It's no secret that a few judiciously selected accessories will instantly bring your look bang up to date. Start working these pieces into your wardrobe now, and you'll be soAutumn/Winter 2013 that it hurt. The best bit? We bet you've got at least a few of these pieces knocking around your wardrobe already.
Cinching Skinny Belts
It's time to revisit the middle ground. This has to be one of the most flattering and easy-to-work trends of the new season. All you need is a skinny and cinching belt and you're good to go. Alice Temperley really captured the mood with her parade of well-to-do ladies, and we love the way that Christopher Bailey paired elegant metal belts with the new longer length skirt at Burberry.
Statement Shades
We might be talking winter trends – but there no denying that sunglasses got top billing for Autumn/Winter 2013. Two rules: Make them bold and make sure they match your outfit. We loved the rimmed feline versions at Erdem.
Ankle Wrappers
It might feel a little counter-intuitive for the cooler months, but the focus on mid-length, shin skimming lengths in the fashion department means that the ankles have become a new point of fetish for footwear. There are plenty of options here: we loved the ladylike and subtle elegance of the delicate heels at Antonio Berardi, while the likes of Moschino Cheap & Chic and David Koma offered a more in-yer-face rock 'n' roll take on the trend.
Hand Held
Designers have clearly conspired to give our shoulders a break for Autumn/Winter because straps are O.V.E.R. Even bags that did have straps were hand held and neatly tucked under models' arms. Clutches were big business, and the runway offered up plenty of slim-line envelope styles perfect for carrying around your tablet computer. For the most part, this trend eschewed attention-grabbing embellishment, and it was all about elegant daytime look. We especially loved the instances where designers expertly colour coordinated the bag to the outfit: so chic it hurts us a little. But if you prefer your arm candy with bit of glitz, take a look at Henry Holland's raved-up versions and the gold alligator boxy bags at L'Wren Scott.
Mid-Calf Boots
Given the appetite for trousers and skirts that fall mid-shin, it's perhaps no surprise that footwear is following suit. The ankle boots that have dominated recent seasons grew up, in the most literal sense, so that they hit mid-way between the knee and the ankle. Instead of tightly following the line of the calf, the fit is looser and gives the effect of heeled galoshes – albeit a chic and fashion-forward version.
In The Red
Ever since we saw The Red Shoes, this particular hue has held special place in our hearts when it comes to footwear. Colour pop accessories are an easy way to beat the winter style blues, and we loved the proliferation of tomato red heels used as a cheery colour accent to lift the darkest and most brooding of Autumn/Winter 2013 outfits.
By: Libby Banks