Our top five accessories for A/W 12

Here at The Upcoming, we can’t believe that we’re heading towards the middle of August already.  As the last spring/summer fashion leaves the shops and sales come to an end, our focus has been firmly fixed on the new season which is fast approaching.  Despite not having had much of a summer, next season’s accessories look tempting enough to make us look ahead to the chillier days of autumn/winter, when we can wear stylish leather gloves, animal print scarves and glamorous knee-high boots.

We saw a lot of above-the-knee boots, rich jewel tones, and colour-blocked fur bags on the runways from New York to Paris. Attaché bags, animal prints, and rich embellishments pulled double-duty as they’re well suited for both work and leisure. Accessories made a power play for autumn, standing on their own and owning it!

Here is a round-up of our favourite accessories for A/W 2012:

Knee-high boots

We had to start off with the knee-high boot. It seemed to be the key accessory for autumn 2012; miraculously, it can be worn with almost anything—at least if the autumn/winter runway shows were to be believed. We think it’s a must-have for your closet.

We have our eye on this stunning pair from Emilio Pucci, seen in Milan.

Brooches and collars

Jewels at the neck and fur collars were seen everywhere this season.  They were so deliberately placed that it was hard to tell if they were separated or actually part of the dress. We loved the fur collars seen at Marni, which add a touch of glamour to a little black dress. 

Hair clips

We didn’t think we would find ourselves falling in love with something as simple as hair clips, but at the Rodarte runway show, we couldn’t resist their star hair clips. They are so wearable and extremely covetable. We’re desperate to know where we can purchase them!

Rich embellishments

Adding the right accessory can completely transform an outfit. Women who love fashion know this, and designers have followed suit by offering up a whole host of richly embellished pieces that were entirely original to each house.

Our favourite had to be this bag from Valentino. It’s just so luxurious; it would immediately take any outfit to another level.

Leather gloves

Finally, we had to choose the leather gloves. Much like hats, gloves are firmly making their way back into fashion. We loved the different styles, from fur-lined gloves to fabulous embellished gloves. There is something for everyone!

For us, a firm favourite was the long sleek leather glove seen at Bottega Veneta in Milan. Paired with a stylish dress, the effect was stunning.

We had a hard time choosing these top five from all of the fabulous accessories available for autumn/winter. Treat yourself to a glamorous piece which you can wear again and again. We are on the hunt for those star hair clips!

Louise Elsom