With all the excitement that surrounded the recent fashion weeks, we all forget that those shows were inspiring our wardrobes for next summer – a time that’s becoming increasingly hard to think about as the weather gets colder and the nights get longer. It’s all very well knowing that Chanel want us all in gingham farm girl outfits next spring, but what should we be wearing now? Let’s cast our minds back to the February shows and the trends that came off those recession-shrouded catwalks and sort out what to wear for winter. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting increasingly confused as to whether I should still be wearing ballet pumps or moving across to riding boots, and how can I work my new tweed jacket into my daily outfits without overheating on the train.

Firstly, jackets and coats are the biggest obstacle to sorting out the winter wardrobe. After all, the outfit underneath is going to be hidden ninety percent of the time when people see you – being stuck behind a desk at work aside, the possibility for being spotted by Scott ‘the Sartorialist’ Schuman will be on the streets, when your outerwear will be the first thing people notice. One of the biggest trends for the winter is the biker jacket or leather jacket in general. Everyone from Primark (ok so probably not real leather…) to Prada has done one, and the shape is surprisingly easy to wear – cropped to the waist and not too tight is the way forward. Whistles have a great one, as do All Saints and of course, the cavernous Oxford Circus Topshop will be home to a few different options. If biker chick is not your style I have two words for you: big shoulders. Whether referencing the Eighties or the Forties (both decades were inspiration for designer’s 2009 collections) the shoulders were sharp and jacket styles were smart and chic. Blazer style is best- think Balmain or Dolce and Gabbana. Whichever colour, size and shape you like, just make sure to draw attention to above your upper arms.

On the subject of what to wear under your fabulous jackets, the good news is that you have plenty of choice depending on your mood and style. The bad news is that most of these trends require a little fashion confidence to pull off. The visible underwear trend was the one of the biggest on the spring 2010 catwalks, but was actually just an extension of a lingerie inspired trend from the February shows. Obviously, for winter you don’t really want sheer fabric blouses to brave the icy British winds, but look towards a more structured lingerie theme – think corsets, boning and bra-detail in evening wear and hints of a fancy La Perla bra under crisp white shirts. The Jean Paul Gaultier signature perfume bottle should become your muse.

If a lingerie-based trend is a little too risqué for your taste, but you still like to dress with attitude, then head back to the 1980s for your inspiration. Bad taste has never been so good and what’s more, it can actually work! When designers sent their models down the catwalks in sequin blazers, ripped and bleached jeans and power shoulders we thought it would be one of the micro-trends that those in fashion wear and those in the rest of the world mock mercilessly. We were wrong. So ok, you don’t have to paint your blusher on with a trowel, nor work the electric blue eyeshadow, but a certain 80s vibe can liven up an outfit. My favourite is the Madonna-esque lace look – try it on dresses, tops and skirts, keep accessories simple and other patterns to a minimum. But keep to one lace detail at a time, too much and you run the risk of looking like an Eighties version of a jilted Miss Havisham. Leggings are also still around – but no more cotton black, the only way forward is high-shine, patterned or coloured. And don’t forget the shoulders – not, as previously mentioned, just in jackets, but in tops, jumpers and dresses as well. Power dressing has never been so cool.

A final note: try not to get carried away and overlap too many trends. Eighties lace and biker jackets might be a little more Desperately Seeking Susan than you would like, and peekaboo lingerie and wet-look leggings might not look out of place in Soho on a Saturday night, but it might be a little too much for shopping on Oxford Street. You have been warned.