An actual monsoon swept over last week's London Fashion Week, but that didn't deter the street stylers. Ohh no no no (said the Churchill bulldog). When 'every street's a catwalk', who needs an* actual* catwalk? I jest – obviously – but as usual, there were plenty of styling tips that I wanted to nick and share from my fellow showgoers, stat.
1. Buy a diddy widdy little mini-bag
From mini cross-body Lego-esque Chanel bags to Olympia Le Tan's book clutches, the lol-in-cheek kitsch mini-bag has been quietly gathering steam. Not only were they all over the catwalks – check out Anya Hindmarch's adorbs Ginger Nut mini barrel bag – but we also spotted this mini milk carton and genius cat (bag) and mouse (tote) double act. *Geddit? *They're the perfect little upper to sling over a totally muted look.
2. Go total white-out
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Not to toot my own horn (I swear I did it by accident) but white-on-white is totally the new tonal 'thing'. Fashion writers Sandra Haglestam and Camille Charriere (above), wearing a McQueen knit and J Brand leather joggers, showed that you should ignore your well-meaning mum when she tells you that white can only be worn in winter and only when you are nowhere near ketchup or dirty surfaces. Just put all your white things together – though save the broderie anglaise for the summer – and Bob's your uncle.
3. Embrace the coat you never thought you would
Remember the days when you'd have, like, two navy coats 'because they go with everything' - and nothing else? Then the pink coat descended from Barbie Heaven and simultaneously multi-coloured fur (both faux and real) stopped being just a really mental coat choice. In the hands of innovative new label, [Shrimps, {href='https://thedebrief.co.uk/2014/02/the-girl-who-ll-get-you-over-your-fear-of-faux-fur' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'}), faux fur and the pink coat became lovers, as seen on stylist Kate Foley. We also saw baby-pink faux fur trimming coat lapels. So, yeah. Embrace marshmallow faux fur before it inevitably hits the high street in force.
4. Be the court jester
No offence to DJ Chelsea Leyland – we obviously think she's wicked– but tartan-on-tartan with gold-fronded high-heeled purple loafers could be* trop*. Not when you pair it with a chic black poloneck, no jewellery and a megawatt smile. Be the court jester in the best possible way: get out your loudest tartan and experiment.
5. Your naff '90s party pants will excel when worn with trainers
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Some unexpected excellence here. Who'd have thunk that decade-old vintage white stretchy lace trousers would work with Nike Air Force 1s; or disco-tastic bronze sequinned trousers would work with *green trainers. *I'm totally trawling ShopStyle as I write this.
6. Your handbag is lonely. It needs a fluffy friend
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Fluffy mink bag charms were everywhere; Fendi ones, Sophie Hulme ones and all sort of anonymous little critters. It's very Japanese schoolgirl and looks super cute, especially when it's on a Birkin bag that's probably worth about a year's rent. Don't despair re: the price tags – the charm doesn't have to be mink.
7. Extreeeeeeeme loungwear will make you happy
We're kind of excited to see where the loungewear trend eventually ends up; onesies and pool sliders? Things are getting loucher and loucher and comfortability is the key. Blogger Pernille Teisbaek wore a pair of tracksuit bottoms (OK, they were Marni) with her favourite boxfresh Reebok Classics, though she reigned things back a bit with a black blazer – the key partner to lend a modicum of chicness to all easy-breezy athletics dressing.
8. Wear a hair bow. Seriously
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So what if you haven't worn one since you were 5? Fashion's cyclical, right? Poppy Delevingne looks del_ivine_ (see what we did there?) with a red hair ribbon around a low side pony, to watch the Anya Hindmarch show. If red is too much, model Laura Bailey and stylist Martha Ward are both big fans of the black velvet ribbon. Cute cute ca-yoot.
**9. Let a bomber jacket modernise a girlish uniform **
After I saw Elle's Harriet Stewart in an Adidas x Opening Ceremony one, Ella Catliff in a monogrammed Whistles one and then this preppy little lady wearing a red and navy one with her buckled brogues and pleated skirt, I suddenly realised the best way to wear a bomber jacket: with an otherwise girlie outfit. Where a bomber jacket and jeans can be too casual for some (i.e. me), the sporty varsity jacket adds the perfect modern skew to a pretty pretty outfit, as well as toning down the cuteness.
10. Metallic trainers do the opposite of other all trainers: they smarten shit up
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Adding trainers to your smarty pants look is a sure-fire way to casual it up, sure, but when the trainers are metallic, the opposite is true. These liquid gold and silver Nike Air Max look slick with a midi skirt and, we predict, would look quite insanely awesome with a suit. If you have already done this, clap clap clap and please send me a picture. You're my hero.
11. Wear an enormous knit instead of a coat
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Don't be confused. Oversized outwear has been coming at you from all angles like a giant coat monster, I know. But when a trend's become that massive, you know it's time to get subversive. Pint-sized Ruski fashionista Miroslava Duma did some excellent robing with a maxi leopard and rose print cardi – she looks snug as a bug in a rug – and we saw lots of humungous aran knits worn in lieu of a bulky coat. This tip's really easy to do from your own wardrobe: take your coat off.
12. Get some oversized pearls
Pearls got cool, didn't you hear? Especially when they're big and worn in unexpected ways with distinctly un-ladylike attire. Take a tip from blogger Margaret Zhang with her Chanel gobstopper pearl choker – we even saw one girl customise her Canon camera with a pearl strap. Kinda cool.
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Pictures: Jason-Lloyd-Evans, Photoshot
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.