AW/11-12 inspiration: After the clock strikes 12

[Please click to enlarge. Images taken from Vogue UK and Style.com, then collaged by me].

One major trend for Autumn/Winter, which also came around last year, is the dominatrix. It's fairly standard stuff (think sex shops and Goth clothes mixed with a bit of punk), filtered down to wearable pieces in leather, PVC and plenty of straps. I really enjoy this trend as it's so shocking to middle England - even wearing my faux leather leggings down the high street gets me a few suspicious glances, as I live in what has been nominated one of the most Conservative-leaning towns in Britain.

Yet I didn't want to represent it in the standard way on my blog, because I believe it can be tied in with some of the more feminine pieces in white lace and nude to make a slightly more exciting outfit which doesn't have to bare all. There is something much more fun about mixing up the innocent (think Alice in Wonderland, tea parties or ballet) with the overtly naughty, which is why I created this mood board.

The collection for next season by the House of Worth was particularly interesting here - it combines bondage-esque detail with the kind of ruffles and bows that take you straight back to the Elizabethan era, via Georgian times. Excess is key, and yet each piece stands alone as a statement that could easily be paired with the more simplistic items in the modern woman's wardrobe, such as a mannish shirt or a pair of black fishnet tights. Equally, the designs of Charlie Le Mindu were a great contrast to the starkness of leather, and a dramatic headpiece (maybe not as extravagant as the white bird) would really add to the starkness of this look.

Where to get pieces like these on the high street:

1. Topshop - doing a lot of leather for AW.
2. Fancy dress shops - it's easy to pick up Goth outfits or some long black gloves.
3. Zara - for the more grown-up translation.

Charity shop purchase of the month: Age UK does the pleated maxi

This is my new skirt in all its glory. I have been hunting high and low for a new maxi, without spending too much due to financial constraints, for quite some time. My inspiration was my sister's translucent American Apparel number and the bohemian edge of Rodarte's most recent collction (think wooden knarls and the great outdoors). Luckily the local branch of Age UK, the merged charities of Age Concern and Help the Aged, came up trumps, with this peach number at just £3.99.

Here's the kind of colour clash I'm aiming for, using my beloved Barry M nail polish. The skirt is almost verging on salmon in its tone, so I'm aiming to put it with plenty of aqua and turquoise accessories and a fitted grey t-shirt. I've had a lot of problems finding a maxi that doesn't make my hips look matronly, but this one is a lot more relaxed than the straight sheath cuts at Primark and the fussiness of the pink pleated version that caught my eye in Zara (it was a horrific fabric overload that made me look about 12 stone).

Three tips for moving the maxi skirt into Autumn/Winter:

1. You can wear as many pairs of tights and socks as you need, because nobody will see them. Add a long-sleeved plain t-shirt from H&M or American Apparel and go heavy on the jewellery for interest, mixing gold and silver.
2. Slip a lace bodysuit underneath if you're feeling too sensible, then add a deconstructed jumper (you can pick up a cheap one and add a few rips, studs or holes to cotton or knitted versions).
3. Add a Fair Isle knit, as seen at Junya Watanabe. Basic high street knits like this can often be found in vintage or charity shops in the menswear sections. Don't be afraid of a naff pattern - just chuck on some wedges or biker boots and you're ready to go.