Just when you think that you've finally acquired all the summers essentials - short shorts, pretty printed dresses, gladiator sandals - you exit early to work on a mid-August morning to discover the first fall je ne sais quoi in the air. All of the muggy signs of summer suddenly disappear along with all rights of summer fashion. White voile must be boxed, binned or banned to the back of the closet for another year and of course the next logical question is...what to wear?

A tear through August or September Vogue is inspirational but proves to be no help. With the exception of Sofia Coppola or the Olsen twins - who is yet to own the coveted Fall looks? Last season the fashion powers that be called it "dumpster dressing" but as Fall descends upon us this title doesn't really seem to fit. A new mood of shape shifting and elegant grunge somehow feel so right for the moment.

Illustrations insipred by Marc by Marc Jacobs. Illustrations by The Glossy Ed.

Later in the week: What to buy first in a season of change?