The New Year is upon us so despite the credit crunch and the bills left over from the festive season, you’ll want to stay abreast in the fashion stakes and grab yourself a few key 2009 pieces to put a spring in your step.
The big key trends coming from the catwalks have been well immortalized on the high street. The sheath dress was big in London and Dorothy Perkins has come up with this beauty. Feminine but not girlie, this is the alternative to the little black dress. Bold block colours make this a fabulous dress to behold. The line around the bust draws the eye down the middle, elongates the torso and breaking up the grey silk. At £45 it’s well worth it. Dress it up with heels and a sparkly boxed jacket or dress it down with cashmere. 
The store has gone mad for prints too. Teamed with luxurious fabrics, sophisticated styling and detailing. Structured shift and prom dresses are given a luxurious makeover in delicate shiny jacquards and with short hem lines. Add a pearl necklace or a corsage for a twist. Dorothy Perkins has also gone for 50s inspired floral dresses, ideal for casual but chic look. Wear with bare legs, (once the weather warms up) classic courts and a clutch.
Daywear at the store gets ‘dressed up’ with a new sports utility vibe. There is a toned down colour palette of grey and highlights of coral on silky fabrics, as we can see with the sheath dress.
Also on the shelves are silk cropped utility pants and layering of delicate fabrics such as soft jersey vests and two tone heels.
Prom dresses are still big this season, as is the cocktail dress. Dorothy Perkins has come up with this beauty at £35. The block colours are bang on-trend, not a hundred per cent sure on the gold band but we will go with it for the sake of the style. Tulip skirts are kicking the mini-skirt off the high street and look great if you’re a pear shape. 
The jumpsuit just will not go back in the closet and this one from £40 is a slight twist on the theme. A charcoal and one-shoulder version will bring the trend right into the New Year.
Not one for the faint hearted, definitely try before you buy as not every shape will suit this look. 
New Look has gone all paisley print on us. This limited edition shift dress comes in at £35 and the orange tights at £4. Don’t be put off by print. It can be daunting wondering what to wear with it but the general rule is to stick to block colours, such as blacks and creams for cardigans and blacks and tans for footwear. 
If you want to go romantical this season then New Look has this limited edition kimono sleeve blouse at £30. If the pink is too sickly sweet for you then team with denim hotpants at £20, tan belt at £5 and tan bag at £35. It’s country folk living at its best. 
Bright is big this season so why not go for these platform strappy sandals. Funky and fabulously high, you can’t go wrong if you like to get a bit trashy when the sun comes out. 
Sticking with coral, this clutch bag from George at just £7 is just to the ticket to inject a bit of colour into your wardrobe. Match it with shoes for the ultimate in 1950s glamour and whack on your best little black dress for a night out. 
Trim is certainly in this season with this box jacket also from George at for £25. Perfect for all occasions the splash of colour will make you stand out from the crowd, yet the style is smart enough for any office. 
T-bars are back with a bang and Bolton Boutique is loving these blue Mary Jane’s from George at £15. The cream trim is ever so regal and the heel will ensure you’re not falling over in the last of the ice. Wear with cropped trousers or A line prom dresses for a cutesy look. 
Oasis’s collection is clean and pared down. It focuses on fit, quality and clean lines. Boxy 80s silhouette, oversized men’s jacket worn with crop peg trousers contrast with palette which are soft and include sporty colours such as washed out taupe and grey marl. Black is an essential base colour with electric blue, acid yellow and tomato red splashed in.
Go for graphic prints, minimal embellishment, simple silhouette, shrunken waistcoats and scattered on vests. Where accessories are concerned, big is better. Try oversized pendants and cuffs.
Going graphical the store has produced this print blue dress. The mix of blues and whites makes a change from the reds, pinks and yellows usually around on the high street this time of year. Try a skinny belt around the waist to cinch it in. 
Oasis has also come up with this grey dress. Wide shoulders draped to meet the middle and a skinny belt to cinch it all in. What more could you want. Funk it up with neon accessories or keep it simple with black. You’re sure to impress. 
Box sleeve jackets are huge this season. Teamed with this red body con dress, you’ll turn heads while giving masculine tailoring a try. Prices to be confirmed. 
Finally the court shoe is making a comeback, although to be honest, when was it ever out of fashion? Faith has it nailed with this pair of shoes at £65. The classic brogue style has been jazzed up with a platform and the contrasting pink is an interesting alternative to white. Dig out your trusty pencil skirt and whack on a chiffon blouse and your sorted for workwear. Also available in tan and navy. 
Taking inspiration from pop star Katy Perry, this kitsch bag from Faith would help you stand out in the queue for the bar and transform any old outfit. With glamour reminiscent of 1950s red carpet you can definitely make a statement with this. At £30 grab yours before it’s sold out. 
If the sun actually comes out this summer then you’ll need to good sandals. These gold tie-up flip flops also at Faith are one of the best examples. At £30 you’ll wonder what you’re paying for but the design will ensure you don’t get that painful “in between the toe” bit and the heel cover will ensure these bad boys actually stay on your feet. Wear with the usual summer attire, denim shorts, cute bikini-tops and cool hats. 
Other trends hitting the shops are: HEADWEAR: If you want to get ahead get a headband. go for 1950s teddy girl rags, oversize visors and fabric headscarves.
SEXY: Looking defiant in the face of a credit crunch comes ramped up the glamour Glossy looks that ooze sex appeal. Cue flesh baring, one shouldered dresses, skinny, shiny trousers, micro hemlines and cinched waists all worn with golden tans and voluminous locks.
ETHNIC: African inspired ethnic touches echo back to the designs and influences of Jean Paul Gaultier in the nineties. Tribal themes are mixed with references to the American Wild West. Cue bone details on necklines and necklaces, raffia pom poms on stilettos, huge stones on multi strap leather belts and earthy embellishments of every kind.
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