Shopping for: Gothic Glamour á la Vogue Paris

The whole 'gothic' trend has been bubbling up from the streets for quite a while now; Underground brothel-creepers, upside-down crosses, ripped t-shirts, fishnet tights and a healthy dose of purple lipstick  recently infiltrated the wardrobes of every cool-kid on the block. However, it all got incredibly tacky and cringeworthy as soon as Rihanna and Topshop jumped on the bandwagon; think Courtney Love meets Hannah Montana. Scary, right?

Saying that, the brilliant Katy England (along with a whole host of talented stylists) has managed to take the trend back into fashionable territory. Gone are the 90s platforms and dodgy dye-jobs - gothic glamour is all about an inventive use of texture and shape, death-defying heels and clever accessorising.

Mert and Marcus photographed the stunning Saskia de Brauw (above) and Kate Moss for the September issue of Vogue Paris and I think the editorial perfectly encapsulates what the gothic glamour trend is all about. There are so many incredible pieces around and the moment, both designer and on the high-street that it's hard to pin down any one look. Always one for a challenge...

From left to right: coat by Mandarin & General, jeans by Nok Nok, sunglasses by House of Harlow 1960, top by Preen, scarf by Beta Fashion, heels by Alexander McQueen, ring by Kat&Bee, bag by Christian Laboutin and necklace by Topshop.

This is definitely a safe look compared to what the East London kids are championing right now but then again, there's a very fine line between looking 'cool' and just looking like you're in fancy dress. I know which one I prefer...what trends are you loving for Autumn/Winter 2012?

Spotlight: Mandarin & General

For the fashion nerds among us, there are few things more exciting than discovering new brands; Mandarin & General, the brainchild of New York based designer Peggy Tan, is fast becoming one of my current favourites.

The subtle Eastern influences gives the AW12 collection a chic fluidity; from pussy-bow graphic printed blouses and cropped at the ankle trousers to smart tailoring and luxurious fabrics, Mandarin & General lends New York's fashion scene a glamourous Eastern-inspired edge. I'm a huge fan of a classic Arun-knit sweater so this indigo version is like my idea of heaven; it would look great styled with the oversized asymmetric coat (far left) and a pair of metallic brogues, very 90s and god forbid, 'on trend'.

The Mandarin & General SS12 collection (see below) is still available to buy on their website whilst the AW12 collection is available for pre-order.  What do you think of Mandarin & General and who are you're favourite lesser-known designers?

photos from Mandarin & General