What we learned: Hot looks for cool seasons

South African Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2017 previewed next year's cooler seasons trends. Furs (usually fake), off-the- shoulder evening wear, the return of metallics, and lace popped up in some collections. Here's what we learned.

NEVER THROW OUT YOUR AFRICAN PRINT: Though African print was a huge trend overseas a few years ago, locally it never goes out of style. Yadah Exclusive designs had voluminous dresses, skirts and tops in a bright, leaf and vine pattern, while Siyathokoza kept African print in the limelight with subtle touches of shweshwe fabric in earthy green, brown and red.

BRAVE THE COLD WITH BARE SHOULDERS : Despite the cold weather, winter styles retain sex appeal by leaving shoulders exposed. Clive Rundle combines two graphic prints on his deconstructed dress cut high up the thigh with a wide bowtie collar which shows off the sexiness of collarbones. Heart and Heritage's mainly white collection also had some outfits that exposed the shoulders.

KEEP LACE UP YOUR SLEEVE: It's fashion week season all over the world and international shows have had one trend in common: lace. Locally, the delicate fabric appeared in collections from Atelier Dajee, who created see-through dresses that teasingly showed off underwear. JJ Schoeman was more subtle with lacy, slightly longer dresses and white opaque slips.

METALLICS MAKE A COMEBACK: On shoes, accessories, bags and dresses, metallics are back. Atelier Dajee showed a shimmery pleated mini with mesh sleeves, Heart and Heritage mixed copper tops with soft, white skirts and Keys Fashion showed tight bodycon mini dresses in a sleek silver metallic fabric. Gold metallic dresses with different textures were seen at Morph.