Poncho penchant packing a punch

As this year’s alternative to the usual trusty outerwear, the poncho adds a touch of high fashion and individuality to any outfit. Great over tight jeans for an urban look, edgy with a mini and slouch boots, cool as a warm evening wrap and hot on the beach over a bikini, the modern poncho effortlessly injects style into any look.

With the autumn/winter 2004 designer clothing ranges now unveiled, the poncho is once again everywhere, thanks to the prominence of the cosy but luxurious boho look that is set to dominate casual wear later this year.

Michael Kors makes clothes you want to curl up in on colder days and his chocolate brown or lavender luxurious fringed ponchos turned heads on the catwalk runway.

QSquared2 similarly opted for the poncho look, taking inspiration from what can only be the inhabitants of the Canadian Rockies. Tom Ford is already a fan of the poncho as the ever-glamorous clothing from Gucci already boasts whisper-light chiffon long-fringed ponchos, perfect for beach wear and sexy evening wear. Dolce & Gabbana already houses heavy Peruvian ponchos - Victoria Beckham’s choice of attire - and Chloe similarly stocks cosy thick-knit ponchos with soft leather fringing.

With ponchos currently riding high on the fickle fashion wave and looking set to remain strong in the popularity stakes for autumn and winter, these coveted clothing items can be hard to find.

However, fashion retailers such as New Look, Kookai, Marks & Spencer, Top Shop, House of Fraser, Accessorise, Mango and Zara have all finally jumped on the poncho bandwagon and sport a wide range of mouth-watering versions - from cropped sequined evening ponchos in a variety of colours and textures, to long, woollen, cosy ponchos with intricate detail. And if it’s designer quality that appeals, then Harvey Nichols houses a wide range of versions to lust after.

But, with references to the Wild West, getting the poncho look right is vital, so the overall effect resembles a Posh Spice ensemble rather than Pocahontas. So, what works best? "Your height and shape has to be taken into consideration when choosing a poncho," says Laura Wilton, an independent fashion stylist from Bruntsfield who styles many Capital professionals.

"Someone who is petite will look swamped in a large, oversized poncho from the likes of Monsoon, but this will look chic and elegant on a taller woman.

"Similarly, if you are larger-sized you need to be careful that the shape of the poncho makes the most of your assets, and doesn’t emphasise your problem areas."

Wilton stresses that it’s also important to pay attention to the cut and texture of the poncho. She explains: "If you’re slim, add depth with a thick-knit poncho with a lot of fabric around the bottom. However, larger women can slim with finer knit ponchos with neat edges and lines.

"Small women can get away with this season’s cropped ponchos which look cute, but those blessed, long-legged women really should stick with the longer ponchos or they might look as if they’ve shrunk their coveted garment in the wash."

When it comes to colour, play it safe with versatile shades that work well with your wardrobe. Avoid multi-colours or patterns to refrain from the little old lady look, and pick a length and shape that works. With ponchos set to be big, inject some individuality into the look by accessorising with chunky Mexican jewellery. Play it cool with some cropped flat slouch boots from Office or turn the heat up with some of the store’s spiky heels. When it comes to skirts, only short will do to avoid a frumpy look. And when it comes to jeans and trousers, think hip hugging and tight for sex appeal.

All that is left to do now is confidently don your poncho this season and do Mr Eastwood proud. Yeehah!