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. 

All that glitters...

Everyone has their kryptonite: I may be able to refuse that gorgeous geometric-patterned blouse or pair of heart-attack inducing platform heels (though this isn't willpower that I often find myself in the possession of) my one enormous weakness is accessories: bags, necklaces, bracelets, earrings - rack 'em up and pile 'em high is the mantra I find myself living by when it comes to the finishing touches of an outfit. Imagine my excitement then when I flick through the trend forecasts for AW'12 and see page upon page of glorious garments adorned with massive jewels, killer studs and Fifty Shades of chains.

Left to right: Anna Sui AW'12; Jean-Paul Gaultier AW'12

The bigger the better is always a sweet phrase to hear, and even better to see in action in the fashion world. Here comes the tricky part though: a stylista on a budget can find herself at quite a disadvantage when the mind-bogglingly intricate and eccentric jewellery of her dreams is accompanied by a huge (though often justified) price tag. Enter: the high street. For a fraction of the cost you can buy yourself a chestful of style swag to layer up and make look super expensive thanks to those notoriously fabulous designers at H&M, Zara, ASOS, Topshop and a host of other helpful high street brands. Here's a selection of what you can find in the shops this Autumn/Winter to update your look.

Clockwise from left to right: ASOS Double Ring Spike Doorknocker Earrings £15; ASOS Spiked Headband £10; ASOS Jewelled Moon Doorknocker Earrings with Detachable Stud £20; ASOS Shard Necklace £10; ASOS Hair Spikes with Hanging Chains £12

Left to right: H&M Necklace £12.99; H&M Bracelet £7.99; H&M Necklace £7.99; H&M Earrings £5.99; H&M Earrings £6.99

Left to right: Zara Women's Golden Mesh Bib Necklace with Black Stones £19.99;  Zara Jewel Necklace with Stones and Glass Tear £19.99

Left to right: Topshop Deco Chandelier Earrings £15; Topshop Curve Hollow Bar Necklace £15; Topshop Wild Thing Shard Ear Cuff £8.50; Topshop Perspex Peter Pan Necklace £25

Pssssst... you know those super cute detachable Peter Pan collars that are all over the shop right now? If  you want something a little more unique without paying custom/couture price tags then head over to Etsy for some handmade bargains! Here's a few I think are worth checking out...

I haven't listed the sellers or prices of these Etsy delights as these pieces are one offs (yay!) which does mean they go quickly (boo!) BUT there's pages and pages more of them (YAY!).

Stylista little sister: Bershka

You learn something new every day: when I recently visited a friend in London I had a lot of time by myself during the day to explore the city and take in the sights (and by sights I mean Brick Lane, Camden Market, Carnaby Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street - don't judge). Now although I don't brand myself as a budget fashion aficionado just yet, I thought I had most of my go-to retailers nailed! How wrong I was.

Enter Bershka: imagine if Zara had a little student sister who liked to spend her day giggling with friends in independently owned cafés but revealed a wild streak at night and you'll get an idea of the kind of pieces Bershka have to offer the fashion conscious and frugal.

Though not quite as keen on bright and eye-catching colours as some of her relatives in the Inditex Group (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear) there are certain items from Bershka's AW'12 collection that would most definitely invite the question: "Excuse me, I LOVE your ________, where can I get my hands on it?!" Whether you let them in on the style secret or not is up to you (if they have that instantly recognisable look of fashion lust in their eyes have some compassion and throw 'em a bone guys) but you should nevertheless show this lesser known budget brand a lot of love. Here are my favourites for the new season:

Fringe detail belt - £7.99

Left to right: Bershka Various Prints Skirt - £9.99; Etro AW'12

This symmetrical print skirt is a bargain and a brilliantly cheap way to capture one of the most eclectic trends of the season. Although it's a very busy pattern go the Etro way and try a casually clashing print to level up the impact of your outfit.

Skulls necklace - £7.99

Stud detail earrings - £5.99

Chain necklace - £9.99

BSK Combined Wedges - £39.99 

Left to right: Bershka Stud Detail Sleeveless Shirt - £19.99; 3.1 Philip Lim AW'12 

Washed out has never looked so good: the stud detail on Bershka's sleeveless denim shirt gives it a little edge but for even more tomboyish charm get a black skinny belt involved like 3.1 Philip Lim.

Skull print clutch - £14.99

Ballerinas with crossed studded straps - £25.99

Wedges with ankle straps - £59.99

Left to right: Bershka Zipper Back Top - £19.99; McQ by Alexander McQueen AW'12

Sophisticated, sultry and a little bit cheeky, both the colour and the style of this sheer Bershka zipper back top emulate the popular red wine shades that litter so many AW'12 collections including McQ by Alexander McQueen. Like McQ, jazz up this subtler trend with big hair and powerful accessories if you want centre stage.