trends

First the Bloods and the Crips, then Jen vs. Ange, now it’s Ladies or Vamps. In fashion, as in life, there are usually two disparate groups of thought on all things Really Important. This season is no exception, with us expected to sit either on the prim or provocative side of the fashion fence. There are very few who can seamlessly swing from one incarnation to the other (think Belle du Jour and her erstwhile alter ego). No, most of us are born with just the one inherent in our veins. A quick litmus test; (and it doesn’t have to be quite so blatant as babydoll vs. suspenders): leather or cashmere? Gloves or boots? Even a dog vs. cat preference can be a sneaky giveaway of your Autumn/ Winter predilection.

Both styles have their allure; a spray-on pair of leather skinnies winning the practicality trophy but failing miserably on the flattering front. A sharply-tailored pencil skirt, on the other hand, makes every woman feel like Sophia Loren – although slightly less so when having to run for the bus in one. As trends go, ‘ladylike’ is always going to sound infinitely more viable than ‘fetish’, but lacks the glint-in-eye, let-people-stare element that makes fashion so much fun. Marc Jacobs at Vuitton had the right idea, creating a collection so full of body-con leather it practically squeaked down the runway – a noise only muffled by the sound of men everywhere rejoicing.

The flip side was the catwalk’s answer to Middleton mania, with designers like Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi and Bottega Veneta sending out perfectly proper attire fit for a princess. Or at the very least a duchess. Below-knee skirts, pleats, twinsets, even tweed was on the agenda, all imbued with a 40s-slash-60s-slash-70s flavour.

So there you have it, ladies – this season it’s the duchess vs. the dominatrix. I know which one I’d back in a fight. Just saying.

Originally published for Lyst.com