We’ve got a sartorial predicament on our hands. Should our wardrobe loyalties lie with the all-concealing maxi skirt, or should we take the snip and opt for the midi?

It’s a toughie, we know, but with recent fashion inclinations leaning toward the latter, and Mad Men fever seriously gripping the catwalks as we’re headed towards a ‘50s revival (thanks, Miuccia), the midi has been making serious waves in fashion circles.

The maxi isn’t far behind though. Fast becoming a permanent fixture in the wardrobes of the style conscious; the maxi skirt isn’t just a summer flirtation, but looks equally winter-appropriate teamed with a chunky knit.

We’re still torn, though. We love that the maxi will give the illusion of a few added extra inches to our already lacking pins. But we also love how the calf-skimming midi will let us show off those killer Jimmy Choo’s, and the heels in turn will make our calves appear gazelle-like. (We hope.) So, we’ve decided to select the best of each, and let you take on the difficult task of deciding!

The Midi Contenders 

Acne Romantic printed taffeta midi skirt, £310, available at Net-a-porter

Marble Run print calf skirt, £55, available at Topshop

Marni midi skirt, £408 £285, available at My Theresa

Accordion pleat skirt, £39.99, available at Zara

The Maxi Contenders

D&G Tulle maxi skirt, £435, available at Net-a-porter

T by Alexander Wang Silk Maxi Skirt, £59, available at My Theresa

Front Split maxi skirt, £40, Topshop

Missoni Giunilla crochet-knit print maxi skirt, £730 £295, available at My Theresa

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My Fashion Life Ed, says: “Slate! Dress is too busy and the colour doesn’t suit her.”

You say: “Horrible!”

Verdict:  We’re fans of the palette of pink and gold colours but the large and unsightly orange ‘Y’ strap ruins the prettiness this dress is supposed to exude. Major style brownie points for the nude T-bar sandals, but the gold clutch would be better placed in Suri Cruise’s wardrobe and the dark, chunky bracelet does nothing to accessorise the outfit.

The key to this season’s candy-hued wardrobe is an air of frothiness, so keep accessories statement, but to a minimum (cue: princess tiaras at Louis Vuitton).

Sorry Bella, this one’s a definite SLATE!

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One tingles the tongue and calls your love handles home, while the other packs a punch and offers a triple flash of spring summer 2012, by incorporating three major trends into one covetable wardobe staple: lace, neon and sporty zips.

Get your savvy-wardobe-building-chocolate-refusing hat on. Need we say more?

111 x 230g bars @£1.97 = £218.67    MSGM Lace Skirt, £218, available at Matches

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Even though everyday should be a ‘Shoesday’, we’ve decided to aptly use the most rhyming day of the week, and voila! No, that isn’t the real reason!

It’s the day after the most depressing day of the week, and a little shoe therapy wouldn’t go amiss, along with 7-10 cakes, wine by the litre and a 10-week holiday.

For now though, stop trying to control the weather, tackle Obama’s fiscal policies or work out the number of surgical procedures Chloe from TOWIE’s had, and stick to taking a wander through today’s shoedrobe.

We promise you won’t regret it!

GILMORE2 Metallic toecap pointed court shoes, £60, available at Topshop

Scooter sporty platform sandal, £78, available at Topshop

Christopher Kane Chelsea Boots, £718, available at Matches

Pierre Hardy Neoprene and Patent shoes, £728, available at Matches

Acne Pistol short boots in Pale Blue suede, £370, available at My Theresa

Ashton cut-out mid-heel court shoes, £129, available at Reiss

Pastel split sandal wedges, £88, available at Topshop

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Fashion is the only arena where you can experiment without explanation. The catwalks decidedly smash barriers, unstitch formalities and deconstruct convention to give rise to a fresh and exhilarating aesthetic, that often leaves onlookers speechless.

And, in this case, even allows you to wear your school P.E kit to fashion week. (We’re assuming you were clued up, trend-wise, at 13.

Such is the allure of spring summer 2012′s sport-infused offerings; everything we witnessed on the catwalks scored undisputed goals with us. Usually the reserve of the playing field, this season brought us sportswear in an after-dark appropriate form. Suddenly neoprene, mesh and parachute straps have become soiree essentials and a neon-free you is not right.

Mix it up and make it feel unexpected by teaming a zip up dress with neon wedges, or pair a pencil skirt and brilliant white T with a nylon drawstring parka and killer heels. Quite frankly, these high performance pieces are  pitch and dance floor proof!

