Seriously sophisticated summer chic

Black at Liz Mitchell and boleros at Hailwood. Pictures / Carolyn Robertson, Martin Sykes

The summer of boho has barely hit the stores and here we are mentally putting together our winter wardrobe apres Fashion Week. Such are the perils of spending the week holed up watching our best designers showing their offerings for winter 06 at the Air New Zealand-sponsored event. The swings-and-roundabouts theory of fashion is inviolable. If summer is about letting it all hang out in ethnic-inspired, exotic gear, then winter was always going to be a return to serious, tailored clothes for grown-up sophisticates.

Well, that's what we'll be once we've got the gear.

Here's what emerged from the catwalk.

Boleros

Plenty of the itsy-bitsy jackets about. And if they're not short enough to technically be boleros, they're pretty shrunken.

Defined waist

Jackets and dresses are either nipped in at the waist or wide belts tightened to define and resurrect the classic, womanly hourglass silhouette.

Black

It's a force to be reckoned with. Tell that to most of us who never believed it was banished.

Shorts

Yes, in winter. Brrr. There's everything from short, cuffed numbers to tailored Bermuda jobs.

Velvet

Not that anyone's channelling Stevie Nicks or anything, but it suits every mood from casual to red-carpet glamour.

Skinny pants

From stovepipe, cropped trousers to satin leggings, there's no such thing as bootcut anymore.

Puffball skirts

Almost the only label not to include at least one was menswear outfit Little Brother. And if designer Murray Crane thought men would wear them, he would probably have been sorely tempted to do them. Best left for the young.

Stripes

On everything from mod-style long knits to taffeta dresses.

Check

The type favoured by truckers and lumberjacks.

Dresses

Almost the new jeans. There's everything from pretty, floaty chiffon versions through to sharp, tailored types.