do you remember your best resolution to date? you know, the one that you saw through to the bittersweet end despite your misgivings. well I’m yet to see one through so this year i resolved to make no resolutions but if i did have one it would include making 2011 my most stylish year to date.

talking about great style, here are five spring summer 2011 essentials to start compiling for summer.

1. the white dress: every girl has a little black dress. mine is this vintage sequin number. you? well designers reckon it is time it got a twin in white.

2. the maxi skirt: voluminous, printed, sheer and so many more variations of the maxi skirt. if it is maxi it is in.
 
3. the striped piece: is it just me or do stripes conjure up vision of baddies behind bars? designers were inspired by prison, uniform and whole array of stripes this season.

4. neon: no I don’t mean a light up dress! if it is eye watering bright then it is clearly right for this season. on the subject of neon fashion, do you remember those neon cycling shorts that we (i mean me) all wore in the 90′s?

5. sheer: it has been on the radar for a while and the only excuse for showing your undies in public is still going strong.

which trends get your approval? which ones will you not be wearing?

how do you feel about having a tiger or a zebra on your shoulder (not literally off course!)?

forget the park or game reserve, you will sooner spot an animal on the catwalk. sequined, illustrated and patch-worked, animals are adorned on everything from clothes to the garments.

on the pro side it is fun no? who does not want a monkey or three on their lap?

on the tragedy side, you could look like you had just escaped from a zoo with a few friends in tow. your thoughts on the trend?

the only thing keeping me going in this cold and its ensuing chaos is the thought of spring.

what is your favourite thing about that season? i like the budding flowers and warmer weather off course but the best thing is seeing new spring trends on the street.

here are five you are sure to spot.

white - how often do you dry clean? if your dry cleaning bill is usually as high as mine, it is about to become astronomical with this trend.

maxi skirts – short or long? how do you like to wear your skirts? long lengths took over spring summer 2011 catwalks. i wonder how many maxi skirts we will spot come summer?

neon – what do neon brights remind you off? whenever i see neon, i think of the friendly lollipop lady in her reflective vest that used to help children cross the road at my primary school. if it is neon and bright, it is in next summer.  

stripes – a stylish friend of mine reckons that there are stripe people and non stripe people. if you were wondering, she cannot stand stripes. the question is, can you? stripes looming ahead.

70′s – on the spring 2011 catwalks it was glam, it was luxurious, it was the 1970′s by way of 2010. big hair, slinky gowns, decadent jewel colours, gold, platforms and wide leg pants.

which of these trends will you be likely wearing in summer? 

when you hear 70′s inspired fashion, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? for me it is jersey maxi gowns, studio 54 and strappy platforms.

come summer there is a lot of that and more; wide leg pants, knit prints, jewel colours, exotic influences, glamour etc

if you are worrying about looking like a character out of a 70′s TV show, moderation is key.

go easy on proportions as well or it will be less 2011 and more swinging bell bottoms circa 1971.

i am really looking forward to this trend, you?

it was either ditsy in mood like phoebe from friends, or a poster for grunge. which did you?

many won’t touch velvet with a barge pole. but what exactly did it do again to deserve such a bad rep?

well with the resurgence of the velvet trend, it is all over catwalks and falling off hangers on the high street.

whether you look tragic or trendy depends on the velvet piece and how you wear it. How will you be wearing this trend?

So you’ve got the turkey and the mince pies but have you sorted your holiday season wardrobe?

The party invitations (including the dreaded Office do!) are piling up but what will you be wearing?

Are you like my friend Anna who rushes out to get a new outfit for each new event? If you have maxed out your credit card on those gifts and cant afford a new dress per party like Anna here are five ideas.

1. The Black Dress: How many times has a little black dress saved your life? They are life savers I tell you! Every closet has one or three. Fun thing is with clever accessorizing it can look brand new each time. What will you be wearing with yours?

2. The Vintage piece: I have this recurring nightmare. I arrive at a party and every girl is in the same exact dress! Nobody wants a dress clone and this is where vintage has the trump card. A recent vintage designer find for £10 still puts a smile on my face. What has been your best vintage find?

3. The Party Heels: What do you look for in a pair of party heels? All you need is your favourite pair to see you through the festive season.

4. Large Headpiece: Now this can be like Marmite, you either love or loathe it. What side of the headpiece debate are you on? Headpieces get the party started. No one will care what you are wearing, when you are wearing a flirty headpiece. Fruit inspired designs are so in.

5. Deck the boughs with costume jewellery: The festive season is for sparkle and glimmer. Pile on all the costume jewellery that you own.   

It may be the middle of winter but we think it’s time to discuss some skin!

Have any dress disasters? If you don’t yet, you will if you pick the wrong cut-out piece!

What are your thoughts on this ‘hole in your garment’ look? I really like it but is it me or can it sometimes look like someone has taken a pair of scissors to you while you walked down your local high street?

This is a tricky trend all right. Get it right and you will be channeling movie star, get it wrong and it is down the slippery road that is, tragedy lane.

Bottom line? Firstly, do mind where those cut-outs are placed, no one wants to see your nether regions. Lastly, when cut-outs have bulges of flesh poking out of them it is guaranteed to never be a pretty sight.

Trend or Tragedy?

It is a fact, New Year’s resolutions go hand in hand with left over turkey and shopping on Boxing Day.

Do you, like me, make a bunch of them only to break them by the 2nd of January?

What are your top five impossible resolutions?

Here are mine…

1. Jogging Every year I resolve jog daily on New Year’s eve. Lets just say I blame the fickle British weather for breaking this one. The current issue of snow is an example. It If you are one of those people who jogs regularly come rain or shine, one question, how? Talking about the weather, why are as a nation so preoccupied with it?

2. Less chocolate more fruit  To the girl who regularly passes on the chocs for the fruit, I applaud you. If this was meant to be the order of things, why does chocolate taste better?

3. Budget The miracle that is, sticking to one budget, is as foreign to many (including me!) as an exotic language.

4.  Try the new So what is the new thing you have picked up this year (shopping bags not included!)? I have been planning to learn to swim since I was a kid. Still on my to do list. You?

5. Stress How one is supposed to worry but not stress beats me. Even thinking about that puzzle gets me stressing…

What are your resolutions for 2011 and more importantly, how do you stick to them?