2012 Winter

We like knowing what's around the bend, so are guessing that you do too! Sambag kindly shared this exclusive sneak peek at their Autumn/Winter '13 campaign, styled by ex-Voguette Meg Gray and shot by Nicole Bentley. The Sambag collection includes much more than just the ballet flat that the Sydney-based brand has become famous for. The woman behind it all, Sam Wagner, said of her latest line, “Glamour has warmed the new A/W '13 collection has a modern and ’60 feel – think playful knitwear, classic staples, denim statements.  But most of all, I created garments and accessories that women really want to wear; a casual uniform for women with style”. See something you like? You won't have to wait long! The new season wares start dropping into stores nationally and online as of January.

While there's no word yet on the official oppening date for Zara's Westfield Bondi Junction foothold, so we'll have to make do with this latest teaser from the Spanish retailer. Zara has just released its A/W campaign featuring one of our favourite faces, Freja Beha Erichsen, wearing a preview of the brand's newest offerings for the season ahead. Shot in black and white, Freja looks every bit as laid back as the effortlessly chic colletion — comprised of studded leather shorts, furry vests, printed pants, and slick blazers. Leave it to Zara and Freja to give bohemian wares a sophisticated edge. We can't wait to shop these affordable pieces for ourselves but for the time being, see it's still well-worth snooping the rest of Freja's shots for Zara's mainline Woman campaign, and its TRF ads featuring the beautiful Cara Delevingne.

Did you know that Gap ships to down under? Yup. The US label known for it's classic take on American prep has expanded its international shipping to include Australia; good news for those wanting to shop the brand's entire global range, or who can't get to Gap's three Aussie flagship stores. Thus the reason why we're looking at Gap's Holiday '12 look book with renewed interest. These Wintery-treats won't be hitting the (online) shelves for a little while, but there's still plenty to a) inspire some fresh seasonal ensembles or b) put on the to-buy list. Take the tour and see what's in store from Gap, or skip to the fun bit and shop up a storm online.

Sometimes getting dressed on those chilly mornings is a bit of a brain drain. To avoid the daily coat-over-blazer-over-shirt-over-tank conundrum we're looking to items that will help streamline our morning routine, and silhouette! Enter stage left: the long sleeved dress. Providing arm-coverage and saving precious sleep time in one fell swoop, we are big fans of the Winterfied-frock. Simply pull on a pair of opaques, don a cosy coat and top it off with scarf with substance and you're out the door in under five. Shop our top five online favourites!

We saw it on the Rag & Bone A/W '12 runway and admired it from afar. Then we spotted it on a slew of street stylers. The double-coat trick might look tricky at first glance — but trust us when we say it's one worth mastering! If only for purely functional reasons. If one coat is good, two has got to be better, right? Take your layering skills to a whole new level by working with the blazers, trenches, bikers, cardis and coats that you already own, and build a more considered, more structured silhouette for Winter. Abide by our double-up rules and you can't go wrong. Step this way to learn how to wear, and then shop our top online picks. Goosebumps, be gone! 

Is the Winter weather leaving you feeling less than inspired? We hear ya! Snap outta that styling rut with some seasonally-appropriate dressing cues from this batch of street stylers. From casual-but-cute get-ups to cosy oversized knits to the old double-coat trick, we're are going to use the following snaps as our sartorial style guide for the working week ahead. Kick off Monday in style by stepping inside. Note books at the ready.

When we think luxury we think French, we think expensive, we think clothes that are so comfortable you want to sleep in. It makes sense then that Equipment, the Parisienne label responsible for creating the most perfect silk shirt, is expanding into cashmere. High end knitwear is always worth the spend in our books, especially when it comes in the form of classic sweater shapes in choice colours like chartreuse, burgundy, cobalt and scarlet. Priced from $305 to $395, this is investment buying at its Frenchy best. Still not sold? Jessica Hart certainly looks at ease. The new knits have supplemented Fifiluxe's Equipment stock just this week, so we suggest you be quick.

As much as we love the idea of swaddling ourselves in layer upon cosy layer, we have to admit there's a big drawback to assembling the perfect Winter wardrobe — it can be expensive! Heavy coats, oversized knits, ankle boots are all big ticket buys. Savvy shoppers listen up: there is a way to survive the cold without maxing the plastic. From clever styling tricks to easy-on-the-wallet pieces, we've got your cold-weather essentials covered. 

The chilly temperatures are definitely serving as a reminder that Winter is here, which means it's time to ditch those lightweight lotions in favour of some rich, nourishing creams. Take a look at 10 additions to your Winter skincare routine that will help to battle the chilly elements and keep your skin as hydrated and soft as possible. One thing to hang onto though — your sunscreen. Yep, just because the temperature drops and it gets overcast, doesn't mean the UV rays stop, so remember to still slip, slap, slop every day.

Leggings are always a controvercial topic here at Fab HQ. On one hand, those stretchy strides are ridiculously comfy and are a cinch to layer up on chilly mornings. On the other hand, there's that whole leggings-as-pants phenomenom, that really doesn't do anyone any favours — even the Victoria's Secret crew. Saying that, we think there is a time and a place for a quality pair of leggings in everyone's Essential Winter Wardrobe. Our hard and fast rules? Your top must, we repeat, must cover your tush. And always choose quality, thick fabrications over flimsy, might-go-see-through-after-a-few-washes lycra. Got it? Good. Now go forth and freely shop our top ten, online leggings edit.