Dear Reader,

Tis the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Allegedly. But I’m wondering how much longer these “seasonal looks” type of articles so beloved by the glossies can continue. Exactly what are the seasons when April showers happen all summer long? Aren’t we all trans-seasonal now?

So here’s what we’re really up to this October, in case you were looking for some inspiration before snow falls - some time in April - as Prince used to say.

(With apologies for that annoying British habit of talking about the weather all the time). (And while we're at it, apologies for that annoying British habit of apologising all the time).

Let me know if you'll be following any of my experts' tips - I'm fed up with getting nothing but spam emails from the Viagra people on my comments page!

x
Kathleen

PS I think I want Carly Steel's wardrobe! And Marcia Kilgore's skin! And Lulu's voice!

PPS. If there are any men reading this, for pictures of naked girls and Johnny Halliday, check out my review of Patrick Demarchelier. Really, what more could you want.

Super-gorgeous presenter of Young Hollywood, Carly is an ex Vogue features girl, and came to my book launch after-party at Tracey Ross.

"My must have accessories for this season are Christian Louboutin black 'booties' - great with trousers and skirts, the Jimmy Choo Elsa bag in black or the medium Givenchy Nightingale in cracked brown leather, a python clutch for evening, Oscar de la Renta large square tortoiseshell sunglasses, either vintage inspired pieces by Lulu Frost or bold statement jewelry by my friend Mona Assemi.

I will be wearing vintage fall floral knee length tea dresses worn with oversize grandpa cardigans and a belt (my favorite are my large YSL ones from a few seasons ago). Diane von Furstenberg has some great florals for this season as do Derek Lam and Peter Som. Also: patterned silk and chiffon bow blouses (Zara actually has some great ones as does Thakoon) paired with dark denim straight leg (not skinny - just straight) high waisted jeans. Perfect to go from day to evening if a shoot runs late and I have to attend an event straight afterwards.

I've actually always worn high waisted straight leg jeans and never subscribed to the low rise / bootleg jean trend as it's not as flattering as high waisted. My favorite pairs are by Moschino and Armani. Ralph Lauren has a great pair for this season. I love the Marc Jacobs cocoon coat and Aquascutum's midnight blue satin trench coat for evening. I'm also on the hunt of the perfect Marlene Dietrich inspired wide leg, high waisted slouchy pant. In terms of colors - I'll be wearing lots of purple (flattering on everyone) and grey and neutrals.

In terms of styles this season its very schizophrenic - from architectural post modern silhouettes in neutral colors to hints of the 80s to a more vintage, lady-like inspired silhouette from the 40s- so it really depends on how I feel on a particular day and the nature of the shoot I'm doing or event I'm attending."

Liz Edwards, personal shopper, founder of www.babetstyle.co.uk, Liz and I met while modelling for Helen Storey about 100 years ago but luckily we've both moved on from the gold quilted hotpants and matching bra and bomber jacket look. She's the perfect person to take a wardrobe to task as she's funny and warm and loves High Street and designer clothes.

"Due to it being a rubbish summer, and the doom and gloom of the massive recession that's about to swallow us all, I'm going to wear as much colour as possible, while also watching the pennies and avoiding spending big bucks on designer items where it's not necessary. Here's what I recommend: Uniqlo coloured skinnies, £24.99. They make a change from jeans and are a great fit. And a coloured coat, like the short red one at Top Shop from £60. On a gloomy day a coloured coat will lift your spirits, honestly."

Lulu, very famous Scottish singing sensation, creator of the Time Bomb skincare range. Lulu sung down the phone to me during a recent interview for the Sunday Times.

"I'm not one of those marvellous women who have their three dresses and two skirts and their black cardigan all at the ready. It depends on my mood. But I like that hippy dippy look, and I bought a waistcoat from Dries van Noten, some little shirts from Zara. I might have to get an Afghan coat. I think a lot of it is about nostalgia right now, and when you're my age, you can never say "never'. I remember when bell bottoms came back in the 90s, saying, "I am NEVER going back there," but I did. It's all about being in the here and now. And hopefully in an age appropriate way."

Sarah Ivens, Editor-in-Chief, OK! USA magazine. Sarah was the speediest at getting back to me. You know the saying.. if you want something done, ask a busy person (left: Sarah Ivens, pictured with Becky from Ugly Betty).

"I've got three books on the go at the moment; a few for different moods. Face Value by Kathleen Baird-Murray is all about the city I live in, NYC, and it's fun to read on the subway, heading into work, when the city is alive all around me. In the bath when I need to forget about the real world and relax, I'm reading the second installment of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Who knew vampires could be so sexy? ! Then open on my coffee table is Women Travelers by Christel Mouchard. I'm obsessed with seeing the world, and learning about the pioneering women of the last century is really inspirational."

Sienna Guillory, actress and an avid reader (must be all that hanging around on film sets). Check out her Face Value review here.

"I'm reading The Byerley Turk: The Incredible Story of the World's First Thoroughbred, by Jeremy James. The horse is the hero. Like Bond on hooves, if you will. It will get me in the mood for a trip to Capadocia, riding indigenous horses and sleeping in yurts."

