This season was much about the revival of bygone decades. Filled with opulent Forties glamour and a deliberate nod to Sixties Mod culture, autumn/winter 2011 beautifully segued between the two style-cementing eras.

Forties

Forties glamour couldn’t have been personified better than the exaggerated shoulders, mid-length dresses, belted blouses and knee length pencil skirt pairings sent down the catwalk at Miu Miu, Clements Ribeiro and Donna Karan. Frida Giannini at Gucci sampled essential Forties accessories, adding Fedoras, fur capes and pussy bow blouses to the mix. Furs, pearls, ladylike handbags, elbow- length gloves and slim-belted waists added drama to the fully dressed yet subtly sexy Forties appeal.

Sixties

A skilful nod to  Mod culture and musing over Jean Shrimpton’s style spirit, autumn/winter 2011 fell in love with the decade of fashion revolt. Miniskirts, polo necks, sloping shoulders and drop waists ruled the catwalk, as seen at Celine and Calvin Klein. Another spin on the Sixties – the two piece – featuring structured fabrics such as felt and wool played out in a tunic and trouser combo at Alberta Ferretti and Ermano Scervino. Prada worked with graphic check prints whilst DKNY and Jil Sander paid tribute in original monochrome. No Sixties look is complete without the imperative beehive, and no one did it better than Jean Paul Gaultier