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

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The trouser suit has long been a stalwart piece in women's wardrobes. Since Yves Saint Laurent created his 'Le Smoking' women's tuxedo back in 1966, the piece has no doubt morphed into one of the single most transformative pieces of women's wear and for A/W12, it made a serious comeback. Just like Saint Laurent, this season designers seem to be more attune to the fact that women need clothes that make sense as much as they appeal aesthetically and as a result, we're spoilt for choice.

You can generally guage what the big trends will be by watching the Prada show and this season Miuccia Prada made a big statement. At both Prada and Miu Miu the trouser suit dominated sending a clear message that if there's anything you need to buy this coming season, it's that.

Throughout the shows in February there was a lot of talk about the clothes being like an armour, preparing women for the tough world out there right now and it's true. At the rate things are going, we can all do with as much help as we can get and there's no denying it's transformative powers. Even Caroline Issa spoke about it recently in the latest issue of ELLE UK. Talking about her recent Tom Ford suit purchase she said: 'When I wear it I feel like the chicest person alive - it is wearable art.' Whistles CEO Jane Shepherdson shared the sentiment. 'It's about authority,' she said in an interview with Karen Dacre about the suit's power in the workplace. 'If I feel I need 'armour' any day, then I will pull on a trouser suit. It let's people know you're serious and not to e messed with.' My-Wardrobe's founder Sarah Curran said the same thing. 'There's definitely an attitude that goes with wearing one,' she told Dacre. 'There is something about a trouser suit that gives an air of confidence that a dress could never do.'

From top left: Acne, Dries van Noten, Miu Miu, Todd Lynn, Todd Lynn, Alexander Wang, Celine, Elizabeth & James, Miu Miu and Prada

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You can file this under something we didn't see coming. On Friday this preview image of Miu Miu's Fall 2012 campaign leaked online and Chloë Sevigny makes a surprise appearance. So far details about the photographer and stylist hasn't been released but so far, the response to the campaign has been pretty good.

Choosing Sevigny makes sense. As Giovanna Battaglia and Julia Restoin Roitfeld said before the brand's fall show, while the collections are pretty to a certain extent, they always have that quirky and slightly weird element that Miuccia Prada does so well.

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Stomach baring was something that I promised would be left in my early teens. I mean, that was the last stage where my abs where public friendly - sad but true. Overindulging in the finer things in life that come with coming of age made the idea of embracing the cropped top a thing of dreams but when I saw them all over the runway at the S/S12 shows, I wasn't as hostile to the idea as I thought I would be.

Rather than full stomach exposure (horror the thought), these new styles expose a glimpse of skin on the midriff. Let's call it the first baby step into the trend so if you're anything like me and you're not ready to go the whole way Prada-style, the more subtle Miu Miu styles are the perfect alternative. Elisa Sednaoui did it perfectly at the Chanel show last month sporting a cropped top with a high waisted skirt to show on a flash of skin, as did Alexa Chung at the Elle Style Awards last year in a blue YSL number.

So with both ends of the spectrum available for summer, will you dare to bare?

Britain's Advertising Standards Agency has been on a roll recently. Last year Miu Miu's Hailee Steinfeld campaign was criticised for being irresponsible and the 'Oh Lola!' Marc Jacobs campaign starring Dakota Fanning was also subject to attack. Today, L'Oreal are the latest company to be under fire by the organisation.

The Revitalift Repair 10 campaign starring Rachel Weisz has been banished after Liberal Democratic politician Jo Swinson made a complaint arguing that the ads misrepresented the effects of the product, making it appear more effective than it actually is. According to the ASA, the ads had “been altered in a way that substantially changed her complexion to make it appear smoother and more even.

Do you think the ASA are right?

Just when we thought we had seen all that the Spring/Summer 12 campaigns had to offer, today Miu Miu released these images starring Mia Wasikowska. While the casting might surprise you, we had a suspicion that the Australian actress could be working with the brand after she was seated front row at their Spring/Summer 11 show next to Hailee Steinfeld who, of course, became the face of the campaign for that season. While I like Miu Miu for always choosing interesting campaign subjects, this is one of my least favourite campaigns from them.

What do you think?

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Alexander Wang, Antonio Berardi, Louis Vuitton, Preen, Altuzarra

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The UK's Advertising Standards Agency is really going on in on fashion campaigns this month. A fortnight ago they pulled Dakota Fanning's campaign for Marc Jacobs' fragrance, Oh Lola!, and now Miu Miu are in the hot seat for this shot of Hailee Steinfeld sitting on the train track.

The ASA have criticised the brand as "“irresponsible because it depicted a child in an unsafe location,” according to the Telegraph. Prada have since released a statement arguing that the concerns are unwarranted because she “could have easily moved from where she was sitting because she was not restrained in any way.”