Looking at the images on the catwalk may fill you with awe, but unfortunately many of us do not have the budget to buy from the latest designer collections. With higher taxes and pay freezes looming the clothes budget will be feeling the pinch. However, 2010 trends have much to offer the creative bargain hunter from many high street clothes shops.

Borrowing from men’s clothing has been a recurring theme. The boyfriend’s jacket is a strong option to pull together a look. Velvet is going to be a trend this autumn so look out for a velvet dinner jacket. Velvet crush is most flattering as a tailored piece, but it will be appearing everywhere.

Layering clothes works as well in autumn as it does in spring. Many catwalk looks were anchored by tissue-thin knitted turtlenecks. The beauty of layering is that it allows you to take pieces from your existing wardrobe. Create a neutral background and then you can create contrast with a colourful or avant-garde top. Many designers, for example, showed dresses over trousers.

In uncertain times the classics often come back in fashion. This year it will be the trench coat, but with a new twist. Trench coats will be cropped and swinging at the waist, reworked as vests or simply cinched in at the waist with a contrasting belt. A good way of staying on trend without breaking the bank is to update an old trench coat.

One look that may not be to everyone’s taste and is definitely not for the faint-hearted is patchwork. However, patchwork has appeared as a motif in denims and outerwear. If you are brave enough, this is one trend that you could easily create from a bag of scraps.

The main thing to remember is that if you want to invest in something designer then invest in good quality basic clothing such as dresses, jackets, trousers and shirts, something that in not a throw away fashion trend, but instead something that will last for years to come.