Dressing For The Great Outdoors

The rather late arrival of autumn has made dressing oneself every morning rather problematic. Some days have been filled with sun and surprisingly warm temperatures; others however have been decidedly more wintery.

This poses several problems when youre standing in front of the mirror every morning, wardrobe open and a mountain of clothes to choose from. Is it still summer, or is winter here now? Its like dressing for four seasons in one day?

However, the key to on-trend fashion dressing this year has been layering. Layering enables you to continue wearing that light, cotton summer dress for a few more weeks by cleverly adding layers of thick chunky-knit cardigans, bold, statement outerwear and some tights and boots.

It is womens outerwear from jackets and coats to heavy cardigans, scarves, hats and gloves that can turn a summer outfit into a winter one. And the clever part is that you can take the coat off if you start to feel the heat of the sun on your back.

So what are the most fashionable and wearable styles for womens outerwear this autumn and winter?

Fashion is taking elements of the past, particularly the roaring 20s and glamorous 1930s and fusing them with more modern styles and materials; womens outerwear is no exception.

Riding jackets are a key piece of tailoring, slightly more fitted and feminine, that every woman should have in her wardrobe. These jackets are nipped in at the waist so can transform any womans figure into the coveted hourglass shape.

More tailoring, but in an altogether more masculine way, can be found in the military jacket. This is a key womens outerwear trend to emulate this autumn and winter. Look for lapels, large buttons and long cuffs and of course, it has to be double breasted.

The 1920s and 30s were all about luxury materials including fur, velvet, suede and leather. These days we are a little kinder to animals, but faux-fur is a big trend to follow right now. These style isnt for everyone, but it does look great when teamed with a rocker t-shirt, skinnies and sky high stilettos. On the other hand, a faux-fur jacket looks divine when matched with a silky dress and sandals for a Saturday night in town.

For those girls that are a bit more cool and relaxed, the ultimate trend in womens outerwear has to be the leather bomber jacket. This has been uber-cool since James Dean rocked one in Rebel Without A Cause and it is still a highly desirable item of womens outerwear to this day. If you cant afford the real thing, leatherette works just as well, but add warmth with the trend of the year: layering.