Fashion compromises don't usually work. Take the kitten heel for example. It doesn't have the transformative superpowers of a killer heel, nor does it have the chic quality of the ballet pump. The midi-skirt, on the other hand, is one compromise that works.

After half a decade of thigh skimming dresses and a general obsession with showing skin, we're all over the mini. Even Balmain has moved on and considering that the brand has always been amongst the big supporters of all things mini, that's a big deal. The maxi has also served it's time, especially after the whole boho trend that never really went away, so the midi is the perfect balance.

It's been around for a while. Marc Jacobs was amongst the first to resurrect it back in 2010 with the Louis Vuitton fall show and ever since, everyone from Victoria Beckham to Dries Van Noten have championed the length. At Burberry this season it was all about showing the style on mixed fabrics like plaids and tweeds and Sarah Burton opted for tartan and leather on skirts and also tapped into the length on coats with strong cinched waists at McQ.

What these brands showed is that the midi length doesn't need to be stuffy. Granted, it's one of those trends that will catch on in the mainstream amongst the more mature woman, aka the women that still have money to splurge during this recession, but there are enough reworked pieces to keep everyone happy.

It was this image of Caroline Issa that convinced me ad fellow editors like Giovanna Battaglia, Taylor Tomasi Hill and Shala Monroque show just how versatile it is. So how to style it? Well if you're going for a polished look I'd do like Ashley Olsen and tuck your top in. As well as emphasising the waist, it also helps elongate the body, which, I'm sure, is music to the ears of anyone that doesn't have model length legs. For a more casual day look this season, team it with thick wool tights, hard wearing ankle boots, knitwear and a biker jacket to give it a tough edge.

If you're still undecided, just give it go. While it has very much been the maxi's underrated sister, the midi has slowly been gaining traction over the past few years so you can be rest assured that it'll have staying power.

See my picks after the jump

Taylor Tomasi Hill

The sweater is one of those wardrobe heroes that everyone needs. It's one of the few pieces that can stand you in good stead whatever the weather and over the past few years, it's hard quite the transformation. In the past, it had a bit of a bad wrap. The styles felt heavy, boardering on frumpy, and the colours didn't tend to extend too far beyond neutrals like black, grey and nude. The more recent variations, though, are really good.

3.1. Phillip Lim's comic-inspired sweaters got everyone excited for S/S12 and while his offerings for fall are a lot more subdued, they're definitely still something to keep an eye out for. Even Burberry experimented with sweaters this season with their fun owl embroidered options.

As far as colours are concerned, Sonia Rykiel, Missoni and Marni have great bright printed styles while Acne continues to lead the pack with their bright block coloured pieces. If you don't want to spend too much, J. Crew is the place to go. The colour ways and print options are extensive and the quality hold out from season to season. The moral of the story is that you don't need to conform this winter. Just as colour and prints have been for summer, there's no reason why you can't continue it for winter on your knitwear. Who knows, it might actually make you smile and with the British weather the way it is, that's going to help.

SHOP THE EDIT: 1. Cashmere blend sweater, £148.75, Thakoon at The Outnet; 2. Zebra print sweater, £35, River Island; 3. Sequin fine knit sweater, £45, J. Crew at The Outnet ; 4. Colour block sweater, £450, Chloe at The Outnet; 5. Merino wool sweater, £139.50, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel at The Outnet; 6. Mohair jumper, £175, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel at My-Wardrobe; 7. Chunky knit wool sweater, £105, Paul & Joe at The Outnet; 8. Lace mohair knit sweater, £220, Vanessa Bruno Athé at My-Wardrobe; 9. Cashmere knit jumper, £169, Paul & Joe Sister at My-Wardrobe; 10. Cotton blend sweater, £124.35, ADAM at The Outnet; 11. Open knit jumper, £190, ACNE at My-Wardrobe

This season's new height (or lack thereof) started at Haider Ackermann's S/S12 show. It's not often that the word 'trend' and 'Haider Ackermann' are used in the same sentence, for he's amongst the rare breed of designs so attune to his own vision that tapping into any big trend is never more than a mere coincidence. Nevertheless, the backless brogues that he showed alongside his low slung masculine trousers last season has had a serious ripple effect. The fact that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have rarely been spotted without them is a pretty good indicator too.

Don't get me wrong, flats aren't anything new. I mean, what woman doesn't own a ballet flat or three but these styles are different. The feeling is far from conservative and is definitively not only the preserve of women who work in the city or want to be 'taken seriously'. Just like the clothes for fall, it seems that designers are becoming more attune to what women actually need, as opposed to simply pumping out killer heel after killer heel as has been too often been the case. With the world out there being tough enough right, being held back by your shoes of all things doesn't make sense anymore.

While I've always been a sucker to heels - I blame Victoria Beckham's book 'That Extra Half Inch - the idea of a good pair of flats has been growing on me. What with the shows just around the corner, the need to find something practical that takes me from shows to appointments and the odd event or two has become my mission and thankfully, there's a lot of good styles out there. Christian Louboutin, who has been one of the major influencers of the ever increasing height of heels, has even succumbed to the charm of the flat offering a really fun, quirky pair in tartan with studded black toe caps. Charlotte Olympia's kitty loafers have persuaded even the most die hard heels fans to go low and even Chloé have created a great fringed pair that are the perfect nod to this season's masculine feel. My style of choice? A pair of gold chunky brogues from Marni that will I know I'll wear to death.

As the above names show, everyone is doing it and it isn't just the big labels either. ASOS probably have the best selection around from the more classic ballet flat styles to cool loafers and timeless brogues.

Are you convinced?

SHOP THE EDIT: 1. Tartan loafers, £545, Christian Louboutin at Net-A-Porter; 2. Fringed loafers, £505, Chloe at Net-A-Porter; 3. Glitter loafers, £295, Jimmy Choo at Net-A-Porter; 4. Velvet covered leather loafers, £420, Miu Miu at Net-A-Porter; 5. Metallic leather brogues, £370, Marni at Net-A-Porter; 6. Leather and velevt creepers, £310, McQ at Net-A-Porter; 7. Loafer shoes, £38, ASOS;  8. Tassled loafers, £110, Bass Washington at ASOS

See more after the jump

Chloë Sevigny attended the Yves Saint Laurent and Cinema Society hosted screening of 'Lawless' this week sporting one of the flower vine printed Versace Jeans couture dresses.

Despite originally being in love with Sevigny's style, over the past few years she come up with some questionable looks that feel less organic and naturally edgy as they used to and more on the contrived side, so this look is a welcomed move away from that. And to finish the look off, she gave the dress a touch edge by styling it with black leather Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony 'Nana' boots.

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