This winter, all trend scouts will tell you that the basics are back in form. This season, while we are distracted by leather, lace, fur and transparent fabrics, there are some basic that are left. For winter, we have colour blocking once again and we have strong colours in our wardrobes. Red, white and black are wonderful to combine and our next model, has done this perfectly. We love the hot bag and of course the nod to Chanel with the bouclé jacket is also great.

Carry siren red through this season with this functional bag from zara.com, retailing at under  40 euros
http://tinyurl.com/p6lkr8p

We don’t go dark in winter just because the weather dictates this! Instead, infuse some light into your wardrobe with this wonderful cropped jacquard blazer, available through cosstores.com
http://tinyurl.com/olfnecn

And be spot on trend with these leo ballerinas, by Pretty Ballerinas, available through emeza.de, retailing at 200 euros
http://tinyurl.com/prappvl

Picture Credits: bag taken from zara.com, blazer taken from cosstores.com & ballerinas taken from emeza.de

With all the heavily-styled patrons of fashion roaming the Parisian streets, it is wonderful to come across a look that is so relaxed and carefree, that it makes all the others look like dressed up mannequins. We could not ignore the wonderful shoes and blazer carelessly rolled up to elbow length…and the great patent green loafers that look so comfortable, they could carry her through the city rather easily!

We love this patterned blazer from mango.com, retailing at under 40 euros! It has a great length that can be worn with jeans or long, long dresses (think of the grunge-inspired maxi dresses this season)
http://tinyurl.com/kt5mcft

and then try this tote from Marc by Marc Jacobs, retailing at just under 631 euros, available through  my-wardrobe.com where all the trend autumn colours are featured!
http://tinyurl.com/lvjzuev

and go animal with these shoes from h&m.com, retailing at around 80 euros…they are perfect with short shorts as well as blue jeans.
http://tinyurl.com/lo6holj

Picture Credits: blazer taken from mango.com, tote taken from my-wardrobe.com & shoes taken from h&m.com

September is the month when all of fashion comes together and the trends for the coming season appears in focus for all the dedicated followers…here at Dashing George, we waited a month for the dust to settle and decided to ask an industry insider about what we could expect from the autumn/winter lines.

Meet Yvonne, one of the creative minds behind fashion power house, Anita Hass, one of Hamburg’s finest boutique addresses, with a finger firm on the pulse regarding trends and must-haves for the chilly months head. From Stella, to Givenchy, to Isabel Marant…this is one-stop glamour shopping…with an online store to keep you salivating well into the early morning hours, should you be so inclined!

Yvonne was kind enough to grant us an interview, where we could ask the questions we long to have answered amidst an early-morning coffee, surrounded by business people on their way to work.

DG: Yvonne, tell us about the trends for autumn/winter 2013…
Y: well, my favourites are midi skirts, chunky sweaters, blazer-style coats, the colours black and blue and grunge with rock attitude

DG: What are 5 basics every woman should have at the moment in her wardrobe
Y: leather pants, a good pair of high heels, a classic coat, a very good handbag & a midi skirt

DG: What is your favourite look of the moment?
Y: everything by Céline

DG: What is the bag of the season?
Y: the duffel bag from Saint Laurent (it is like a bowling bag as it is rounder)

DG: What are the jewelry trends?
Y: we are moving away from big styles and the general feeling is reduced a simpler look that is more refined
gold will stay in fashion and one colour gem stones are a big thing this season, as well as tone in tone looks

DG: Is a statement watch  good or not?
Y: definitely a good thing, but it has to be a classic and not too modern

DG: What is a good leather jacket to have?
Y: a biker jacket is essential, as it goes with everything

DG: What is the most fashionable city?
Y: a hard one to answer, but I would say it’s between Paris (for Europe) and Munich (for Germany)

DG: Who is your style icon?
Y: Alexa Chung

DG: What is your winter hat style?
Y: a Gucci felt hat

DG: What type of woman shops at Anita Hass?
Y: there is definitely no age group. We have grandmothers and their grandchildren shopping at our store, as our lines are focused on both high fashion and contemporary chic. I find that most customers are extremely well informed as to what is trendy and in style.

