So, it’s no surprise that our thoughts have turned to next season’s trends earlier than expected.  With that little taste of Spring in the stores there’s plenty to get excited about on the fashion front and looking at River Island’s SS12 collection is enough to have us looking around for a beach to go and lie on.  Layering on the colour and the prints next season is going to be bright and playful for men and women…

Here’s a little taster of River Island’s Spring /Summer 2012 collection.

On screen Johnny Depp has donned accessories from beads in his hair,  bandanas, mad hats and the odd pair of scissors.

Off screen though Johnny’s style is a mix of tailored suits with plenty of jewellery, those retro sunglasses and quite often a hat of some description. 

Pictured (left)  at the Pirates of the Caribbean premiere at Westfield London last week Johnny showed off his distinctive style in a tailored black suit with teal shirt teamed with some of his signature jewellery. 

Often wearing metal chains, military inspired necklaces, adorned rings and multiple wrist bracelets in metal and leather, Johnny layers up his jewellery giving even a tailored suit an edge. 

 We love these pieces inspired by Johnny with a touch of Captain Jack Sparrow about them too.

Shop pendant, £8 Topman, Silver chain £90 and Monarch Ring £85, All Saints, Skull box chain bracelet, £15.00, Topman, Leather bracelet, £100, Tateossian

As for accessories, Johnny’s hat, scarf and glasses collections could give probably give most women’s shoe collections a run for their money.

Refresh 50s Glasses, Topman, £14, Hudson Trilby £30, Burch scarf, £50, All Saints

In the words of one of our Westfield London team: “Have just been in there and I want to buy the WHOLE shop!”

It’s the attention to detail that we love.  In the women’s collection it’s quality and attention to detail that give it that edge – the quality of the French lace finished with subtle leather trims and the special Kooples touches of delicate skulls embroidered or emblazened into some of the clothes.   The trench coat is a must as are the scalloped-edge shorts which, worn with a fitted blazer, embody that classic, effortless French chic.   The French flair extends to the men’s collection with inspiration from Saville Row and the music scene seen in the suits, tops and accessories.

Women’s short suits are office wardrobe essentials for spring and for the men a tailored three piece suit is the epitomy of elegence.

What’s in your pocket?

The seven pocket jean has been crafted to combine aspects of military chinos and pre 1900 denim workwear.   With significant attention to detail but at £70.00 these jeans feel like a premium jean for a fraction of the price tag.

The big daddy of the awards season came and went last night.  There were no big surprises on the winners’ front with well-deserved wins from Colin Firth for The King’s Speech, Natalie Portman for Black Swan and Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for The Fighter.

Inside the auditorium, it was all about the craft but outside, on the red carpet, it was all about the fashion. With some serious contenders on the frock front the battle for best-dressed was almost as contentious as the Oscars but after much debate we’ve picked our favourites.

Best Female

The nominees

We have to hand it to Natalie Portman who looked lovely in her off the shoulder purple Rodarte number and we also loved Amy Adams L’Wren Scott floor length blue gown matched with emerald jewels.  Host for the evening Anne Hathaway didn’t disappoint as she chose an asymmetric Valentino for her entry, later changing into a further seven outfits while  Sandra Bullock wore Vera Wang, also in red.

The winner

The award for  best red carpet look has to go to Halle Berry.  Things have been a little quiet movie-wise for Miss Berry since her emotional win for Monster”s Ball but on the style front she seems to have gone back in time to her pre Oscar days with this Marchesa gown and her cropped hair. Stunning.

Best Male

The nominees

It’s sometimes easy to forget the men on the red carpet with all the feathers and sequins adorning the women. But though the suits may have been mostly black, they looked super stylish.  We loved in Hugh Jackman in Ferragamo, Robert Downey Jnr’s white tie and our host for the evening, James Franco, rocking a few outfit changes – mostly consisting of Gucci suits and one dress (Franco went drag while Anne Hathaway wore a tux for one section of the show, in case you missed it).  Both the leading and supporting male winners impressed with Colin Firth continuing to favour Tom Ford and Christian Bale teaming his full on beard with head to toe black.

The winner

But for us it was the perfectly fitted, perfectly classic look that Matthew McConnaughey worked in Dolce and Gabbana that stood out and led the way on the red carpet.

For a full list of all the winners (of the actual awards not our invented ones – delightful as we think they are) and a look at some of the highlights from the night visit Oscars.com.

In a nutshell: An impressive end to an impressive week as the catwalks ranged from very androgynous to very macho.  Topman Design showed off some tweed with faux foxes draped over the shoulders as well as bold and bright prints which were only for the daring alongside jumpers and cardigans that said: ‘take me home to your mother: she’ll love me’.   J.W, Anderson mixed genders with full length skirts, sparkles, pink and white fluffy cardigans alongside tailored shirts and jackets.  Then there was Christopher Shannon who took it a little more street with leather, bomber jackets and chains.

Tweeted: @sebulous Just to reiterate: #LFW IS NOT OVER. it’s menswear day…

@favouritething It’s all over. Thank God for that. *speed-dials masseuse* #LFW

The LFW Dictionary: Heart (verb). To love e.g.  I heart this season’s colours!

Screams could be heard around the whole centre when the actor, wearing his trademark dapper suit and posing with his trademark smouldering glare, waved to his fans before heading over to them to sign autographs, take photos and respond to marriage proposals.

The actor, who plays the son of a wealthy businessman, admitted to us that it was nice to be able to play a British role after years as Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass.  “Yes, there are some people who are still convinced I’m not British,” he said.

His leading lady in the film Felicity Jones wore a blue velvet Atelier Mayer dress tonight as she joined him on the red carpet.  She told us that Ed made her feel very comfortable, even during the kissing scenes. “Ed is wonderful to work with and made it all really relaxed,” she said.

‘I want a coo-ooo-ooo-oool rider’ sang Michelle Pfeiffer in Grease 2, which if you haven’t watched, well – you’re not missing much.  But sing it she did.  And the sentiment, if not the movie, lives on.  Men in biker jackets are cool again, so say the catwalks of Dolce and Gabbana (pictured), Georgio Armani and DSquared2 among others.   Here are some of our favourites in store now.

Spend: Left to right: Recluse biker jacket £350 All Saints; Aviatrix Black Mid Length Leather Hunter jacket, £220 £99.99, at Barön Jon

Save: Black leather look jacket £60 Topman; Crafted Turin Jacket £49.99 Republic

Aaron Johnson is the best dressed man in Britain, according to GQ, in a list that also includes the Princes William and Harry and 8-year-old Romeo Beckham.

Prince William gives his fiancé a run for her money in the style stakes coming in at 27 but is beaten by his brother, who comes in fifth place, and by Romeo at 26.

This year’s list of most stylish men is clearly a real mix of ages and styles but there was one look that seems to be favoured by the most stylish men: sharp tailored suits with an individual edge.  Jude Law (no. 29), is often seen in a slim cut suit with a t-shirt and hat while  Jenson Button (no. 9), keeps his more casual. Kick-Ass star Aaron, who is only 20 years old but is a bit of an old soul with a penchant for classic style is often seen wearing patterned tailored suits with waistcoats and sporting a retro a Rhett-Butler-esque moustache.

To follow in the footsteps of Britain’s most stylish men try Pal Zileri‘s high-end classic Italian suits or Suitsupply‘s specially tailored suits with your own individual twist.

We particularly like the pretty grunge look – a parka thrown over a crochet dress will be just perfect for all those festivals this year. And if River Island have anything to do with it, you men out there will definitely be ditching the black in favour of bright pastels.

Take a look below at our favourites from their new Spring/Summer range.