By Consuelo Romeo (That's Shanghai)
Updated: 2007-09-12 11:03

Black is back-on the fall catwalks of Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, Chloe and Alexander McQueen. So is white – a large white coat is a must this winter (won't that be fun in the Shanghai acid rain). In short, high-contrast black and white, a traditionally masculine look, is very much the main trend of the season.

Pants are huge (both in popularity and size), and belts are beyond broad. An oversized suit jacket looks great with skinny cigarette pants, while a slim-fit jacket balances wide slacks. For a fresh edge, wear a white shirt with a waistcoat. Tailoring is a hot trend-and if we whinged about the easily smudged white coats mentioned above, here's where we can be thankful we're in Shanghai.

A dash of strong color, paired with black, is another great fall combo. Colors to pick are olive green, gray, red, purple, burnt orange (metallic sheen), plaid and houndstooth. Shapes continue to be a lesson in geometry: triangle, hourglass and bell sleeves. Metallic and other shiny fabrics are still very popular, but light silver, by and large, has been replaced by gunmetal grey. Oversized jumpers are another pick this season and they have never looked so sexy, especially when teamed with black tights or skinny jeans. A long cardigan – functional and comfortable at the same time – also makes a great alternative to a coat.

New cuts and colors in apparel also call for new accessories. Shoes continue to make a bold statement, with bright colors and pointed toes.The ankle boot is the shoe trend par excellence. Best when teamed with mini-skirts or slim-fit jeans, remember to keep everything else simple if you go for this footwear. Platform shoes, round-toed boots, wedges and courts are other trendy alternatives. You can pair high shoes with slim, tight pants as an alternative to boots. Besides, bulky sweaters and coats call for long, sexy legs.

Belts in soft leathers are another important accessory for the autumn/winter season, worn either very wide or very narrow to highlight the waist. Even over jackets and coats, belts give voluminous silhouettes visual shape and support. Bulky bags are still setting the tone though new trend colors, surface finishes and details add fresh seasonal touches. Reserved, dark colors dominate the scene – the most covet-worthy being slightly shimmering deep gray totes, with either dark red, warm olive or bronze accents.