This time of year can always be tricky in knowing what to wear and buy. However as we enter February the shops are now starting to wind up the sales and prepare the shop floor for the arrival of the spring summer collections. It seems everyone is on a budget this year but we still have occasions to go to with outfits to find. Therefore I will endeavour to provide a guide to this seasons trends that will give you with the wearability factor, allowing you the chance to make the most out of your new fashion purchases for the next season ahead.

80′s Revival

Yes the 80′s are back, think Bananarama and Wham! Its sounds scary and a lot of the new styles are but if you are careful in your selection the 80s can provide some great looks. The key to the 80s is jersey which is the most versatile fabric as it can be worn a number of ways.

T-shirt dresses and longer vests are a great jersey staple and can be worn baggy or fitted. If you opt for a totally plain jersey dress add some chunky jewels around your neck to add a bit of colour. Jersey is a great fabric to be worn by any size, if you struggle with your tummy opt for a drop waist as this will hide your belly and fit to your bum instead.

This jersey top is a great investment, it can be worn both day and night, as can most jersey pieces. By putting a belt around the middle the colour is broken and the waist shown off. Jersey being slightly loose needs to be teamed with a fitted bottom. Wear a pair of boot cut, skinny or leggings to counteract the looser top half.

Defined shoulders are back too, that means shoulder pads! Many designers such as Giles have featured them on the catwalk.

This dress is great at providing shape on the shoulders as it only has a slight shoulder pad built in. If you want to avoid looking like a Dynasty throw back stick to dresses or jackets with minimal pads in. A shoulder pad is a good item to help women with larger hips as it provides a balance from the curves. By defining the shoulders the waist also automatically looks smaller!

Good news if you are into the body con style. This is going to be big again this spring as it is a 80s classic thanks to Herve Leger.

If you have put on a few extra pounds over Xmas and want to wear a body con dress, then head for the Magic knickers. They will suck you in and give you a smooth line that is needed for these bandage style dresses.

Prints

In contrast to the 80s there are many prints on trend this spring. Inspired by the 60s and 70s there are some classic designs that can be bought now and kept in your wardrobe.

This black and gold striped dress is a classic style and print that is great to wear at any time of year. It is a myth that horizontal stripes make you look bigger, they just need to be kept relatively small. Stripes can be worn casual with boots or dressed up with heels, being black and gold this dress could even be worn for a spring wedding.

Checks are still big news. This tunic dress is another spin on the checked shirt that has been around in autumn. Checks are generally a more casual look but having put this print onto a tunic dress it allows the wearer to dress it up for an evening look. This dress has just a flash of checks and is a great look for the office or night out. Keep your accessories simple when wearing prints.

This spring sees the introduction of colour blocking.

Using large blocks of colour allows outfits to look simple but provide a high impact. Marni and Lanvin are inspiring this look which is set to be big – keep your eyes open as I plan to cover this more later.

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Cameron Diaz looks pretty in pink, she is obviously aware that pink is set to be the biggest colour this summer.

Question and Answer

It’s my birthday next week and I want to find a nice outfit that is new in for this season. I am only going for a meal so it doesn’t want to look too dressy.

Well now is a good time to start shopping, as there are some great new styles in the shops. As it’s your birthday you definitely deserve something that’s new as you’ll want to show off your new outfit to your family and friends. Just because you are heading out for a meal does not mean you shouldn’t dress up. I would opt for a jersey dress, as they are easy to wear but choose a printed dress, as this will give it more of a wow factor for your birthday.

This Miss Sixty dress is great as it can be worn on its own or over skinny jeans. Teamed with some pretty earrings or chunky bangle it is bang on trend but great for wearing again. The jersey fabric allows it to be dressed up or down and the colours allow it to be worn now through to summer.