Jason Wu Silk-trimmed stretch-jersey dress, £920, available at Net-a-porter

Zip Up Neon-soled Wedges, £19.99, available at H&M

Orange Perspex Clutch, £35, available from ASOS Collection 

 Givenchy pencil skirt with patent detail, £495 £249, available at My Theresa

 T by Alexander Wang classic muscle jersey T-shirt, £70, available at Net-a-porter

 Thin Nylon Parka, £19.99, available at H&M

McQ Alexander McQueen Perspex detailed leather platform sandals, £370, available at My Theresa

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Ever since having that hair colour done at the beginning of this year, I’ve been incredibly biased towards one London hairdressers.

Taylor Taylor London is, quite possibly, the most pleasurable experience your hair can ever endure – and this, coming from a hair-phobe like me, is high praise indeed for a salon that’s been opening its doors for little more than three years.

I’m painfully fussy, self-confessed and signed. I’m the girl who pays to have her hair done only to go home and rewash it to style it the way I like it. I’m the girl who gushes ‘I love it!’ through gritted teeth, hands over too much cash and promptly leaves the salon mumbling expletives all the way to the tube. I’m the girl who hates hairdressers.

But when I popped into Taylor Taylor a month back to have my hair re-done (and to see if my first impressions were just a fluke – I told you, I’m a cynic) I was, to my surprise, even more impressed second time around.

But I digress. This isn’t a hair review, nor the main reason I visited Taylor Taylor last month. You see, the salon has unveiled its new collection and, as I presume you are, I was plagued with intrigue.

Inspired by the decadence and glamour of the Forties, a series of sophis shots line the black floral walls of the spiral staircase, each expertly styled to an editorial level to suit the ‘do with welcomed subtlty (I’m so bored of seeing over-styled, experimental hair shots in your average salon that are neither wearable or attractive).

Wearability, as it goes, is key to the new collection, Bradley Taylor, Taylor Taylor London’s creative director, tells me. He wants women to take once glimpse at these images and feel inspired to try it themselves; it’s the measured fusion of fantasy and attainability that makes this series sit so well. That and Bradley’s adorable Spaniel, who crops up in several of them.

As Bradley showed me around his small but exquisitely-crafted space (he does all the designing himself, I’ve half a mind to ask him to my home), it dawned on me this is what every salon experience should feel like: an afternoon pamper with fabulous friends you’ve never met but who are more welcoming than egg nogg on Christmas eve.

I bet if every salon had a Bradley Taylor, the world of hairdressing would be a very different place indeed.

Visit taylortaylorlondon.com for more.

[Show as slideshow]

Photo credits: creative director Bradley Taylor, art director Sarah Cromwell, photographer Robert Harper.

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Outlet shopping has suffered its unfair share of negative bias for long enough, but if we’re honest, we really don’t understand why.

Luxury labels and big name brands with up to 60% off? Your fave high street stores at pound-saving prices? And all under the same proverbial roof? Frankly, what’s not to love? And, dare we mention it, in the current doom and gloom of the economic climate, it’s one of the most sensible ways to shop, too.

And so it was that we took a trip to the UK’s largest – and Europe’s first – designer outlet, Cheshire Oaks, to put it to the trend test and see whether we could snap up some seriously stylish garbs for the season.

Since opening in 1995 as part of the McArthurGlen group (Europe’s leader in designer outlet retailing), Cheshire Oaks attracts 8.5 million visitors a year – something tells us those savvy shoppers know they’re onto a good thing – to its 145 stores.

And what do you know, with 1.2 miles of style, the ample stock that’s been expertly-selected to work with the season is especially impressive (and amazingly affordable).

We hunted out the hottest 10 items for winter, from classic coats to crepe-soled shoes, that we reckon will knock your lurex Falke socks off. See below for our pick of must-have pieces (you won’t believe they’re from an outlet, either).

Nicole Farhi Chunky Wool Monochrome Jumper.

Carvela Suede Berry Lace Up Shoes, £91 (RRP £130).

French Connection Fast Lucky Lace Dress, Outlet £84.

Ted Baker Damask Print Hard Clutch, Outlet £59 (RRP £89).

LK Bennett Black and Grey Tweed Jacket, Outlet £110 (RRP £165).

Nicole Farhi Camel Wrap Neck Coat, Outlet £715.

Hobbs Black Patent Croc Print Brogues, Outlet £99 (RRP £149).

Ted Baker Lace Detail Leather Top.

Reiss Sheer Lurex Shirt, Outlet £59 (RRP £129).

Osprey Crocodile Print Tan Bag, Outlet £125.

Visit mcarthurglen.com for more.

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