Trend Alert! Ladylike Fashion

It was a relief to see super supermodel Elle Macpherson lead out a procession of models with real womanly curves for Louis Vuitton's A/W 2010/2011 show dressed in forties and fifties (and a little early sixties) inspired attire.

Marc Jacobs in his A/W 2010/2011 collection for Louis Vuitton really nailed one of this season's biggest trends: ladylike fashion. Yes, say bye bye to the boyfriend blazer and boyfriend jeans and anything else beginning with the word boyfriend, and hello to retro blouses, A-line skirts and nipped-in waists.

Louis Vuitton was not the only big name to embrace post-war ladylike dressing, so did Chanel, Nina Ricci, Dolce and Gabbana, Miu Miu, Prada and Paul Smith.

Think tea dresses, structured blouses with tie necks, bows and ruffles, tweed pencil, A-line and circle skirts, vintage floral prints and kitsch polka dots, checks and plaid.

Accessorize with ladylike structured totes, clasp bags/clutches and the must-have Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Swap your sky-high gladiators for pretty Mary-Janes, quilted flats, court shoes and kitten heels. 

Your muses? Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Dita Von Teese and the ladies from Mad Men.

Ladylike Dressing Secrets

1. While mid-length pencil, A-line and circle skirts are fine if you are not an abaya-wearer, if you are you will need to opt for longer styles. Make sure you choose a long skirt which is structured rather than floaty so you don't appear swamped in fabric.
2. Abaya wearers: mid- length tea dresses should be teamed with leggings or pretty lace or floral tights to keep legs covered but cute.
3. A nipped-in waist is central to the look so hence why you should pair a structured blouse with an A-line skirt. If you opt for a pencil skirt, cinch in your waist with a belt.
4. If full-on lady is a little OTT for you, take inspiration from the female characters in Grease and team a retro blouse with skinny jeans and kitten heels or quilted flats.
5. Little ladylike additions: tie a scarf around your neck or around one of the handles of your bag. Invest in a pair of little ladylike leather gloves (best for winter wear unless you want sweaty fingers). Keep sunglasses extra round and dark a la Audrey Hepburn.

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