If the fashion world is guilty of one thing, it is reworking styles with each season that passes to create a new trend in its own right. Believe it or not, the successful reinvention of fashion’s previous style triumphs is one of the foundations of modern styling. Well they do say that there is no originality left in the world. The funny thing is that while it is transient and constantly propelling itself forward, the fashion world continually relies on looking backwards for its motivation in the creation of the latest trends to adorn the glossy pages of the magazines we adore.

It is inevitable that fashion’s proud heritage will have an impact on the styles we create today and iconic looks from the past find their way into the clothes that grace the catwalks of the present.

After last season’s dalliance with the revamped 1920s flapper and Autumn Winter 2011’s flirtation with 1970s cool, it is no surprise that Autumn Winter 2012 will see styles hurtling backwards again. This time to the refined and restrained baroque style of the Edwardian era, or the modern ’Edwardiana’ trend as dubbed by fashion insiders.

Yes the staunch and immaculate detailing of this iconic and technologically progressive era has been resurrected from fashion’s graveyard and its dusty old bones have been injected with a plush and ornate new lease of life. This look is most definitely haute couture and not for those who shy away from the extreme side of dressing. For those of you daring enough to plunge into this glittering world of brocade, velvet and embellishment…it’s time to baroque and roll.

The look is darkly romantic with a hint of melodrama and gothic elegance that does not require you to be historically accurate.

Fashion decadism is more of an interpretation and general reworking of a style rather than a rigid and uncompromising ‘dead on’ reproduction so don’t focus too much on technicalities.

Enjoy experimenting with this trend in your own way and clashing with your modern pieces for a truly innovative fashion forward look. Start by adding accessories, a heavily embellished brooch littered with pearls can be popped onto your bag or coat to add an instant dash of that opulent Edwardian glamour. Ladylike high collars and lace detailing scream antique chic and dainty leather gloves, boots with button detailing and richly textured fabrics played a key role in the execution of the trend for design houses like Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton and Roberto Cavalli. Tweed is a great way to channel this look and conveniently doubles up as an important part of many other key Autumn Winter trends seen recently, namely check, plaid and the countryside revival.