Who doesn’t welcome the respite that summer holidays offer? The chance to mooch about in a greying Boden hoodie and forget about the cone-heel conundrum, whether jodhpurs do anything for your bottom or if this new mid-length hemline will actually take off. Bliss, heh? Or it would be if the glossies hadn’t published their autumn style supplements at the start of July. In case you weren’t privy to the pull-out which accompanied that freebie sun-glasses/bikini/sarong/beach mat the scariest thing I can tell you about next season is that power dressing is back in all its body-hugging glory. At best, it will be slick. At worst, it will be hard and ugly, which is why we’ re calling her Warrior Woman. Either way, it’s the turn of the modern, grown-up gladiator to take the spotlight. So load on the spikes, leather and body padding. If I haven’t alientated 99 per cent of you who might actually want to buy something over the next three months, the good news is that there are plenty of other trends to dip into. We round up the best of what’s out there.

Warrior Woman

The antidote to seasons of saccharine lightness and the logical conclusion to the Eighties Bodycon movement that has been gathering momentum. Goodbye Marie-Antoi-nette-ish ruffles, welcome back the mean, lean gym-machine. WW is an umbrella term that encompasses punk studding, leather biker jackets, shiny fabrics, tight mini-dresses and “body armour” padding. Think Lara Croft but with more clothes on: look but don’t touch.We’re not too sure what WW’s so mad about but presumably slipping into a PVC skirt and spiked heel boots at 8.30 in the morning isn’t half as easy as that DVF wrap dress. Evocative of sci-fi vixens and Skunk Anansie.

How to make this work

This is probably a touch too agressive for the No 72 bus so pick out elements: slim, well cut trousers, narrow fitting capes and some streamlined knits in black, grey, khaki or other “sludge” colours. Soften your hairstyle and skip the rock-chic eye-liner and red lipstick. Big at Burber-ry, Marios Schwab, Christopher Kane and YSL.

Pink and purple

This season’s brights were designed to be worn by bold confident women, but how exactly does dressing up in bubble-gum pink work on grown-ups? Resist the urge to wear either colour in cutesy-kidult clothes. Choose sleek tops or dresses with little or, preferably, no detailing. If you’re feeling particularly daring, layer colour tonally – a dirty pink with a fuchsia – but make sure you choose different textures to break things up.

How to make this work

Pink and purple work well as an accent colour in accessories or to liv-en up all that grey, navy and black. Furthermore, there’s a shade to complement almost every skin-tone, so experiment to find the one that suits you. A head-to-toe colour block might look good on the catwalk but it doesn’t translate into real life. Victoria Beckham in her Legally Blonde 2 outfit (pink dress and Hermès Bir-kin) is a case in point, so forget the matching tights, scarves, gloves and hat combo unless you’re aged 17 or trying to be ironic.

Forties tailoring

Don’t be fooled – this differs widely from the Mitford revival of a few years back: this time those brooches, costume jewellery, fur tippets and head-toe tweed are not part of the look. Instead, designers are influenced by strong shoulders and narrow, nipped-in skirts or trouser suits in plum, navy and grey. It’s a contemporary approach to power-suiting, taking Katharine Hepburn’s nonchalant dressing and wide-leg trousers as a starting point.

How to make this work

Create a feminine line by cinching in your waist with a slim belt for an elegant finish. Choose jewel-coloured accessories to add a jolt of colour to muted shades. This is not the moment for cleavage and a St-Tropez tan – think pale and interesting.

Do wear some mad, funky heels or shoe-boots to remind yourself that we are living in 2007. Ensure tailored pieces fit properly, otherwise you’ll be forever tugging at your outfit.

Avoid Forties hairstyles to escape wartime epic comparisons.

High-waisted

Rejoice at the death of the whale-tail. High waists can be extremely flattering and elongate the body, but the trick is to ensure that the waist is not too high as this can exaggerate the width of your bottom.

How to make this work

High waists look very chic with shirts. Now is also the time to dig out your highest, chunkiest heels. Look for fabric that skims over the bottom and tops of thighs rather than hugging it. Avoid any pockets or detailing on the front panel as these will add bulk, as will heavy tweed fabrics.

Texture

After exhausting the EU’s cotton supply in the past few years, designers have started to experiment with different fabrics: nylon, polypropylene and plastics at Marni and exaggerated, chunky knits elsewhere.

How to make this work

Unless you’re a beanpole, you’re going to be a little lost without a belt to bring in that waistline. Let’s be honest, Dennis the Menace striped, oversized sweaters seen at Giles should be left on the catwalk. Look for alternatives, such as Sonia Rykiel’s artfully draped cardigan coats that at least have some shape. Knits work best with different layers but make sure that there is a focus to your outfit. As a rule if you are going to go big on top, you need a slimmer bottom half to balance things out. Again, extra height to combat the extra width is a good idea. Different textures can be interesting, but don't make it too complicated by adding lots of colour.

Mid-length

Overturning the golden style rule that skirts should never sit mid-calf — cutting your leg at its widest point — designers have come up with just that. Probably best avoided unless you are very tall or don't mind living your life out in 5 inch heels. Otherwise, cheat with a pair of wide cropped trousers which, cut "mid-length", could masquerade as a skirt.

How to make this work

Wear as high a heel as you can muster. Block heels have a more contemporary feel than spindly ones and will also offer you more support. Wedges are a no-no as they will only induce a geisha-style walk. If you're especially petite, give this a miss and wear something that falls just an inch below the knee to create the illusion of mid-length.

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