Alongside all of the embellishment and prints this season thanks to Miuccia Prada and Marc Jacobs, black leather had quite the comeback. I know what you're thinking: when did it ever go away but if you cast your mind back to this time last year you'll remember that block colour was still having a moment but black leather is officially back on the agenda this season.

This season was just a lot darker on the whole. Riccardo Tisci, who is undoubtedly the king of all things darkly romantic, was one of its biggest protagonists teaming his equestrian themed collection with those heel-hidden boots that everyone's rightfully raving about right now. Gareth Pugh is someone that always plays with leather and this season it came on more wearable asymmetric jackets with oversized lapels and at Gucci, Frida Giannini incorporated it on outerwear too but on cropped bell shapes instead.

As with everything, this is a trend that you can embrace with varying degrees. If you're not afraid of going full hog, invest in a coat like the ones at Versace or do like Kate Moss and buy a long sleeved bod con dress but beware. If you're going to go that way make sure to invest in quality pieces as they can quickly start to look cheap. For those of you that aren't so bold, opt for a shirt with a leather collar or follow Kanye West and Kate Moss by bagging a pair of leather trousers. That's one piece that you can count on season after season.

Shop my edit of the some of the best black leather pieces after the jump

Zoe Saldana wearing their embellished silk and leather mini dress

As a brand that has infamously sold simple t-shirts priced at a whopping $1,625, it would be safe to say that Balmain isn't cheap. Their prices have become so high, even in comparison to other luxury brands, that many believe that the launch of their lower priced line, Pierre Balmain, was in response to all of the criticism.

Thanks to The Outnet, you can still get your hands on the mainline but without the usual costs involved. As of tomorrow, the online retailer will release a series of their signature pieces, like the above embellished dress worn by Zoe Saldana, for you to get your hands on. The discount goes up to 80% off with one pair of trousers being slashed by almost £6,000. I must worn you not to expect super cheap prices. After all, this is Balmain that we're talking about but with shirts at around £500, it's probably the cheapest way you'll ever be able to buy into the brand.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Cropped embossed patent leather trousers, £1,934 from £9,670; Gold leather and suede skirt, £1,304 from £6,520; Embellished silk and leather mini dress, £3,874 from £19,370; High rise embroidered silk skirt, £1,433.25 from £4,095.

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

Long time Alaïa fan Sarah Rutson wearing Alaïa boots

For all his idiosyncrasies (or stubbornness if you're being harsh), Azzedine Alaïa is constantly dubbed as one of the most important living designers by those whose opinions count. It's no surprise, then, that his designs are loved by the likes of Rihanna and Victoria Beckham and continue to keep street style photographers snapping at the shows.

Now, with with the help of The Outnet, you can get in on the action too. Tomorrow the designer outlet will release their biggest ever selection of Alaïa pieces and of course, all come with a whopping cut off the normal price. I currently have my eye on a pair of suede and mesh peep toe heels but the range available is so wide that you'll definitely be able to find something that tickles your fancy.

See a sneak peak of some of the pieces that will be on offer after the jump

Image by Abi Marvel

Last week the lovely Abi Marvel invited me, and four of my favourite bloggers, to play dress up at The Outnet offices. The idea behind the afternoon was for us to pick out our favourite pieces from the retailers' current offerings that reflected how we would dress for three specific summer occasions.

The first was a day out shopping and I opted for a bright pink neon Christopher Kane dress from a few seasons ago, which, after a lot of convincing from the girls and the Outnet team, I fell in love with. As someone who doesn't tend to steer to far from black, opting for pink and neon was a big step out of my comfort zone but I'm now convinced.

Next up was a festival theme so true to form I chose a fringed Maison Martin Margiela gillet, teamed with a simple tee from Alexander Wang, lattice tank from J. Crew and the most amazing chain mail necklace from Fiona Paxton. Saying that, my favourite outfit of the afternoon was a black Emanuel Ungaro halter neck dress that I still can't stop thinking about.

See after the jump for more images

Since Net-A-Porter launched The Outnet, it's now hard to imagine a time when it didn't exist. The days where your favourite brands were inaccessible if you didn't have deep pockets are long. This week new e-commerce website, Covetique, launched with exactly that in mind.

The premise of the site isn't new. Sellers are able to upload their pre-owned designer pieces online in an easy, hassle-free way. What is different about Covetique, though, is the extensive range of designers on offer. The site includes great clothes from brands like Burberry, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton and Alexander Wang and accessories from the likes of Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin. Unlike similar sites, the prices are incredibly low with tops from Isabel Marant coming in at only £100 and Jimmy Choo sandals being sold for £130.  To celebrate the launch, Covetique have also teamed up with a number of key industry figures to guest edit the site and showcase their favourite pieces and first up this month is Louise Roe.

Read more after the jump the jump

Acne aren't the only brand preparing for a special launch as Helmut Lang are about to drop the first collection from their new diffusion line, HELMUT. The brand has a loyal following of fans but one of the biggest criticisms of the brand has been the high price points for the simpler pieces but now that's all a thing of the past.

Fans of the mainline will be able to buy pieces with their signature silhouettes for a fraction of the price with prices ranging from $95 to $210. Even better, the collection isn't a one off. Instead it will roll out season after season with the first collection set to hit stores in May. Whenever pieces from the mainline become available on The Outnet they instantly sell out so there's definitely a demand for their aesthetic at an accessible price point.

Are you excited?