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Trends come and go, but if you had to bet all your chips on one colour never going out of fashion, you can bank on black. And as designers ditch colour in their collections and crave the fluid, liquid lines of fashion’s darkest and most addictive shade, you can embrace mood-boosting monochrome and jet black without any fear of making a fashion faux pas – or bad buy. From a showy shoulder at Balmain – who would have thought that a PVC maxi dress could look even more sultry? …To sexy, slinky sequins at Michael Kors; tailored, long black coats (LBC) at Max Mara, Dolce & Gabbana, Victoria Beckham and Prada, black is more than a shot in the dark this season – and the devil is in the detail. To get the catwalk look, here’s what’s hot on the high street and will make a great first impression… Black blazer Call it the power blazer, Le Smoking, or straightforward tailored trouser suit, this is your wardrobe staple to look sharp. “The trouser suit is an icon of sophistication and confidence,” says Zoe de Abreu, co-founder of Ro&Zo. “A black blazer matched with trousers will be the perfect companion for all occasions, as it transcends perfectly from day to night.” For a dare-to-bare aesthetic, go topless underneath – apart from a sexy black bralette – and accessorise with a cosmic choker or pukka set of pearls. Ro&Zo Black Belted Blazer, £129; Black Pleat Detail Trousers, £109. Reiss Alia Slim Fit Single Breasted Satin Suit Blazer, £268; Alia Flared Satin Waistband Suit Trousers, £178. Showy shoulder “The off-shoulder trend takes on a new dimension this autumn, adding a feminine touch to seasonal wardrobes,” opines de Abreu. She says this trend is elegant and feminine, and can be worn in a range of textures, such as jersey, velvet and Merino wool. Moreover, baring a shoulder is very flattering – the neckline lengthens the neck, frames the face – and is a great transitional, versatile piece with a good measure of va-va-voom. Ro&Zo Black Jersey One Shoulder Top, £49; Ombre Sequin Skirt, £129. Reiss Adele Velvet Off-The-Shoulder Jumpsuit, £178. Luxe lace Ladylike lace has been reimagined with trims adorning jersey and velvet – and it’s made a beeline for the little black dress. Whether a flattering midi dress is crafted from a luxuriously soft jersey that contours your curves, “A delicate lace-tiered hem adds a dramatic finishing touch,” says Karen Peacock, chief creative officer and co-founder, Albaray. Or embellished on the neckline and hemline of velvet, sheer lace channels some vintage charm with the X-factor. In fact, if you’re feeling thrifty, be inspired by ribbon and trim shops and think about sewing a lace trim on an existing black dress for an instant update. Albaray Jersey & Lace Mix Dress, £89. LK Bennett Anouk Black Velvet And Lace Dress, £429. Sparkle Whether you go full-out sequins or dazzle in rhinestones, a sexy shimmer is where it’s at. “For autumn, sequins really capture the essence of festivity, allure and drama,” notes de Abreu. “Sequins are all about adding a touch of glamour to your look, and letting your outfit take the centre stage.” Moreover, “A flattering silhouette is created with a sequin halter top and matching flared trousers,” says Peacock. “Wear together to make a statement, or dress down and style with jeans or a simple T-shirt,” she adds. Next Flutter Sleeve Tie Waist Mini Dress, £60. Albaray Sequin Top, £69; Sequin Trousers, £99 – available mid-October. Long black coat A long black coat may not set your pulse racing, but the LBC took to the runway in its droves, with designers making it a key piece in their collections. And let’s face it, nothing looks more elegant or grown-up than wrapping yourself in wool. Just make sure it’s calf-length or longer. As Peacock puts it: “A sharply tailored black coat is a true investment piece, which is both functional and stylish.” “With the ability to style casually or formally, it will be a go-to during the colder months for years to come.” Next Belted Long Coat, Black, £62. John Lewis Hand Finished Robe Belt Wool Blend Coat Black, £159; other items from a selection Read More How to prep your home for when the clocks go back Menopause campaigner Mariella Frostrup: ‘I look forward to a future where women gradually stop feeling so ashamed’ More girls miss school and college due to their periods than colds, survey finds More girls miss school and college due to their periods than colds, survey finds How to look after your immune system as the weather changes How to protect your plants as the first frosts arrive

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Lewis Hamilton’s penalty for crossing the track at the Qatar Grand Prix is being “revisited” by the FIA in light of his “role model status.” The 38-year-old crashed out of the race on lap one after colliding with Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with his car stuck in the gravel. Hamilton then crossed the live racetrack, moments before Russell himself drove past after leaving the pit lane. The Brit was fined £34,700 (€50,000), with half of it suspended, and given a formal reprimand. However, F1’s governing body is “revisiting” the incident due to concerns it may act as a precedent for younger drivers. An FIA spokesperson said: “The FIA is revisiting the incident in which Lewis Hamilton crossed a live track during the Qatar Grand Prix. “In view of his role-model status, the FIA is concerned about the impression his actions may have created on younger drivers.” The statement added that Hamilton had been “apologetic” in the initial hearing and “acknowledged that the crossing was a serious safety breach”. The FIA are expected to speak to Hamilton at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Hamilton apologised to Russell for the crash after the race, taking responsibility after a rare mistake at the start of the grand prix. Read More Nicolas Hamilton: ‘Lewis has never put a penny into my racing... it’s not easy being related to him’ What Lewis Hamilton’s clash with George Russell tells us about state of play at Mercedes F1 drivers unhappy after ‘dangerous’ Qatar Grand Prix causes fainting and vomiting

