The super-stylish Ruth Runberg, buying director of legendary London boutique, Browns, is August's guest editor.

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ruth Runberg started out life as an investment banker in NY. After a 4 year stint at Barney’s, Ruth moved to work in the glamourous Couture department at Saks. It was after this, as head of buying for womenswear boutique, Capitol, that Ruth first discovered Rupert Sanderson’s shoes. Finally settling in London recently with her husband, Ruth took on the to-die-for role as Buying Director at the prestigious London store, Browns. Ruth loves the peacocks in Holland Park, El Camion beef tacos and a pint of Guinness at the Ladbroke Arms. She fills us in on the latest trends hitting the stores this Autumn/Winter...

Last week, my husband listened patiently as I relayed to him my most recent case of sartorial stress. This has been my first “summer” living in London and the 19-ish degree temperatures render a good two-thirds of my summer and early-fall closet unwearable. You see, I moved from the American South, a place where summers are long, hot and sticky, where only the barest of cotton sundresses will suit. And because I’m typically cold in what most consider pleasant temperatures, my short cotton embroidered skirts from Mexico and beloved tie-dye tanks leave me shivering down Oxford Street to work in the mornings! And, if this is July weather, how will I ever dress during that tricky transition to autumn? ( Hello, goosebumps were certainly NOT shown on the AW11 runways!) Sooooo, I knew I had to act fast and update my Southern girl bohemian late-summer wardrobe with pre-fall’s newest and smartest trouser shapes. BUT (and this added “but” is where husband’s patience in listening to my dilemma began to wear thin), the new fall trouser silhouettes call for just the right new shoe pairing. The masses of shoebooties I’ve collected in the last five seasons just no longer fit the bill. So, I grabbed my top five favourite new trousers from Browns and showed up to Rupert Sanderson’s doorstep, determined to find the perfect shoe/trouser solution.

THE CONTENDERS :

1) The tasselled loafer amps up the preppy crop :

The mensy-loafer was a major shape on runways from Alexander Wang to Celine! I love Rupert’s leopard-print haircalf take because the leopard acts as a great neutral and the bit of red trim and tassel gives this conservative Stella McCartney side-zip trouser a pop of fun.

2) The point and the tuxedo flare :

I love a long, lean, flared leg and these Burberry Prorsum black tuxedo stripe trousers are perfection. Beware of the flare though! A wide flare has the tendency to completely envelope a round-toe heel (or shoebooty!), leaving the wearer footless and looking something like a Clydesdale. This little oxblood point peeks out perfectly, just enough to be noticed. But the real fun comes when you sit down for your Martini, cross your leggy legs and show off the little velvet bows hiding beneath those flares!

3) Buckled Beauty Befitting Balenciaga Biker (try saying that 5 times fast! :

These Balenciaga leather leggings have panels of stretchy knit sewn in that make them super-comfy. They’ve even got a portion of this stretchy knit sewn at the cuff which allows you to tuck them easily into a slim-fitting ankle boot or roll them shorter for an entirely different ankle-revealing look. And Rupert’s bootie has its own trick up its sleeve, with a removable chap that takes the boot from rock-n-roll to basic with a few buckles. I liked to see a little peak of the ankle with the more basic bootie.

4) Spotted Platform + Wool Flannel Highwaists = Charlie Girl Chic :

The AW11 collections were chocked full of gorgeous haircalf dresses, shoes and accessories. These Dalmatian-spotted platforms offset a little of the sobriety of this Balenciaga highwaisted wool flannel trouser. This would be a GREAT look with a chic 70’s-style silk collared blouse.

5) Cuffed Tapered Trouser Takes a Spectator Pump :

We have a winner. These Stella McCartney burnt orange turned-up ankle-grazers and the very walkable kitten heel spectator pump strike the perfectly modern balance of mensy-meets-preppy-meets-delicate feminine-meets-cool for me. And it even helps my softer than soft beloved Proenza tie-dye grow up a little!

Thanks, Rupert, for designing the perfect compliment to any trouser and for saving my husband from further fashion discussion! You’re a genius!