Vera Wang pre-fall 2011

Maybe it's because it's minus five outside or because the snow has prevented me from going to my best friend's 21st birthday, but I'm not in the best of moods. This may have made me all the more susceptible to fall in love with Vera Wang's Pre-Fall collection, predominantly comprised of her staple black palette. Recently I've been buying black clothes in abundance (she types, while adding more black boots to her shopping basket). I feel the key to pulling off a look solely comprised of this palette is texture; think feathers, velvet, lace, leather, the lot, and Vera Wang's Pre-Fall presents this idea at its best. It made me a little reminiscent of Rag & Bone a/w 10 with their cool, preppy looks, all thigh high socks, duffle coats and pleated skirts. The high street just didn't make enough of this trend for me this season, it was far too preoccupied with all things camel coloured, and so I'm still not over knee high socks and pleated skirts in the slightest. I love the thought of pairing a sumptuous cocktail dress with simple, black, thigh high socks. It really updates the looks, though I'd say it's more a youthful style unless you're over 50 and happen to have legs like Anna Dello Russo.

Last year I posted an ostrich feather jacket from Miss Selfridge, and I wish I'd bought it as those jackets just don't seem to be going out of date. For a more modern look you can just add emphasis to your shoulders with some feather epaulettes courtesy of Roksanda Illincic, or a bit of fur adornment on your collar as seen below.

I am really sick of winter right now and of trying not to slip on ice every time I'm outside, but at the same time this collection has got me a teensy bit excited to see what's in store for us next year. Let me know what you think...

Source: style.com