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Fashion lovers will soon have the chance to own a custom Oscar de la Renta gown worn by Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2014 Met Gala - for the hefty price of $7,500. The black and white floor-length gown is being auctioned on the luxury fashion label’s resale site, Encore, until Friday 29 September. The dress, made custom for the Sex and the City star, features a black velvet bodice with a v-neckline and petal-like pattern at the bottom. The gown’s ivory skirt also includes a trellis embroidery, complete with Oscar de la Renta’s signature at the train. “When Sarah Jessica came to the office for our first design meeting, she had a binder full of references to share with Oscar. It was a truly special collaboration,” said co-creative director Fernando Garcia in a statement. “And for me, who didn’t ever go to design school, it was the biggest fashion lesson I could have gotten - on the floor of Oscar’s office.” The commissioned piece took 224 hours to make. Nine years later, it was returned to the atelier where it was made to be restored to its original condition. Thirty per cent of proceeds from the sale of the dress will benefit the New York Public Library. In 2014, the And Just Like That star recounted the gown’s design process in an interview with Vanity Fair. “I said to Mr de la Renta, please let me use scarlet embroidery thread, and splash your name across the back. It was my idea. He would never in a million years have it done, he’s far too modest,” Parker said at the time. The theme for the 2014 Met Gala was in honour of legendary designer Charles James, called “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”. The dress code called for “White Tie and Decorations” - full evening dress of white bow ties for men and evening gowns for women. Parker, along with actor Bradley Cooper and de la Renta, served as co-chairs for the annual fashion event. Parker’s black and white gown was one of the last designs de la Renta showcased on the red carpet before he passed away in October 2014, five months after the Met Gala. The Hollywood star and fashion icon has been a mainstay on the Met Gala red carpet - which is rolled out every May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City - for many years. Parker recently looked back on some of her many memorable fashion moments, including the time she attended the charity event with late designer Alexander McQueen in 2006. Speaking to Vogue in 2022, Parker explained that she “immediately” wanted to work with McQueen to design their matching tartan ensembles for the Met Gala’s “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion” theme. However, she felt that she “didn’t really know him well enough to be so presumptuous” to assume he would want to attend with her. “Like everybody else, I was in love with him,” she told Vogue. “I have every pin he dropped from his mouth in my possession still. I have everything he cut off in my possession still. I have things that seem like nothing, from every fitting I ever did with him in my possession.” The groundbreaking designer died in 2010 at the age of 40, and was later commemorated by the Met Gala in 2011 with the theme “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”. For last year’s Met Gala, Parker paid homage to the first Black female designer in the White House - Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley - in a black and white gown designed by Christopher John Rogers. However, the style icon has maintained that preparing for fashion’s biggest night of the year should be “labour intensive”. “All I ever think about is the theme and influence,” she told Vogue in April 2022. “Whenever I go to the Met, I don’t understand how everyone else doesn’t spend seven to ten months working on it. Like how do you not arrive exhausted by the details of getting it right?” “It would be so easy to find a beautiful dress to wear that night,” Parker added. “Like that would be a great relief and like going on vacation. But that is not the assignment, the assignment is the theme.” Read More Sarah Jessica Parker reveals she adopted Carrie’s kitten from And Just Like That Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker feud: A timeline of the beef between Sex and the City co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker rewears iconic Vivienne Westwood wedding dress in And Just Like That Victoria’s Secret was never feminist – why are they bothering to try now? Kim Kardashian debuts buzz cut and thin eyebrows for new photo shoot Travis Kelce wears ‘1989’ inspired outfit after leaving NFL game with Taylor Swift