I would like to wish to all of the readers of the Chic Shopper Blog a very happy and stylish new year and thank you for reading. I hope that you will enjoy reading lots more fashion, style and shopping tips, news and ideas in 2009.

This year, I will be a having a very quiet family celebration for new year with just a few family and friends. What ever you are doing I hope that you have a lovely time.

In my final post of 2008, I would like to share my favourite new years party outfit. See you in 2009.

This Mariella Burani Shirt is a really stylish alternative to a little black dress for a new years eve party.

I love these Pink Formal Trousers, perfect with heels for a party.

With the extravagance of Christmas over, I am now back to thinking carefully about my clothes shopping. I have compiled a sensible shopping list of clothes that I need to take me through to the spring in style

 Jeans - my most worn item of clothing, a well fitting and flattering pair are a definite investment

A polo neck jumper - great for layering, keeping really warm and accessorising with lovely necklaces.

Low heeled boots- I need a bit of a heel to give me some added height but too high and I won’t be able to walk in them. This ruched leather ankle boot is perfect for day to day wear and will go with trousers and skirts.

Black evening shoes - I just threw away my last pair which I have had for ages. I love the high heeled Mary Jane style shoes as they go with almost any evening outfit.

A leather jacket - This is a definite investment and will last for seasons to come. I love the cropped style which really suits petites.

Not only am I being very sensible with my shopping list but I will also be very sensible in the way that I shop. I prefer to shop online as it gives me the opportunity to compare products and prices. I’m not saying that I won’t return to my old ways in the near future but at least I am starting the year off right.

I know I have probably mentioned the gothic trend in a few of my previous posts but it has been so huge this season, I wanted to post about it again. Gothic was seen at the autumn winter catwalk shows of Alexander McQueen, Luella, Rodarte and Yves St Laurent to name but a few. It is such an easy trend to do, just lots of black clothes, black opaque tights and some gothic style jewellery. if you want to add a bit more interest to a gothic style outfit you can also add different textures of black fabric include patent and lace and details like embroidery.

I have come across some great gothic jewellery.

Bat Pendant - this great for those who like a bit of gothic humour (if there is such a thing). It looks great with a casual black top and black jeans.

La Fleur de Baudelaire Choker - This choker looks amazing with a lace evening dress. It has fairies and  a skull for a real gothic theme. It ties in a bow with black ribbon.

Amber Dragon Necklace - This necklace reminds me of the historically influenced jewellery at the Alexander McQueen catwalk show.

Queen of the Night Necklace - this opulent necklace with Austrian crystals is inspired by the Baroque period. It would look amazing for the evening with a black strapless dress to show it off in its full glory.

 picture from www.fashionunited.com

Jewellery is one of my favourite accessories and over the past few seasons I have noticed a definite focus on jewellery by the fashion houses and designers.

As everybody cuts back in the recession (sorry, I’ll try not to mention it again), I think costume jewellery will become  become more popular as a way of making key classic outfits look a bit different. Take this years trend for the black polo neck, it takes on a whole new look when worn with a gothic style black and silver necklace to a brightly coloured beaded necklace.

There has also been an explosion of new jewellery designers offering increasingly innovative pieces that are such a style statement in their own right that they need to be worn with minimalist clothes to be shown off to their full potential.

I am quite excited by the opportunity for more talented jewellery designers to increase their offerings with the second year of London Jewellery Week.

Coutts London Jewellery Week is organised by the City Fringe Partnership, with funding from the London Development Agency, and sponsored by Coutts. It will give 20 up and coming jewellery designers the opportunity to get support and help in an industry that is particularly vunerable in the current economic climate.

I love this Martick Bohemian Cherry Heart Necklace. Martick jewellery is renowned for designing award winning silver jewellery with a strong fashion bias; using beautiful and exotic materials such as dichoric glass and Venetian glass to produce stunning and enchanting pieces.

In my last weekly round up of the best fashion reads in 2008, I would like to share with you some of my favourite posts that have given me some great inspiration for 2009, enjoy.

Flying Saucer tells of her sales shopping in her post ignoring my own advice and shows how easy it is to fall into the trap of buying the complete opposite of what you planned in the sales.

She Finds offers some great advice on unwanted gifts in the post What to do with all those gifts that were just plain wrong.

In how to wear a white shirt and jeans part II, Disney Roller Girl gives some great advice on how to work this classic look to your maximum style advantage.

In case you missed out Susie Bubble posted  a great Christnas pressy in Merry Christmas! for all her readers. A map of shops in London. A great present for all fashionista shopaholics, if you have any money left to go shopping. Thank you Susie for some great fashion inspiration in 2008 and I can’t wait to read more in 2009.

And finally Wardrobe remixers o’ the week on Bits and Bobbins is one of my favourite places for style inspiration. This weeks are great and a definite celebration of unique and individual style.