"Allow me to introduce you to Scruffy. Manu and I made him/her, we're not sure what it is yet, following my purchase of Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori which is a truly fantastic book, full of creatures you can make from socks and gloves. No kidding. Scruffy took us about an hour from start to finish. I'm reading Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris and enjoying it. It's very dry, sometimes a little tiresomely so, all about working in an office and the relationships we build. I'd rather talk about my top book this summer though: E.M Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady, which was written in the 1930s and is English satire at its best. Loved every page of it, laughed out loud often."

Marcia Kilgore, founder of Soap and Glory, the Fit Flop, and the originator of Bliss spas worldwide. Marcia recently sorted out my skin - with a quick email conversation and a bucket-load of Soap and Glory magic.

"Clear skinned! If you can't afford or don't have the time to purge your pores with a professional strength peel, try blending lemon juice with witch hazel then dipping a cotton ball into it and rubbing it on any clogged areas or spots."

Kate Somerville, facialist beloved by Hollywood's most beautiful, with a divine range of products about to be launched here in Space NK.

"As winter approaches, it's essential to not only moisturize - but to also hydrate. Look for ingredients such as sodium hyaluronate, which binds water into the skin cell, leaving it nourished and more supple.

Because the indoor heat can be very hard on the skin, it's important to exfoliate. I recommend using a product that has natural enzymes, such as papaya or pumpkin, or gentle acids, like lactic. This is important, because good exfoliation will allow for better penetration of ingredients in your serums and moisturizers."

Eve Lom: the doyenne of skincare, Eve is a very special woman, extraordinarily beautiful inside and out. I've been addicted to her Rescue Mask and Cleanser ever since I first tried them over ten years ago.

"Always listen to your body, how we look on the outside is a reflection of what's going on on the inside. When we move into colder climates our skin needs more nourishment, exactly the same as our bodies. When we start craving stodgy food we can translate that into the skins needs too, i.e. our skin is craving heavier products and more moisturisation. However, the most important parts of skin care for me, which are relevant throughout all seasons, are cleansing, exfoliating and massage. Too often people overload their skin with too many products - the skin needs to be able to breathe to keep the cell renewal process in balance, which is the key to a fresh, young looking complexion."

Kay Montano, make-up artist beloved by A-listers, Vogues (USA and Brit) and little old me. Kay's first job was the cover of The Face, with Ray Petri. She was only 17.

"Despite eyes and lips going from gloss to matte and eyes from smoky to nude this season, two clear trends remain evident. After a decade of dewy skin, a new canvas of perfect foundation and powder was clearly the new skin thing. Meanwhile as our eyebrows have endured a decade of over maintenance, they are now back to the wild. Tweezing is on a must-needs basis only and eyebrow waxing is SO OVER."

Ruby& Millie: make-ups' hottest duo, Ruby used to do my make-up when I was a Pantene girl! Now they're cosmetics' empire-building with their fabulously, quick, easy-to-use, fashion forward colours and workable textures.

Ruby: "Autumn's make-up is very matt, so I'll be making sure my base is matt with either subtle berry, or purple, rosy cheeks. I'm keeping the focus on smoky black eyes, using Ruby & Millie black eye liner and a lot of black mascara. A quick smudge around the eye and it's a really dramatic, on-trend, Autumn look."

Millie (right): "This Autumn I'll be keeping my skin looking matte and clean, with a classic red mouth. I'll either stain lips with a classic red, or use an orangey red lipstick with a gloss on top. I'll keep my eyes natural, but make sure my eyebrows and lashes are perfectly groomed."

Charlotte Tilbury: Charlotte's new MyFace range has the most amazing foundation. I saw Charlotte at the Petit Palais the other night, but couldn't even get close to her, she was mobbed!

"This Autumn I am really into a berry stain on the lips. Gently apply lipstick with your fingers and pat onto the lips. A chic, sexy, smoky eye make-up with emphasis on the socket and eyeliner along the top lashes is one of my favourite looks right now."

Serge Normant: legendary hair-stylist, beloved by Hollywood (especially Julia Roberts) for his gentle manner and mastery with hair. John Frieda salons.

"I don't follow trends, I prefer to work with my clients to create a look that suits them best. A lot of people fight their natural hair texture but you should embrace what you have, then enhance it. For autumn, the bob is popular with shorter hair. For longer hair, I love the soft waves and tousled-up hair in romantic styles. They remind me of the styles in the 1930s and 40s. Gisele wears this style so well, in a way that is completely modern, and it makes her look so confident and sexy."

Louise Galvin: daughter of the famous British colourist Daniel Galvin, and a hot colourist in her own right, founder of Sacred Locks and newly launched Natural Locks organic haircare range.

"My tip for coloured hair - whatever the season - is always about shine and condition. Use a treatment masque twice a week, and a sulphate-free shampoo to not strip your colour (all Louise's products are sulphate free, by the way, and I tested her masque this morning and the shine is amazing). Colour lasts longer and always looks more glamorous and youthful if the hair is gleaming. Ask your colourist not to take the colour through to the ends every time, as this just damages the hair."