The Milan Fashion Week schedule is an impressive list of powerhouse labels from Armani, Prada, Fendi, Cavalli, Versace and Gucci. Italian luxury brands also appear impervious to the economic crisis thanks to demand from wealthy consumers in the Far East. So why is the Italian fashion establishment worried?

This week I've mostly been wearing a yellow Petit Bateau rain coat in the hope that the colour will inspire some sunny weather. Jelly shoes have been worn with my characteristically blind optimism - read denial- that it'll become beach weather instantly...

As someone who makes a living by travelling the world seeking out the latest trends and undiscovered designers, I believe that to find truly innovative fashion design, you need to visit growing cities that are eager to establish themselves on the fashion scene.

So there I was, in the bosom of style greatness, surrounded by aesthetic alumni and fashion royalty. I was in the new spiritual home of the highly successful designer fashion retailer, Matches.

As New York Fashion Week is closing and the London fashionistas are eagerly awaiting their five minutes of fame on the fashion stage, there has never been a better time to take an interest in the direction our fashion industry is taking.

Imagine the scene. It's Monday morning. You're late for work. You had a stinking fight with your partner the night before and the cat has taken a dump in your gym bag. What will you wear? It's got to be head to toe black.

As the role of women in society has changed, so has the underwear. Is it not time to ditch the baggy, grey cotton briefs and start dressing like the power players we are today?

Finnish model Suvi Koponen covers Vogue Paris for the first time this month, shot by Mert & Marcus for our March 2013 avant-garde issue, available 22 February.

Have you bought your entire Spring/Summer 13 wardrobe yet? Have you bought anything at all new for spring, bearing in mind that London was covered in snow last weekend, and half the UK is lying under snow right now.

It might still be freezing cold outside but spring is on its way. If you're anything like me, with the changing of the seasons comes the desire to give your clothing collection a makeover to match. Here are a selection of my favourite fashion picks for this year's springtime.

As we've established dear readers, my affinity to something with a little bit of history knows no bounds. Show me an old tea dress in cracking condition and I'm interested. Give me a little provenance to that dress and I'm going over like a puppy on wet lino, tongue swinging in the breeze.....

As a proud child of the 80s, the bursts of neon and pastel in the shops right now send me back to a time where my favourite items were a pastel, fruit...

Here are a few of my favourites out there at the moment to help beautify body and soul because, whilst the products and the make up will make you look gorgeous. There's nothing like that confident, sexy feeling of fabulous, well-fitting lingerie no matter what your size.

Choo is softly-spoken has the calm confidence of a man who has achieved much in life. He is slightly built and smartly dressed. His greying hair is closely cropped and he looks at me with reassuring eyes that are surprisingly light in colour.