Welcome to the dark side...

Prada AW12

Jean Paul Gaultier AW12

Chanel AW12

If you're a fledgling fashion intern, model or blogger these days it seems the unofficial uniform is black, maybe with a little monochrome or grey thrown in to mix it up. Usually, I prefer to dress like I've rubbed myself up against a wet unicorn that's been trotting through rainbows. Far be it from me to hate on black clothing - the LBD is still the staple for any girl's wardrobe (I now couldn't dream of life without my French Connection yoke mini) and black is universally acknowledged as the most flattering and alluring colour in style. Still, I'm always a little disheartened when I step on to the high street in Autumn and the displays are filled with fifty shades of black. This Winter, however, is different - I suddenly find myself hideously attracted to the blacks, oxbloods and graphites that litter the shop windows because everyone has gone embellishment and oddity crazy: studs, sequins, prints, inserts, patterns and sheer fabrics have (somewhat) lured me over to the dark side, and you should definitely join me.

River Island Grey Print Maxi Skirt - £25
This skirt has everything - a little grey, a little black, a little of what I'll constrew as oxblood, plus it looks like a big pile of Autumn leaves and everybody loves those (except gardeners).

In Love With Fashion LOU LOU Black Open Back Dress (back view) - £32
Cold shoulders and an exposed back but with a maxi skirt to make up for all that flesh, this dress is the perfect amount of exhibitionism for the Winter without those catty labels.

New Look Black Lace PU Sleeve Jacket - £34.99
Leather (look) and lace - an unusual but welcome combo for this season for releasing your inner gothika. 

Office Over The Top Wedge - £70
I feel like Oxblood is probably going to be the most difficult colour to work with this season as it's so inbetween, but these killer wedges from Office are right on the money and could be paired with brights or darks from the ankles up.

Pull and Bear Animal Print Jersey - £29.99
Super cute! People will probably want to pet you if you wear this.

ASOS Marketplace Pirate Ship Foldover Clutch - £15.99
Quirky little clutches are a mayjuh weakness of mine, and this one is a friggin steal as well as working the "grey and interesting" look.

ASOS Sheer Bomber Jacket - £35
Own it, love it, wear it everywhere. Bottom line? It's awesome go get one!

Miss Selfridge Project #3 Lace Panel Dress - £52
Yes we're bordering on the pricey here but if you want a truly knockout dress in everybody's favourite shade check out Project #3 at Miss Selfridge - a limited collection of stunning pieces, definite crowd pleasers and this art deco style mesh and lace number is spot on for AW12.

ASOS Sweatshirt with Stud Shoulder - £35
It's got studs and a leather look trim BUT it's also comfy as hell, I think Rita Ora whenever I see pieces like this and who doesn't want to be a little more like Rita?

Black Milk Black Galaxy Leggings - £48.37
Not usually something I would include in a Cheap Like Me post but if we're talking about innovative clothing then I have to mention my true love Black Milk. Yes a pair will set you a budgeting girl back a buttload but the wear you get out of them is worth every penny. 

Nail it!

Nails - one of the simplest ways to make an outfit pop, non? Changing up your nail colour/style/design can be cheap, easy and an extremely effective way to accessorise so there's no wonder we all get so excited and cram our cupboards full with so many shades Joseph would be hard pushed to find them all on that fine coat of his. I got to a point where I had so many that it was like looking into my full wardrobe and declaring that I had absolutely nothing to wear, so I started to condense my collection down to the colours that I would need for the current/upcoming season.

Since a friend introduced me to Refinery29 I have been hooked on their posts: they are always my first port of call when searching for new brands both in beauty and apparel, and their trend round-ups are always fantastic with their picks for AW '12 nail colour being no exception.

For UK fashionistas on a budget, Refinery29's selections can be a little out of reach both in terms of geography and price range, so here are a couple of cheap chic alternatives that you can easily pick up on the high street but will nevertheless still nail the trends:

From left to right: 1. LOOK Nail Pop in Dove; 2. L'Oreal Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef; 3. Accessorize Nail Polish in Molten Copper; 4. Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Dark Denim; 5. GOSH Nail Lacquer in Gasoline; 6. LOOK Nail Pop in Kimono; 7. Essie Nail Colour in Gym Dandy; 8. NYC Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry

1. Fifty Shades - Moving away from the sulky, moody greys of AW'11 (and those of a recent literary phenomenon) next season's grey nails look to be lighter and with shots of silver, paying homage to the urban playground that is the city - LOOK's Nail Pop in Dove (£5 from Superdrug) is about as perky as a grey can get and even has a cutely optimistic name.

2. Ocean Deep - Teals make a comeback with piercing sea green shades dominating the palette. L'Oreal's Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef (£4.99 from Superdrug) is vibrant yet understated - mermaid make-believe anyone?

3. Autumn Hues - It's undeniable that Mother Nature is always impeccably accessorised so it makes sense that beauty would take a leaf out of her book (impossible to resist, sorry!) for this nail trend: look out for intense gilded and burnt oranges inspired by fall trees - this little Accessorise Nail Polish in Molten Copper (£3.45 from Superdrug) is made all the more stunning by flecks of gold.

4. Winter Blues - With blue already permeating so many AW'12 catwalk collections it's not surprising that a darker shade has made its mark in cosmetics: navy looks to be the go-to blue for nails, but make sure it has mischievous bright blue undertones like Maybelline's Forever Strong Pro Nail Enamel in Dark Denim (£4.09 from Boots).

5. Purple Haze - If you're looking for THE party nail colour for next season look no further than the spotlight-hogging, diva-tantrum-throwing, knockout purples that have been brought out on the high street. With this trend you want a shade that craves attention: GOSH's Nail Lacquer in Gasoline (£4.99 from Superdrug) is extremely eye-catching.

6. Attention! - The military trend has dominated the catwalks for AW'12 and its presence in beauty is just as powerful. This time around khakis and gunmetals are updated with ominous flashes of petrol-like iridescence for maximum impact. LOOK's Nail Pop in Kimono (£5 from Superdrug) is nearly always on my nails at the moment, my personal favourite.

7. Hot Chocolate - Those of you that love your neutral nails will adore these sweet, comforting shades of milky, cocoa browns. Essie's Nail Colour in Gym Dandy (£7.99 from Boots) has a soft, nostalgic, marshmallow hue perfect for dark Winter days.

8. Pick-Your-Own - Whereas autumnal nail colours are bright and light, this trend requires a trip to the dark side: berries go bad in the best way possible with blackened yet colour rich purples and reds on the cards for those who want to emulate gothic style and NYC's Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry (£1.99 from Superdrug) is the ideal indulgent shade.