Chalet girls

The autumn/winter catwalks were set alight by folkish, alpine-style knitwear and it's become one the most translated and wearable looks to hit the High Street for winter.

At Dolce & Gabbana, seen at Milan, a complete alpine adventure look was created, with snowy scenes playing in the backgound as models traversed a wooden cabin floor-style catwalk, clad in knee-high shaggy fur boots, and then an array of knitted dresses, bodices, hotpants, rompers, coats and long and cropped sweaters featuring reindeer designs in plum on white, cream on white, or grey. You name it and D&G knitted it for winter, although it's perhaps not what Heidi had in mind.

These are the sort of clothes that make you long for snow (and our prayers may well be answered later this week, if the weather forecasts are to be believed). Or they'll have you yearning for the ski slopes, then the apres-ski, and then the snuggling down in a cosy log cabin before a roaring fire.

Layering is key, as ever, layering knit on knit for daywear in classic Nordic colour combinations of blue and white, red and white and grey and white. Add faux fur gilets and capes, and fax fur and cashmere hats and snoods and scarves and, of course, your Uggs or your shaggy sheepskin boots

Skater-style skirts are fabulous for this winter and team beautifully with all Nordic-style knits, ready to dress up for evening with velvets and cashmere. Add ear muffs and faux fur collar.

For apres-ski, or for more dressy looks, try layering your snowflake and reindeer knits with short or full-length, floaty, floral chiffon skirts, or even with silk dresses, for a different take on this season's dressed-down evening look. Add sparkle too, with sequin tops and embellishment on dresses and skirts and jackets.

For an easy-to-wear alpine adventure look, there are lots of pattern knitted dresses in palettes of muted rapberry, grey, heather and aqua, or especially in more traditional blue or red or black or grey (plus white) colourways. It's an excellent option for Christmas Day or Boxing Day, especially if you are going for cosy chic, rather than buttoned up high glamour.

Ugg boots, meanwhile, never seem to die, but there are some amazing alternatives around for this season, so it's worth having a good shop around.

Regarding accessories, there are some lovely knitted reindeer pattern bags in blue/white and grey/white

combos at M&S (see this week's Six of the Best), although these are not going to look as current once Christmas is over and done with. But invest in snoods, scarves and hats in classic red or alpine blue, and they'll keep you looking cosy chic for many a winter to come.