Topshop - Collection Fall/Winter 2010-2011

As usual, the very-British Topshop has injected a good dose of air du temps into high-speed fashion. Their design offices have undertaken to interpret the strongest trends of the moment in everyway possible, as well as come up with many pieces that only the likes of (fashion blogger) Suzy Bubble would know how to wear.

Did someone mention shearling? If the English house, Burberry, set out to bring back this reverse sheepskin (at prices that remain inaccessible for the common mortal fashionista), its compatriot, Topshop, seems prepared to give this so-winter-2010/2011 fashion gimmick to each and every little English maiden.

Looking something like a teddy bear coat, this strange material has invaded every corner of the company's wardrobe -- from the aviator cap to the cape, the bomber to the 3/4 coat, shearling is omnipresent.

Therein lies the potential problem: by trying too hard to fit into a trend, the result often lacks in subtlety. Some of the Topshop pieces fall victim to this mass distribution weakness, i.e., producing so quickly that quality suffers. A cheap-looking (too thin) shearling is a shearling to leave on the rack. It may be better to wait for a chance to Eurostar over to London to check out the shearling in person than to overload the virtual shopping cart with all the latest products.

This being said, there are many other Topshop gems - casual yet perfect for the season - that can be consumed without risk to one's fashion health. In particular, the fisherman's sweater (whose cozy cable stitching would fit perfectly into the latest D&G show), the caramel leggings (that could become a part of the Chloé color palette), the beige capes and perfectly appropriate 70s-esque Bordeaux corolla miniskirts are a good examples.

With their transparent version of the calf-length Louis Vuitton skirt, it is possible to try this new fashion without weighing down the silhouette. Worn with a pair of Lanvin boots and a long sweater belted with a thin leather belt, this skirt style could create a look that would please Marc Jacobs as well as Dries Van Noten, without running the risk of looking matronly.

Also worth noticing are the famous flare pants - that will soon be giving the slim cut a run for its money - chic and retro in thin licorice velvet.

To wrap it up, it should be mentioned that, even if fake fur has never been so famous since Karl Lagerfeld, the long yak fur vests would be better left on the racks.

Click here to view the entire collection: http://www.refinery29.com/topshops-aw-2011