DG: European versus American style…who wins?
Y: the Europeans have a classier approach to dressing  ;-)

DG: Romantic versus Dark Goth look…which is better?
Y: Dark Goth look, please!

DG: What is your best look for evening?
Y: leather shorts, ankle boots, a leopard-print top and a blazer

DG: Best casual look?
Y: a good pair of tight-fitting jeans, a big sweatshirt and leopard-print sneakers

DG: Best business look?
Y: I love the all-denim look, as it can be worn to work, when it is well-fitted…and then team this look with high heels, to elevate it and give it a bit of attitude. For a more classic look, a pair a pencil pants, worn with a normal blouse and snug blazer is always a modern and cool look

DG: Is eco fashion good or bad?
Y: bad!

DG: What do you love about fashion, Yvonne?
Y: I love that it has many facets. It is always evolving and everyone can have their own style…there are no rules…

DG: our last question: are fashion bloggers important?
Y: these people have the means to influence the fashion world…they can also highlight how fashion can be       done at its best and at its worst…

DG: Thank you for your time, Yvonne!
Y: was a pleasure! And thanks for the coffee!

Anita Hass Favourites for us, here at Dashing George HQ, would have to be the Duffle Bag by Saint Laurent, retailing at 1795 euros, the Stella McCartney jersey, retailing at 735 euros and the double sided coat by T by Alexander Wang, retailing at 879 euros. All, available of course, through anitahass.com

Picture Credits: all merchandise pictured below, courtesy of anitahass.com

With big glasses and a head of hair you could get lost in, our next face was a sight to behold in Paris! This look is so understated and chic that it almost passes under the raydar, but with the clever tailoring and wonderful ring and shoes, it is intellectual and yet also very sophisticated. This is a look that can go from day to night and could easily be spotted in huge cities like New York and Shanghai. The shoes, however practical, are very in this season, as they echo the grunge and rockabilly trend.

We love this long belted blazer from stories.com, retailing at 95 euros, as it is a great basic for winter
http://tinyurl.com/o3p9cj8

and why not team it up with these AJ Morgan Expectation sunglasses through asos.de, selling at under 21 euros!
http://tinyurl.com/pjupars

and seal the deal with these Leila black flats from kurtgeiger.com, selling at 120 pounds.
http://tinyurl.com/knza6cb

Picture credits: blazer from stories.com, sunglasses from asos.de & shoes from kurtgeiger.com

What could be more fabulous than fashion’s designer of the moment designing a cola can? This is just another feat for power group Coca Cola…you may remember the collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld…well, Marc is up next with his take on the Cola Light can…we found the design clever and totally fashionable!

Attitude is call of the day with our next model. It is a wonderful ensemble. We love the red checks in oversize (another key trend for all you slaves to fashion) and then teamed with an almost girly blouse, it is a great clash of looks. She surely was inspired by the grunge looks we all saw at the Saint Laurent autumn/winter show this year. Grunge is back again and this time the check is a major fabric trend! Finish this off with spray on leggings and killer boots and this is a mix a fashion blogger can fall in love with!

We love the check print, and stumbled across this Superdry jacket, available through conleys.de, retailing at 129 euros, which works well with jeans and oversize dresses
http://tinyurl.com/lmzy4mc

and why not play with texture and team your heavy woolen coat with something transparent and feminine like this ‘Lulu’ blouse, available through mango.com, selling at around 36 euros
http://tinyurl.com/kfrrzg9

and then turn to cult label Acne, for shoe support with these ‘Cypress Con boots’ from acnestudios.com, retailing at 500 euros.
http://tinyurl.com/llqekjb

Picture Credits: jacket taken from conleys.de, blouse taken from mango.de & boots from acnestudios.com

With a winning smile, the world is indeed your oyster. It is therefore no surprise that this next model made us stop and click away on our camera. The smile is intoxicating and the look is just the right level of rock chick that we love here at Dashing George HQ…and as she is a blogger herself, we had to show our support! You can visit her blog at this link: theclintonsblog.com

We adore the top and of course, the body-hugging trousers as well…but the hair and the cheekiness is what seals the deal for us and this is why we needed to post four pics instead of our usual two!

