The summer holidays have started. School's out, the commuter trains are less busy and the nation's sportsmen are basking on sun loungers in the Bahamas. Meanwhile, fashion's silly season is in full swing – magazines are bombarding us with mini supplements detailing exactly what we should be wearing this autumn, which we read wearing maxi dresses in an airport lounge. It's designed to make you feel as if you must buy something new immediately. But a closer inspection reveals that these new trends aren't so different after all. You may have some of next season's key pieces in your wardrobe already. It's just a question of how to adapt them.
Lace
Chances are that you might already have bought some have something lace in your wardrobe this year. Particularly if you have been channelling the LindaStella McCartney hot-70s-mum look. The way to autumn-up what you already have is to make your lace item look tougher. Stop wearing it with a simpering summer blazer and nostalgic denim and wear it with a military jacket or some sharply tailored trousers. It's autumn's take on that tough/pretty contrast that designers are seemingly obsessed byseem to love. Christopher just-look-how-high-our-share-prices-are Bailey did it for Burberry, which makes it a sure-fire trend for autumn.
Shorts
Been wearing your shorts in a festival kinda way? Worn them with an American Apparel vest, a straw trilby and a flat sandal? Great, you have the building blocks for autumn's new feminine minimalism. All you need do is resolve to wear the shorts with something neat and camel. Add some woollen tights – grey or neutral is good – and some ankle boots (bet you've got some of these, too) and you're set.
Maxi dresses
There's just lloads of unexpected mileage left in a maxi dress. For autumn, Marc Jacobs revived the grunge/glamour look that made his name. All you need add to your floral floor sweeper is a cheeky little jumper and possibly a waist-cinching belt. Totally next season and almost totally free.
Coat/cape
Capes are already around this summer but by autumn they will reach critical mass. It's not a problem if you weren't prescient enough to buy one already though. If you have a tailored jacket then you're halfway there. All you need do is to wear it on your shoulders as if it were a cape, rather than putting your arms through. Styling: it's not brain surgery, no.
Sandals/peeptoes
The cheapest way to get next season now is to follow rule number one in Mrs Prada's styling rule book. Add some tights. It's as simple as that. Whether you plan to be rocking the Mad Men-lite look this autumn or channelling the outdoorsy country look, then a pair of woollen tights worn with kitten heels or a pair of chunky socks worn with peeptoe wedges will win you autumn points for under a tenner.