Hot New Labels For Cool Months At Harvey Nichols

Choice: we're bombarded by it, if it's not the latest shoe it's the latest lipstick, bag, pant or dress; this intimidating list grows ever larger. But, as you'd expect from Harvey Nichols, they’ve brought together the best of absolutely everything that's new for the season. Experience the richest seams of sartorial talent to fuel your fashion fires for the season ahead with Harvey Nichols' selection of the newest, hottest labels.

Womenswear / International

Alaïa: What can we say about Azzedine Alaïa that hasn't been said before? His manipulation of fabric and intimate knowledge of age-old couture techniques knows no bounds. For him the body is a form that should be fettered, held in and manipulated to create a beautiful and sexualised frame. He cleverly mixes techno fabrications that hold in and let out where necessary and appropriate.

Graeme Black: Graeme Black has been keeping the illustrious shoulders of the shiny set warm for seasons as Head of Design at Salvatore Ferragamo. But now he's turned his enviable experience and design talent to his own eponymous label. New for Autumn, Black has pioneered what he believes is the new 'total look', that's to say a perfect wardrobe, consisting of the perfect pieces. He asks us to flex our plastic on a small but elegantly formed collection of dresses, separates and winter coats.

Womenswear / Contemporary

Couture Couture: This Autumn, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, founders of Juicy Couture, bring their eye for detail, colour, direction and saucy fabulousness to a whole new level. In Couture Couture, Levy and Taylor offer a selection of luxurious and elegant evening wear. As Pam says, 'Gela and I didn't want to have to wear other designers in the evening. Juicy could only take us so far, so we thought, let's get dressier! We are not a one trick pony.' The Couture Couture woman bows down to Grace Kelly, a young Elizabeth Taylor, Lauren Hutton and Bianca Jagger; women so chic that a well cut single blazer and a dropped-waisted slouchy trouser suffice for the night. With Couture Couture, the story of the night is changed to something more seductive, more playful and more redolent of California after dark: a heady, romantic tale.

Haute: Vincenzo de Cotiis, the designer behind Haute, describes his work as "powerfully disciplined design". His background as a successful architect and interior decorator is evident in this collection where he applies the same principles of mixing, deconstructing and reconstructing materials. His tailoring is sublime featuring the nipped in waists and body conscious lines of the Fifties. Skirts are adorned with appliqué petals, dresses texturised with vintage lace and masculine style suiting reinvented in powdery hues of organdie. The result, a collection both experimental and avant-garde which design disciples will adore.

McQ: The Creative One is at it again, this time letting loose his Savile Row taught technical skills on denim. The result: a brand new line for weekend and day that has all the confidence of mainline, and all the wearability of denim. Start saving for the knit dressing animal cardigan.

Behnaz Sarafpour: The Americans are mad for her. Open any glossy, uptown mag and her clothes are everywhere. It's almost a surprise they've not been available until now. For Autumn, Behnaz brings us simple dresses adorned with ruffles and lace appliqué so you'll no longer have to cross the sea to buy them.

Thomas Wylde: Thomas Wylde is actually a woman and one who has crafted her own exquisite collection of clothing and accessories, which have had our cousins over the pond chomping at the veritable for a couple of seasons now. Her hero purchase, championed by the likes of Sienna Miller, is the skull screen print scarf. But for Autumn, she's diversified with a collection of leather collared dresses worth fighting at the front of
the queue for.

Sinha-Stanic: At the last British Fashion Awards, Sinha-Stanic were everywhere, OK not everywhere, they're far too nice to be 'everywhere', but Fiona Sinha and Aleksandar Stanic's dresses were, it was a sea of them. The best dressed Editors, Stylists and celebrities were flying the Sinha-Stanic flag en force. It's easy to understand why, the guys know how to craft
a dress. Our advice: aim for the silk wool halter dress.

Womenswear / Modern Bridge

Issa: Turn any page of any celebrity magazine and chances are you'll come across an Issa dress. These flirty and feminine dresses are sure fire winners when it comes to the party season. Expect to turn heads in the Dusseldorf Zurich dress.

Womenswear / Leisurewear

18th Amendment: Another Australian jeans label, 18th Amendment is the new name to drop! Sydney designer Rebecca Dawson's jeans label features one of the next big jeans trends: the high waist, a favourite of Kate Moss. Dress up with a pair of this season's ankle boots and a cropped jacket to make an impression.

An Earnest Cut and Sew: We've seen denim lines turn their hands to ready-to-wear before; we've seen denim lines turn their hands to ready-to-wear lines before and fail. Not Earnest Sewn. This design team have honed all the skills they learnt in the manufacture of cotton and elevated them to create their first comprehensive collection of separates: knits, shirts, dresses and jackets. They still retain the Earnest Sewn sporty edge we all love, but now we have some more Earnest Sewn to wear with our favourite jeans. Make room in your wardrobe for the wolf tailored blazer.

Metalicus: One of Australia's best kept secrets has finally hit our shores. Maximise your wardrobe staples and layer up with cute dresses, stretchy vests, grandad-style tees, and little cardigans that look great on their own or altogether with either a skinny or boyfriend jean.

Rag & Bone: Rag & Bone give great jean. Simple. Rag & Bone give you a great figure. Simple. Rag & Bone give you the chance to meet the man of your dreams. OK, so we exaggerate here, but Rag & Bone really are great jeans. Look out for the skinny cigarette leg cashmere trousers.

Accessories

Thomas Wylde: Thomas Wylde scarves are too good to just tie round your neck, we advise you to tie them around your Thomas Wylde bag too, if you can manage to bag one - excuse the pun - before everybody else. Our favourite is the Portobello bag.

Shoes: Alberto Fasciani

Alberto Fasciani is not a name that automatically springs to mind this end of Europe,but in his native Italy Fasciani is revered as one of the best cobblers around. His riding boots are seen on euro royalty at the most chi chi polo tournaments and his delicate shoes on the same feet for the after match soirées.

Elie Tahari: Elie Tahari just gets women - it's easy! The heels are the perfect height for how us girlslive now. Key are the round-toe python pumps.

Alaïa: Waiting lists at the ready, as Alaïa shoes make a welcome debut in the shoe department for Autumn. These sky-high sexy shoes are seen on the feet of the most discerning front row fashionistas come show time. Look out for the 100 millimetre laceup patent bootie.