Hot chocolate

Chocolate is this winter's colour, so popular that it's been declared, as everyone now knows, "the new black". Translated from fashion parlance, all this means is that, instead of the past month's couture shows being dominated by cool black jackets, black jumpers and black dresses, they are now a sea of chocolate brown. The fashion world

has gone crazy for it. Their lips are Bourneville, their tights Cadbury's, and their suits Hershey's. You are guaranteed to find a shade you like. And best of all, this is one kind of chocolate that won't make you fat.

Styling by Sophia Neophitou. Photographs by Donna Troppe

Above left Jersey cowl neck dress, pounds 280, by Clements Ribeiro, available from Crackers, 62 Church Rd, London SW13, (0171-409 7719); gold mesh belt, pounds 90, by Gucci, 33 Old Bond St, London W1, 18 Sloane St, London SW1 (0171-629 2716); toffee kitten heel sling back shoes, to order by Katherine Hamnett, 20 Sloane St, London SW1 (0171-823 1002) Above chocolate jersey strappy dress, pounds 1,000, from Istante by Gianni Versace, 183-184 Sloane St, London SW1, (0171-259 5700); sunglasses, pounds 16, from a selection at Blackout Two, 51 Endell St, London WC2, (0171-240 5006) Right pinstripe double breasted suit with epaulettes, pounds 1,025, chocolate silk shirt, pounds 395, gold mesh belt, pounds 90, gold pinkie ring, pounds 60, all by Gucci, 33 Old Bond St, London W1,18 Sloane St, London SW1 (0171- 629 2716)

Leather coat, pounds 575, from Whistles, 27 Sloane St, London (0171- 730 9819); gold torque, pounds 170, by Gucci, 33 Old Bond St, London W1, 18 Sloane St, London SW1 (0171-629 2716); black knickers, pounds 3, from Marks and Spencer, branches nationwide (0171-935 2244)

Chocolate brown fake fur coat, pounds 555, by Katherine Hamnet, 20 Sloane St, London SW1 (0171-823 1002); second hand shoes, pounds 20 from a selection at Blackout Two, 51 Endell St, London WC2 (0171-240 5006); white knickers, pounds 3, by Marks and Spencer, branches nationwide (0171-935 2244) Hair: Sharon Gault for Heller Associates, LA

Make up: Christopher Ardoff for Aveda

Model: Natasha, Elite LA