Combats and cardigans: does this sound like an exciting new fashion season or not? In a funny kind of way, Awear's autumn ranges, now coming into its many branches, are successful if for no other reason than that the designers keep their ear to the ground. This is street fashion with style. And it is given a twist and there you have it: a new look with strong selling power.
Quin & Donnelly, who have been designing for Awear for about a decade, were joined more recently by Marc O'Neill, who has come up with a stark and impressive seventh collection. And, of course, there is the extensive "in-house" label. It all joins up harmoniously with an overall impression of masculine clothes which, paradoxically, seem sexily feminine.
In come the wide, boot-leg, low-on-the-hip trousers, the structured minimal jackets, and very short coats in light melange wools. Greys, burgundy and black are the colours being pushed. Then simply add a two-tone T-shirt or mannish shirt, and the look is complete. O'Neill does it for £200, Quin & Donnelly for a fraction more. And without the designer label it is £65 for a pepper-and-salt fitted jacket, and £35 for the trousers. This is budget dressing that aims, and often succeeds, at looking a lot more than simply cost-effective.
While trouser suits are still going strong, short-skirted suits are certainly not wiped out, and these have a 1940s neat, economical cut.
But the fun starts with those combats and cardigans - £25 will get you the former, which are reruns of a look that has been around for some time, but the cardigans have all sorts of innovative touches, and are often in lacy crochet. They are not just worn with combats and demi-pants but with devore and crochet slip dresses. And they are sweet.
So here are the clothes to set the new season off to a good start. Minimal and simple they may be but there is plenty of scope for the individual interpretation. Perhaps a crochet cardigan of metallic bronze (£65) with a georgette skirt (£30) and beaded top (£25) might be good for a certain mood or maybe a fur-collared coat (£65), stretch demi-pants (£25), and mesh top (£27), worn, of course, with high-heeled sandals. That's a great statement.