The document discusses various fashion trends and styles seen on the runway and in designer collections. In 3 sentences: It covers emerging trends like the smock dress, embellished evening gowns, and broderie anglaise detailing. Specific pieces are highlighted from designers like Christian Dior, Gucci, Prada, and Zimmermann. The document provides an overview of different textures, fabrics, silhouettes and looks that were popular in high fashion.

1. TEXTURE
Nowhere do the rules say
an outfit has to stay on the
same page. There are
limitless options of fabric,
embellishment and finish
for adding tactile and visual
variety to a look. Put satin
with suede or mohair, tweed
with embroidery, faux fur
with crystals, or brocade
with snakeskin or lace.
There’s fun to be had
with unexpected mixing
and the oddest textural
splicings can generate the
best fashion chemistry.
Gucci embroidered
patchwork waistcoat,
$13,190, and silk
dress, $3180.
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Fashion’s horizons have never been broader. To dress up, pare
down, time out or lean in, you’re spoilt for choice with a world of
fresh designs, reworked classics and a melange of textures and fabrics.
WORDS DANIELLE SEITZ PHOTOGRAPHY LIZ HAM STYLING JOLYON MASON HAIR & MAKE-UP SOPHIE ROBERTS
STYLE SYNDICATE

2. KEY TRENDS
THE SMOCK
DRESS
It might never be the go-to
look for a job interview, hot
date or church wedding, but
the smock dress is probably
what you wish you could
have worn instead. Once
the portal into a kick-your-
heels-off downtime zone,
about as far from “fashion”
as you could get, the smock
has moved up a gear. Thanks
to Raf Simons, Christian
Dior’s smock dresses have
a stylish femininity, a
timeless modernity and
a coy sexiness that reminds
us there’s nothing wrong
with playing it girlie.
Christian Dior embroidered
cotton dress, $9500, and
boots, $4000. Sheridan
“Deluxe Dream” queen size
quilt, $269.95, and “Ultralux
European” pillow, $89.95.

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THE WINTER
COAT
Your poor coat. Not only does
it throw itself between you
and the biting winter cold, it
also takes one for the team as
the most disposable player of
your ensemble, being simply
cast aside after seeing you
safely to your destination.
But, as with footwear, it’s
worth paying it attention.
That coat you fling onto a
hook and ignore for the rest
of the day can virtually work
as a look in its own right.
So invest in one you’ll love
– whether a long A-line, a
trench or a cape – and let it
take centre stage whenever
you step outdoors.
Cooper By Trelise Cooper
“Brown Eyed Girl” coat,
$699; Prada briefs, $160,
and shoes, $2780.

4. FIC TO QUI QUI
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BEAUTY NOTE
An embellished dress calls
for striking eye make-up,
balanced with a soft lip shade
and light coverage for fresh-
looking skin. Try L’Oréal
Paris Nude Magique BB
Cream, $29.99.
Prada “Tussah Fiamta” top,
$2780, and earrings, $775.

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THE EVENING
DRESS
With eveningwear, the let-
your-hair-down fun starts
when designers let their
creativity go to town. There
might only be a few basic
templates but all can carry
the design baton far. The
bustier-plus-fishtail is an
award-ceremonystalwart;the
little cocktail dress goes to all
the black-tie dos; and low-cut
column dresses get hot dates
with everyone from Jean
Harlow to Courtney Love to
Cate Blanchett. Eveningwear
is having the time of its life.
Alex Perry “Iyana” lace
gown, $1975.

6. FIC TO QUI QUI
THE ONE-
SHOULDER
DRESS
Is there a better example of
“less is more” than the one-
shoulder dress? Put it next to
its strapless cousin and the
latter exudes the safe
respectability of bridalwear,
waiting for a meringue skirt
and a veil. But the former,
even with less bare skin, is
allnonchalant,asymmetrical,
accidental sexiness. The look
hit adolescence with the
sulky brashness of a slipped
bra strap in the ’80s (thanks,
Debbie Harry); now designers
have spotted its potential and
it’s truly come of age.
Zambesi dress, $295; Gucci
suede boots, $1600.

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THE CROP TOP
Few garments divide us into
love/hate camps quite as
much as the crop top. Haters
relegate it to gym poseurs
or pre-teen boy-band fans;
lovers celebrate the summery
bare-if-you-dare joie de vivre
that entices you to jump
into fountains fully clothed.
It started with Louis Vuitton’s
SS13 collection, now more
designers are tackling crops
with the creative relish they
normally reserved for blouses
and dresses.
Miu Miu “Cloque” top,
$1120, and “Cloque
Ramage” skirt, $2910.

8. FIC TO QUI QUI
EMBELLISHMENT
“Less is more”. If ever there
were a fashion mantra that
ought to learn its place, it’s
the concept that minimalist
restraint is the natural order.
Sure, there are times when
nothing is more apt than
the simple man-style pant or
plain white T-shirt. But then
there are times when your
day calls for a Gucci broderie
anglaise leather dress, or
a jewel-encrusted lace gown
by Dolce & Gabbana, or a
coat of appliquéd leather and
snakeskin from Alexander
McQueen. It’s details that say
“come take a closer look”, the
fine print you read for pleasant
surprises. Less of less-is-more,
and more – much more – of
more, please.
Maticevski “Exhale”
gown, $4500.
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TALL BOOTS
It can be easy to choose
footwear as an afterthought
and forget it can play one of
the most crucial roles in
bringing an outfit together
as a whole. Just as well, then,
that this season’s knee-high
boots make it impossible to
underrate the importance of
what we put on our feet.
Louis Vuitton’s patchwork
mid-heel boots could sign off
any look with an A-line mini-
skirt; Christian Dior’s
knitted elastic boots work
with long full skirts; Gucci’s
suede earth-toned boots
complete a look based
around knee-length pants or
skirts. Yes, these boots were
made for talking about.
Sportmax “Selz” shirt,
$1013, and “Memo”
dress, $1840; Max Mara
“Balsam” boots, $1013.

10. FIC TO QUI QUI
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BRODERIE
ANGLAISE
There are times when all
our best outfits seem to
have been pinched from
the boys: a YSL Le Smoking
suit, a Gucci brogue, an
Equipment shirt … and then
there are times when we
think, to hell with blurring
gender boundaries, I want
something unambiguously,
exclusively, utterly feminine.
One of the season’s best
turn-tos for that statement
is broderie anglaise. The
technique has wafted
ethereally to and fro into
fashion over the centuries
(bringing like-minded looks
such as crochet, cutwork
and embroidery), lending
its tougher-than-it-looks
prettiness to dresses, tops
and skirts. Floral, but not
for shrinking violets, it says,
“Who needs to wear pants to
show you’re in control?”
Zimmermann “Tarot
Celestial” dress, $2600.
Model: Emily Baker
at Priscillas Models.
Photographer’s assistant:
Elle Green. Digital operation:
Sheree Porter. For stockists
see page 316.