This Season’s Key Trends
As the leaves begin to transform on our streets and boulevards, so do the trends in boutiques across our beautiful city.We are lucky in Melbourne to have so many options to choose from, so to help you in assembling your winter wardrobe, here are a few of the season’s essentials to look out for.
The trench coat
It is undeniable that the trench pops up year after year in international designer collections, a real wardrobe staple. The beauty of a classic trench coat is that it instantly updates any wardrobe with style and a twist of elegance, whether it’s paired with a suit, a shift dress or jeans. Since Christopher Bailey’s rise at Burberry, the iconic English trench coat label, the trench has shed its exclusive association with private detectives and has come to represent all that is elegant, a la Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Alongside iconic beige, this season’s are available in gold, navy, aqua, red and [let’s not forget we’re in Melbourne!], black. Whether you opt for classic double breasted, quilted, single button or knee length, there are plenty of trench coat styles to suit all ages and shapes. If you haven’t already discovered the versatility of the trench, pop into your local department store as a starting point for a great range. If you’re feeling adventurous then your local op-shop is always a great haunt for authentic, classic styles at a fraction of the price, and all for charity which makes your purchase even sweeter.

Patent leather
Patent seems to be just about every where this autumn. You can’t enter a boutique in Melbourne without stumbling across a pump, ballet flat or tote in any shade.
Although the rules of etiquette once dictated that one ought not wear patent before 5pm, this season is carving out it’s own set of rules, with everything from patent detailing on everyday items to patent shoes in the AM!
You really can’t go past a classic, black, pump to instantly update your look (best worn with a trench coat of course!).
For those of you bold enough, there are patent coats and jackets available in fiery reds and liquid blacks, or if you’re more conservative you can simply add a patent belt or wallet to participate one of the season’s hottest trends.

The shift dress
Whether this is a seasonal trend or just one that Melbourne seems to have adopted lately, just like patent, everywhere you look the shift dress abounds on our streets.
I suppose its appeal lies in how forgiving it is to those of us that don’t look like a teenage supermodel from Scandinavia, but we shouldn’t let that lull us into a false sense of security- it is still something to be negotiated with care.
Getting the shift just right is crucial to making sure you haven’t mistakenly stepped out of the house wearing your potato sack, or worse yet a tent.

If you’ are tall, opt for a shift that sits just on, or above your knee. This can look killer with a pair of opaque tights, patent heels and the aforementioned trench. Ballet flats can make the look work as a casual option, but avoid this if you’re short, as it is easy to end up looking stumpy.There is no reason not to belt a shift, and again depending on your height a lovely wide, bright option for those taller gals, or a classic, thin 1940’s style option for shorter women can really pull the look together.What will differentiate shifts this winter will be the cut and colour-range, so look out for those that aren’t too baggy, and go for lovely brights like peach, fuchsia or cherry red.

Lady Melbourne has Arrived