Only about 5% of a parade is to examine the models. The other 95% of the experience involves being squished on a bench, waiting, a little conversation, hit the BlackBerry and surreptitiously looking at what people on the opposite bank is using. That's why publishers are so obsessed with fashion bags and shoes, you see. It is very difficult to scrutinize cutting someone's pants or the derivation of her silk blouse while they are will sitting on the other side of the dimly lit church dome designer today has chosen to express his "vision". However, it is almost always possible to get a good angle on the bag and shoes. And as we sat there judging people on their accessories, we realize that users of such bags and shoes are judging us immediately. It's like morse code communication. A flash of projects red sole shoes Louboutin timeless elegance; the lush sparkle of a python-skin Zagliani bag screams Botox injected recession beating bank balance. What accessories are you know.

At ground level, this catwalk season is filled with loot. With heels or platforms of two inches in zebra stripe super shiny or patent with peep-toes or laser clipping; Victorian biker fastened with laces or buckles studiously awkward or tight clenchingly ankle. Any kind, in fact, apart from the, loot sensible heel stomp comfortable until recently it was virtually the only kind of loot existed.

The knee boot is dead in the water. Five years ago, the booties were practical option and knee boots were what I wore winter a little glamor. These days, knee-high is the easy safe choice: yummy mummies wear it to the doors of the school with their tight jeans and sweater dresses. (If that sounds condescending and judgmental, that's because it is. That's what many fashion makes you. Just wait until next week, I have not even done yet Paris).

The use of boots with dresses and skirts poses a challenge for the British woman, who often tend to have thin ankles, but veal calves. If you are determined to pull this off, go for the highest heel you can cope. Much easier is to match your boots with pants. (Meta hems in, but only vaguely -. Slightly shirred / effect left behind is all for the good)

To add a further complication, some very senior fashion choose to completely withdraw from the race horse accessories. Anna Wintour, for example, has been using almost identical styles of Manolo Blahnik kitten heel slingbacks for many years, and never carry a bag at all. Now, if I had to translate that through our faithful Front Row Morse Code probably read as "distant and strange" and this is the fact the system is programmed with either.