With London Fashion Week well under way and the dark nights drawing in, it's high time we had a look at the best of the fashion trends that will be taking us through to 2011. As always, we give you hints for dressing on trend the vintage way...

Flirty Fifties

We jumped up and down with excitement when we saw the fifties style dresses coming down the catwalks. By far the best way to show off the female form, the fifties dress is nipped in at the waist and the spectrum of colours and prints is endless. Whether it's a knee length shift or a full on swing prom dress, ditch the copycats and look for original fifties wear for daytime or evening wear this season.

Lace

Think vintage and you very often think lace – so there has never been a better time to embrace old school style. Lace has been seen everywhere this season, skirts, leggings, tops, dresses, gloves and even body suits. When shopping vintage go for feminine fifties pastels or dramatic eighties Madonna-esque black. And don't be afraid to mix and match a few lace pieces in one ensemble.

Wrapped Up

No danger of feeling the cold this winter, the catwalks have been teaming with fabulous cosy looks. Go for oversize chunky jumpers, aviator coats, yeti boots, fur jackets and wooly socks. Search for seventies knits and forties furs for maximum impact.

Sleek Leather

Forget biker jackets, this season is all about leather in a brand new way. Think soft and flexible leather in a rainbow of colours, sleek pencil skirts, sexy high waisted shorts, glossy high neck tops and fitted longer length jackets. Vintage leather can be one of the best investments you make so browse carefully and choose something that can mix and match for different looks.

Brocade

One of the most dominant looks this season is Baroque. Whether it's full length evening dresses, cute mini skirts, structured coats or printed clutch bags – look for flocking and floral brocades in deep metallics and two tone palettes. You can find stunning vintage pieces from all eras to work this look, even just one key brocade vintage piece could carry you through the season bang on trend.

Animal Instinct

It falls in and out of fashion but there is always that huge delight when we can dig out the animal prints once again! Designers have gone crazy for the big cats this season, sticking mainly to black, gold and tan. Go full out with a leopardskin print dress or dip your toes in the water with a cute bag or scarf. Mix with lace or sequins full full on party glam!

Buttons

The bigger the better – buttons are back! Double breasted military coats, cute nautical tunics, cropped fitted cardigans, knee high boots and woollen overcoats – all featuring chunky buttons. Metallics are key but bright colours rock too. Look for vintage military and nautical pieces with feature buttons. Also consider buying vintage pieces and customising with extra buttons.

Red and Nude

Colour clashing has had the thumbs up for a while now, but no combination has had the same effect at this. It really shouldn't work but it really really does. Bright cherry red mixed with creamy caramel nudes in silk, lace and netting. Equally stunning is a floaty nude dress with a cropped red cardigan or a fitted red tulip dress with glossy nude pumps and clutch. Experiment, who knows what you will discover!

Mid Length Skirts

You might still be cynical but by Christmas it's almost definite that you will be wearing the new "in-length" of skirt. Shop for 50s and 70s mid calf a-line skirts in bold prints and flirty florals. Wear with boots, pumps or flats and chunky belts. You won't look back!

To The Max

Just when you thought maxi dresses were a summer-only staple, the floor length phenomenon has been quite literally sweeping the floors of the very best catwalks. Both skirts and dresses are in, think more glitz and glam than cotton cool. Shop for vintage seventies evening maxi dresses and fifties floor length gowns. Lurex, glitter and sequins are even better!

So it seems you really can buy vintage and stay on trend, as more and more designers take inspiration from the past. And on www.myvintage.co.uk you can even search by trend – making your gorgeous wardrobe updates even easier to find.