With Christmas all done and dusted, it is time for me to start thinking about 2009 and what my new years resolutions will be. Apart from the usual, to eat more healthily, do more exercise, be more organised, keep in touch with my friends more often and de clutter the house, this year I will be having a few additional style resolutions to help me look and feel better.

I have found that if I feel good in the clothes that I am wearing I feel  more confident and it generally has a  positive impact on other areas of my life. For 2009, my main style resolution will be to only buy clothes that really suit me and not matter how much I love the latest trend and fashions only to follow them, if they suit me.

I will also continue to develop my own sense of style and individuality by seeking out clothes that I really like and that say something about me rather than just wearing the same old stuff over and over again.

Finally, In 2009, I will be more adventurous with my dress sense (whilst still choosing flattering clothes) I will try and more styles of clothes, colours and combinations.

This T bag dress will be a great addition to my 2009 wardrobe. A really adventurous colour and pattern and a very flattering style.

Unfortunately I am suffering from the effects of too much food and drink this Christmas. When it came to eating and drinking, I took the view, ’so what it’s Christmas’. The Christmas nibbles, glasses of mulled wine, a huge meal on Christmas day and more chocolates than you can imagine have had a devastating effect on my waist line. Yesterday whilst slumped in front of the TV I had to loosen my belt and undo my top button - not good.

Of course I know that come new year with my new years resolution to give up drinking completely and only eat healthy food and walk every where, the Christmas bloat will disappear in no time. But what about in the mean time?

I will be employing a few tricks to help make myself look slimmer. Did you know that you can take pounds off your weight and inches off your waist by wearing the right clothes.

• Head to toe black - this is a great way to get a streamlined silhouette and look slimmer. You can always brighten the look up with some colurful accessories.
• A long scarf or necklace. This will make your torso look longer and slimmer.
• Wrap tops and dresses - These just look great and are very flattering.
• Long trousers that cover your shoes - again these will make you look longer and slimmer.

This retro chiffon circles and stripes scarf will look great worn around the neck with plain black top.

This year Santa has really excelled himself in choosing stylish and lovely Christmas Presents. I was greeted on Christmas morning by a great big stack of Christmas presents to open. Probably the most presents that I have had for Christmas since I was about 11 years old. Not one single useless or tasteless present this year and some money and gift vouchers to choose myself some lovely clothes as well, so thank you very much to Santa. Amongst my presents:

• Some luxury foods, condiments and hot chocolate cups with a little plate/ stand for putting my biscuit on.
• Mango body butter
• A plain white short sleeved T shirt
• Lots of hard backed note books for scribbling doen all my list and ideas.
• Some scented candles
• The fluffiest warmest dressing gown ever and a pair of spotty slippers.
• Jewellery - a celtic style necklace and earrings and some grey and black beads.

I am now trawling the online sales hoping to spend my Christmas money on a new jacket, some good basic black, white and grey tops and a pair of ankle boots, plus some new make up and underwear.

This leather look jacket will be a great buy as I can wear it with a jumper in the winter and it will last me right through spring.

The wrap dress is one of those items that almost every woman has or certainly should have in her wardrobe. It does something amazing for the figure and I am not quite sure how but it narrows the waist and gives a very slim silhouette. Perhaps something to do with the diagonal lines of the fabric wrapping around the body and tying at the narrowest part of the waist.

The wrap dress was invented by Diana Von Furstenberg and she will always be a fashion legend because of it. There are so many different versions of the wrap dress available. With prints, plain, with ruffles and a knitted version in cashmere, the wrap dress really can be worn for almost any occasion. I have always though of the wrap dress as a very grown up item of clothing but it also exudes a maturity that comes when someone starts to realise which clothes really suit their figure and look great.

For a casual look a wrap dress looks great with a vest top in a contrasting colour worn underneath.

For a more dressy occassion, this Belle and Bunty Silk Wrap dress looks amazing.

pictures from www.style.com

This posts jumps ahead again to Spring Summer 09 and a collection from one of my favourite labels Balenciaga. Nicolas Ghesquière was true to form producing a ground breaking collection that was truly innovative on many levels.

The collection was described by Ghesquière himself as a study of ”matte and shine, playing with textures to see how they reflect or absorb light. And playing with our house codes.” He certainly managed to create an interesting array of textures and the cuts of the outfits contrasted more structured lines with softer draping. The neutral colours and chalky pastels complimented the almost new age shapes feel and did not detract from the depth of interest created by captivating shapes and textures.

The collection included mini dresses, tunics and ankle skimming trousers, aswell as some sparkly party dresses, all of which will be topping many a fashionista’s wish list for next year.

If you can’t wait until next Spring to get some ankle skimming Balenciaga trousers try these low waisted ones.