The Season’s Hero Pieces

1. The Wool Cape

It’s been a huge year for female empowerment – and designers seem to be keeping in theme — as the world shifts into championing women in film, business and politics, fashion heavyweights sent their models strutting down the runways in capes. While sharp and structured iterations make cameo appearances this season, it’s blanket-like styles taking the leading roles. Our favourite offerings are from Céline and Chloé.

2. The Protective Jacket

Layering: the shows were awash with the styling cue, piling jackets over parkas over raincoats. The result? A functional, utilitarian approach to outerwear that screams urban armour. While shapes and fabrics are practical, colours and patterns are not (one of our favourite loud references is from Balenciaga). If you pull one key shape from the protective jacket trend, opt for a parka in statement-making hues.

3. The Animal Print Dress

Fashion’s gone really, really wild for animal print this season – with designer giants such as Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Michael Kors all embracing the trend. Forget the trashy connotations, head-to-toe takes are surprisingly sophisticated – and encouraged by us. If you’re going to narrow it down to one key piece? Go for the killer dress.

4. The Check Skirt

While tweeds, plaids and checks cropping up during Autumn Winter isn’t exactly revolutionary, the sheer volume of the print this season feels unprecedented. Could designers’ preference for preppy British style be linked to that contagious Royal Wedding fever? Perhaps. The must-have item is the check skirt, as offered up at the likes of Fendi and Miu Miu. And even if you’re not a fan of the Royals, who doesn’t love a sartorial Cher Horowitz reference?

5. The Cowboy Boot

When it comes to Fall footwear, designers are giving the humble cowboy boot a fashion-forward makeover. Isabel Marant and Fendi (who is offering up a plethora of colours, along with a statement logoed pair) are awash in Western vibes, while Emporio Armani’s iteration kept the ranch-inspired style sleek and simple. Spurs not included.