The autumn/winter catwalks were all about making statements with shape. From clothes that were mildly bulky to outright bulging, and maximalist top-halves contrasting with streamlined bottom halves, designers took the opportunity to turn up the volume. It might, at first glance, seem impractical, but think again: there are tips and tricks to be taken from the collections that fuse function with fashion. You don’t have to follow this ethos to the letter; instead, it can be easily replicated, or subtly nodded to, with high-street offerings this season.

The jellyfish

This silhouette is about being cocooned up top and streamlined below. Alessandro Michele’s froufrou creation at Gucci encapsulated it best on the runway, and the look has been mirrored in myriad faux-fur and shearling options on the high street, including River Island’s cropped red jacket (now £60). The bomber jacket trend – spearheaded by brands such as Marques Almeida, Sacai and Undercover at the shows – achieves the same effect with a streetwear sensibility. Asos, Topshop and Boy London have great variations ranging from £16 to £170. Far from fluid, this silhouette is one that you can have fun with, but it will need to be balanced with simplicity below the waist – think jeans or a pencil skirt – for all the style but with none of the sting. SC

The lampshade

We are not suggesting you take your cue from the lighting department, rather the similar and super-flattering silhouette created by a cape. Possibly this season’s most popular outerwear trend, thanks to its throw-on-and-go credentials and a certain Duchess of Sussex wearing one on tour in Australia this week, the cape came swooping down the runways at Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Erdem. Our favourite interpretation was at Givenchy, where Clare Waight Keller morphed her take on the trend with a trench coat, which everyone knows is the most versatile item to own. & Other Stories has a beautiful belted style for £129, which we are banking on being the most worn item in our wardrobe this winter. SC

The onion

Dressing like a member of the allium family might not sound desirable, but this silhouette lends itself to practical autumnal dressing. It is all about layering, perfect for peeling off in fluctuating temperatures; or when you are speeding from footpath to bus. The look was big at Balenciaga, where models wore oversized anoraks over faux-fur jackets and big jumpers. Comme des Garçons (ever the champion of a millefeuille) and Maison Margiela also offered its own versions. Layering like this is ideal for eking out the life of summer-y jackets (no need to put your favourite denim jacket into hibernation just yet) or for breathing new life into last year’s padded jackets – wear one under an oversized blazer or overcoat when the sun goes down. EVB

The power pylon

You’re in luck if the decade of Dynasty is your idea of good style. For autumn/winter, shoulder pads powered their way down the catwalk; the bigger and more unapologetic the better. Power shoulders were there on claret-red blazers at Alexander McQueen; at Halpern they came sculpted into subtle points; while at Saint Laurent they were loud and proud on pussybow tops and floral dresses with plunging Vs. Of course, there are more subtle ways to nod to what can be an empowering silhouette – the high street has 80s-esque blazers galore, with options ranging from £50 at Zara to £199 at Jigsaw. As at Marc Jacobs, tapered tailoring (such as this pair of New Look trousers) works best on the bottom half to accentuate the silhouette. For a DIY alternative, add shoulder pads to an existing blazer (John Lewis or haberdasheries should be able to help). EVB