We wanted to recreate this look, and stumbled across this ‘Stormy’ blouse from Acne Studios, through mytheresa.com, selling at 400 euros, which , as you can see can be dressed down with trainers and a blazer to get you in the casual mode
http://tinyurl.com/kjorojv

and be kind to your wallet with  a pair of black cotton biker-style trousers from zara.com, retailing at around 26 euros…these are cool enough to take you from day to night in one easy stride!
http://tinyurl.com/kemo2b7

and perfect the look with these kick-ass black leather ‘Manifest’ boots from allsaints.com, selling at 225 pounds…these are mean girl meets sex on legs…the perfect open toe to get your autumn wardrobe hot and ready
http://tinyurl.com/nfm2dvq

Picture Credits: blouse taken from mytheresa.com, trousers taken from zara.com & boots from allsaints.com

What could be more whimsical than a polka dot dress in Paris? We were smitten with this look, caught in the city centre.  The cute aspect is eliminated with the tough biker jacket and we love the vintage feel of the boots. Not one to shy away from a bit of high end gloss, our model finishes the look with a Tory Burch bag, that sings in all its patent leather glory.

We love a bit of high glamour ourselves and found this silk blouse from Hoss Intropia, available through stylebop.com, selling at 189 euros, simply irresistible!
http://tinyurl.com/ojgb2wg

and try a bit of high end yourself with this zipper tailored jacket from alexanderwang.com, on sale at 892 euros. He is THE designer of the moment, infusing his effortless cool into wardrobes of the rich and successful across the globe. From Hollywood to Cannes, ‘Wang’ is the name fashionistas are name-dropping
http://tinyurl.com/p4tpgba

and then inject a must-have for the season into your wardrobe, with these patent black Chelsea ankle boots through asos.de, retailing at around 74 euros
http://tinyurl.com/nbc3jkw

Picture Credits: blouse taken from stylebop.com, jacket taken from alexanderwang.com & boots taken from asos.de

Our men’s fashion store find in Paris, has to be Ami, so please check out their website at www.ami.fr
It is a wonderful mix of urban and sporty looks, focusing on laid back cool, with an easy approach to colour and form…it is a look that is both trendy and comfortable…and here we spotted our next model. His jacket is from Ami and so are the jeans…and we love the nod to old school Americana with the classic farm look being updated with the totally modern teddy collar!

We love this Penfield Rockwool Vest from asos.de, retailing at around 283 euros, as it is both functional and fashionable while it incorporates the rounded collar (a must for winter!) and classic cognac and dark blue
http://tinyurl.com/ms8swfj

and why not try these skinny fit tapered jeans from Uniqlo.com, selling at around 35 pounds, as they will not break the piggy bank and will lengthen your legs as well
http://tinyurl.com/mykz9jv

and pull in a high end British designer with this printed cotton and modal t-shirt from Paul Smith, available through mrporter.com, selling at 105 euros
http://tinyurl.com/mc2cpmp

Picture Credits: vest taken from asos.de, jeans taken from uniqlo.com & t-shirt taken from mrporter.com

Patterns are a must this season…with all the major houses wanting more and more of this look. From Givenchy (who focused on hot reds and orange, to Watanabe’s checked out looks, to Kenzo, with their luxurious fabrics, this is a look to have this winter…so, it was no wonder that we spotted this next outfit a mile away at concept store, Merci, in Paris. The top is by Marni and the bag by Céline…and the shoes, patent white are wonderful with the boyish jeans…

We love this mix of boy meets girl, with no fear of bold patterns…it is a grown up look, that also shows careful attention to detail…note the bag matches the top perfectly…

For a great patterned top, we have to turn to Kenzo….no tiger in sight, but we love this cotton top, retailing at 369 euros, through stylebop.com
http://tinyurl.com/k7z78sw

and why not try these Gabardine stretch trousers, retailing at 235 euros, selling through joseph-fashion.com
http://tinyurl.com/jw9x7yk

and be kind to your purse with this super steal from our favourite store for subtle, Jil Sander-like elegance, COS. These metallic lace-up shoes, are on sale through cosstores.com, at 94 euros
http://tinyurl.com/oghjh5m

Picture Credits: top from stylebop.com, trousers from joseph-fashion.com & shoes from cosstores.com