In a season that has thus far been all about partings - left, right, centre, far-right – whichever way you go, commitment to the cause with a clean, crisp divide is essential. This seemingly simple division of hair is all-important when it comes to us, the real woman, in interpreting the biggest (yet also smallest) hair trends of the season.

So, who better to translate what this geometric divvying of hair really all means than James Pecis, the backstage hair stylist working with uber brands like L'Oreal Professionel and Moroccanoil, and designers like Blumarine and Cavalli. His prowess with a tail comb is legendary in backstage circles (and yes, it doesn't hurt that he's also rather handsome and has beauty editor's dropping their notebooks in a fluster every time he walks us through the look, just saying.)

So, while we figure out exactly which way we're taming and attempt to kick our cow's licks into touch, here's the Pecis guide to Autumn/Winter 2014 partings:

The centre part
An old ‘90s favourite. The centre parting can be super straight, but more often than not it’s accompanied with a loose, beachy wave, (see Kate Moss for Calvin Klein and Christy Turlington in her ‘super’ days). 

‘Subconsciously, a woman with a centre part is innately cool and carefree – there’s nothing uptight about her. This is a girl you’re going to have good fun with’. Refrain from washing your hair for three days and you’ll achieve just the right ‘lived in’ texture.

The side part
Seen everywhere this season from Vera Wang in New York to JW Anderson in London - and now Milan. If you’ve never worn a sidey before, ease yourself in with this gentle divide about an inch off-centre.

‘This woman is a real woman. A lady. She’s grown-up, sophisticated, a real go-getter – she commands our respect’. Wear with a little volume and a halo of baby hairs.

The super side part
A new entry this season into the game of parts. It seems that hair stylists aren’t content with a hint of a side part, they love what it does to the features so much that they need to take it that three inches further. Left or right, it must be at least half way between your regular centre part and top of your ear.

‘This is the gallery girl. Super smart and intellectual. She’s sexy in a geeky kind of way’. Autumn's top tip here is to dismiss all hints of volume and paste down your super side with a volumizing mousse, (strange but true – it works) on dry hair.