The fashion editor’s LFW edit

Packing for a long month of catwalk shows is a minefield for the style brigade. Heels or flats? Specs or sunglasses? And then there’s the matter of outerwear. As London Fashion Week dawns, Karen Dacre guides us through her essential items

1. The coat

Outerwear with texture is essential next season. This fuzzy lavender coat from Whistles will look great with ankle-length trousers and court shoes.

2. The lipstick

No fashion week attendee worth their Céline coat would dare to opt for a bare lip — either go red or go home. Opt for Nars’s classic Jungle Red, the fashion pack’s longtime fave.

3. The skin-saver

Don’t let MAC’s strobe cream stray too far from your tote bag — it will give your skin a youthful iridescent glow from morning into night. Perfect for the show season.

4. The notebook

Smythson is a one-stop shop for elegant stationery and is every fashionista’s favourite Bond Street haunt — this handy little notebook will guarantee the chicest of show notes.

5. The dress

Have you heard? Leopard print is the new black. This T-shirt-style dress from Zara is a really wild autmn choice. Wear it with clashing accessories.

6. The bag

Accessory designer of the moment Sophie Hulme is the darling of the style police. This coral bag from her current collection is big enough to carry an entire fashion month survival kit.

7. The necklace

The only way to adorn your new season necklines, from your casual tees to your party dresses, is with a statement jewelled necklace. Think bold and blinging and you can’t go wrong — this J. Crew version is top of our list.

8. The hair accessory

Fashion week is no place for complicated up-dos — it’s all about the humble ponytail. These Marc by Marc Jacobs hairbands will give your mane the perfect dose of subtle style kudos.

9. The sunglasses

Shield your eyes from street-style snappers with a pair of Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses from Specsavers — they’re a fashion week essential.

10. The handy protector

Don’t let the constant tweeting,scribbling of show notes and picturesnapping take its toll on your hands. Ensure you’ve got the smoothest skin on the front row with a pocket-sized tube of Cowshed hand cream.

11. The heels

Whether you’re a flat shoe-aholic or not, it’s impossible to make it through fashion month without a statement heel. These printed and Perspex courts by Sophia Webster are a stand-out of the season.

12. The opticals

Squinting isn’t a good look on the FROW, so make sure you’re got razorsharp vision with these Cheap Monday opticals from Specsavers — perfect for catching all the details of the new season.

13. The trainer

Forget the Air Max and push your Stan Smiths aside for now, autumn is the season of the Adidas Gazelle. This mustard pair look particularly gorgeous with navy trousers and super-cute with a kilt.

14. The knit

Lovers of practical knits will be glad to hear that the chunky polo is still having a fashion moment. Wear this Whistles style with wide-leg trousers or a bright midi-skirt.

15. The shirt

If you buy one thing this season — or any season, in fact — make it a crisp white shirt. Profoundly useful and stunning when worn with, well pretty much anything, actually, this shirt from COS is a style failsafe. Wear it with jeans, a skirt, whatever.

16. The pouch

Fashion bunnies will tell you that a pouch is their bag’s best friend. Perfect for make-up and other small essentials, a jolly pink version will jazz up your shoulder bag no end. This Kurt Geiger example makes a great ticket-holder.