There's a lot said about how to navigate tricky seasonal changes: when to stop picking over ice in stilettos, how to nail dressing in the schizophrenic weather. It can be a precarious business getting dressed in the morning during these autumn slash winter times. But a host of designers including Meadham Kirchhoff, Marni, Stella McCartney and Jason Wu are making it all rather easy.

Getting into the festive spirit is Jason Wu's hooded coat from his AW11 collection that embraced austerity and ladylike cut. The coat paired with the corduroy Mulberry skirt makes for a look with undertones of fairytales and boarding schools. Meadham Kirchhoff's shirt plays to this too with its ribbon detail at the collar. Cutting across all that prim wholesomeness, are the Dior laced up leather boots that stomp through the leaves and tough out any London winter.

Keeping that cold further at bay are the chunky knits. As winter knits go, scoring Marni's mustard bobble hat teamed with the grey Stella McCartney scarf is the ultimate in keeping snuggled and stylish. And never has looking as if you should be featured on top of a white Christmas cake been more appealing.

On an empty stage, the velvet curtains part to reveal in the spotlight the lifelike puppet swaying gently in Joseph's tartan pleats and Uniqlo stripes.

Eye's snapping open, she comes to life as ribbons tug at her ankles commanding the Marni sandals to stomp into life, their gems and jewels flashing. The puppeteer pulls at the strings to coerce the little puppet into a dance swinging the soft chiffon of the skirt.

The dainty prettiness of this look with the rosy cheeks and ribbon headband is cut with a tougher grungy feel from Joseph's skirt with a flash back to '90s style. Seeking inspiration from youths loitering around Portabello in the mid '90s, Louise Trotter's grunge is given an injection of highland cool. But this isn't unwashed girls in garages. Paired with heels and stripes the look is altogether more grown up while still retaining a spirit of rebellion, even if the puppeteer is pulling the strings.

It may be grey, the sky may be dribbling miserably but with Chloe and Philosophy flickering onto the '60s television set the scene is far from dull.

Not feeling brave enough to pop on a full canary yellow fur coat? Ponder it for a moment, when was the last time you wore a coat that demanded to be noticed this adamantly? This is no subtle and sensible minimalism. Sure your black button up coat is perfectly fine, but step into the decade of wild abandonment and psychedelia and embrace the brighter side of fashion this winter.

Taking it one step further and go for head to toe colour. Hair slick and parted, eyelashes on, this is a look to get you noticed. But the trick to nailing it is getting the fabrics right. Philosophy's sumptuous fur against the silk snakeskin of the Chloe blouse and suede skirt gives luxury and texture and avoids any Seasame Street Big Bird comparisons.

So be bold because it's time to look scorchio! Sorchio! Scorchio!