn/winter collection 2012/13.

Screw black. Forget khaki, grey and brown. If it would be hideous as an interior paint choice, I'm wearing it.

Oh and don't forget about trusty old metallics. They're still around in a big way it seems for next autumn/winter. Blumarine, Anya Hindmarch, Maria Grachvogel, Matthew Williamson have all shown metallics during the recent big four fws.

So, zesty colour for unzesty autumn and winter... yep, I'm with the Italians on this one.

TREND UPDATE: Dreamy pastels...

Oh I'm so pleased about the pastel trend and no more so because at the time of writing this I'm standing, peering through the window at a snow-covered garden. 

Pastels - ok, so its definitely a spring trend and obviously winter still has its icy white hold on us, yet pastels would look so divine in the snow:

Pale orchid purples, the creamiest of milky whites, mellow hibiscus yellows and blush pinks - the pastel trend is so dreamy.

Remember the Louis Vuitton spring/summer show? Heavens, it made me melt.

Pastels at Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week 2011

Philip Lim - pastels done simply

LV showed the uptmost ladylike of shapes in boxy jackets and full midi-skirts with delicate cut-out collars and princess up-dos. For an extra flounce, the French fashion house also showed full-fifties skirts made of dandelion-light marabou feathers. 

If, like me, you prefer wearing trends a little understated, take some inspiration from Philip Lim. In his spring/summer 2012 collection, pastels were boxed into soft shapes; a no-nonsense, divine in its simplicity, alternative to Louis Vuitton's fairytale yet everybit as dreamy. 

My tip - let the pastels do the talking. Mix them up but keep it simple. Like pearls, pastels are so feminine that adornment and embellishment just aren't necessary.

Lovely.