Sporty luxe has made its way onto the accessories scene this season. From the athleticwear-dominated runways of NYFW comes a colorful pile-up of bags and shoes, some more literally adherent to the genre than others.

When Aquascutum first started, it was a menswear brand that tailored very specifically to the military, with an emphasis on outerwear. After Joanna Sykes took the helm of the brand as creative director, she lightened the outlook and the design ethos of Aquascutum. However, this season sees a return to the historical roots of the brand, as Sykes embraces “Dressing the Powerful” on the Fall/Winter 2012 runway. However, the “powerful” have little to do with military leaders or business moguls. Instead, Sykes clarifies the thesis by stating that this collection was for powerful women, who carry their provocateur status close to the chest – like a military secret. Her inspiration came, more directly, from “A Tarantino woman, dark, provocative, and dangerous”.