FASHION MONTH OFF-DUTY: THE SEPTEMBER DIARIES

Catch a whiff of the new season while still wearing summer pieces.

On with our recycling theme - this time, not to avoid impulse shopping but to rediscover hidden gems and give them a new lease of life through fresh styling ideas.

I can't not repeat it year after year, in fashion, autumn is when we shed old skin and reinvent ourselves. First, while the weather is still fine, you can start with summer shorts, dresses, sandals and play around with light cover-ups to hint at that most-awaited new season.

Retro and vintage pieces I found in the wardrobe included a slim-fit jersey shirt-slash-blazer, a tribal print shirt, a star motif tee, a grey sleeveless blazer, some sailor pants, a shirt, a skirt and a jacket in suede and a fringed top. 

Pieces from high street hauls of the past few years also come in very handy, such as light basic sweaters, a chambray dress, the yellow shift dress, the leather biker, the check trousers, the ripped jeans, the palm print shorts, the mini cape and all the bags. 

A few years ago I turned into a total shoe girl so no wonder I grabbed some bargains in the late summer sales, the silver sliders I planned to use at home anyway, the knee-high lace up sandals (both from Mango) and the palm print espadrilles from New Look (for £3!), plus a little sleeveless biker jacket from H&M.

New season additions are the soft khaki trench and shorts from New Look, the smart leather lace-up flats from Topshop and the bandana-style scarf from H&M.

Still, all this is only pre-transitional dressing to catch a whiff of the new season's vibes so the best is yet to come!

Find my live feeds on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, and selected looks on Lookbook.

SMART WITH A TWIST

check trousers, clutch: New Look, leather sliders: Mango, fine-knit sweater: Bershka

suede skirt, jacket and patchwork bag: vintage, top: Terranova, sandals: River Island,
hat from Mexico, necklace: New Look, shades: Topshop

palm print shorts: Topshop, shirt: C&A, espadrilles and retro bag: New Look
khaki trench, shorts, trilby, clutch: New Look, sandals: Mango

cape, sandals: Mango, neoprene dress: River Island, backpack: New Look, shirt: Terranova
trousers: Persona, sweater: Bershka, biker and clutch: H&M, leather lace-ups: Topshop,
necklace: River Island

suede shirt and waistcoat: vintage, velvet trousers: H&M, scarf: Mango, fringe loafers: Zara
dress and key choker: Asos, leather biker: Zara, fringe bag: H&M, sliders: River Island

YOUR INNER OFF-DUTY MODEL

chambray dress: Dorothy Perkins, sandals: Mango, bag: Stradivarius,
sunglasses from Portobello market, choker: Asos
tee: vintage, jacket and clutch: New Look, pumps: Hunter Boots, scarf: H&M

trench dress: H&M, leather shorts: Springfield, sandals: Clarks, bag: vintage
shirt dress: Primark, sandals: Mango, bag: Est.1969 x New Look, hat: Urban Outfitters

striped top: H&M, suede jacket: vintage, biker jeans, leather bag and snake skaters: Mango

CHEEEERS

Here's to late summer alfresco drinking - Save the ales!