The new year is a great time to have a good clear out and get organised for the year ahead. I like to take the opportunity to sort out my wardrobe or do ‘wardrobe edit’ as those in the know would say.

My wardrobe is bursting at the seams and in desparate need of editing. So how can I go about choosing which stuff to chuck and which to keep?

I try to apply a simple rule, if I haven’t worn it in over a year, it goes, if it doesn’t fit me properly, it goes, if it doesn’t make me look and feel amazing, it goes. I make it sound really simple, but in actual fact it can be quite difficult to part with clothes which have sentimental value, cost a lot or money or were a present, even if they don’t suit me and look awful.

A good way to make yourself feel better about getting rid of an unworn Christmas present, or the dress you wore when you met the love of your life is by making sure they go to a good home where someone else can benefit from them. I like to donate my old clothes to charity and I get a real feeling of satisfaction from filling one of the charity bags that I receieve through my letter box.

If getting some money or another item or clothing in return makes you feel better about your wardrobe edits try selling on ebay, swapping at a swishing party, selling through a consignment shop or swapping on a second hand clothes website. All of these options are both frugal and eco friendly so you can feel really good about yourself and perhaps treat yourself to something new that you will get lots of wear out of.

A good pair of jeans is a staple for most peoples casual wardrobe and are likely to get lots of wear. I love these Seven For All Mankind Jeans.

A lot of Eighties trends are showing something of a resurgence. One of the most notable trends of the eighties was the power suit. Partly because of the design and the masculine style tailoring originally designed by Yves St Laurent in the Sixties, but also because of what it said about the social dynamics of the Eighties.

The power suit was worn by men and women and characterised by the sharp cut, wide shoulders and rigid form. The power suit was an expensive item of clothing and signified the increased earnings of business people during this era. It was also a result of the increased significance of women in the work place and their efforts to be taken seriously and accepted by their male counterparts.

The power suit and power dressing of the Eighties was also a  result of influences like the American Soap operas Dallas and Dynasty, Margeret Thatcher and Diana Princess of Wales.

If you would like to give power dressing a try, this cravat scarf is a great way to add a bit of power to any outfit. 

picture from www.style.com

When it comes to fashion awards, Fashion Group International’s 25th Annual Night of Stars is definitely one of the biggies. Just about everyone who is anyone in the world of fashion was there from Anna Wintour to J Lo and many others besides. The star studded awards were dripping with glamour and a really good opportunity to see what everyone was wearing. The awards were held at the downtown Cipriani being a stark contrast to the current feelings of unease and general nervousness on Wall Street.

Donatella Versace was presented  the superstar award and hardly batted an eyelid showing that she is no longer a foot stamping diva or at least she hides it very well. She arrived accompanied by J Lo on one side and Price on the other. The Versace label has managed to shake off it’s bad press and rumours that following Donnatella taking over the helm and Donatella has made a definite comeback in the last 4 years proving that she can design dresses with the most beautiful cut somthing that most women dream of. There were also awards to Bobbi Brown for beauty and Christian Louboutin. All in all it was probably one the years most glamourous and glitzy affairs - oh how I wish I could have been there. I can instead treat myself to something a little more low key like this Versace jeans couture shirt.

I have made it no secret that I love the Burberry Prorsum Autumn Winter 08 collection for its supreme wearability. One of my favourite features of the whole collection is the tunic with long flared trousers. I have also spotted this look on numerous other catwalks including Akris, Just Cavalli and Michael Kors. It has a definite seventies feel about it. The tunic is such an easy and versatile piece to wear. It is both slimming and flattering and whe teamed with this seasons long flared trousers, it gives a really long and lean sillhoutte. If you think the thought of wearing a tunic is a bit boring then think again. This seasons tunics are in all sorts of luxe fabrics inlcuding bright tartans and plaids at D & G. You can also wear the tunic with this seasons cropped straight leg trousers for a really smart look that will be great for the office. The tunic is also the perfect item to wear if you love wearing key basics then brightening up with jewellery. You can also add a  bit more shape to your tunic by cinching in with a belt. Other great ways to accessorise the tunic include gloves, hats, statement bags and shoes.

The tunic is the petite girls  best friend. It will make you look taller by lengthening the body, just pay careful attention to length, it should finish on or above mid thigh level or the look will be out of balance.

Akris - Autumn Winter 08

Burberry Prorsum - Autumn Winter 08

Just Cavalli Autumn Winter 08

www.style.com

I love the pocket detail on this Fat Face Tunic.

As seen at Gucci, folk and seventies bohemian is a key trend for Winter 2008. The look was also evident at Luella with embroidery, D & G with a mixture of paisley prints and Roberto Cavalli with his ribboned frocks. The key to this look is richly coloured prints, tassels and fringes and faux fur jackets or trims.

The whole look is reminiscent of the seventies (not that I remember the seventies) and makes me think of music and dancing. The rich autumnal colours are just perfect for this time of year. At Gucci the folk had almost a rock chic edge to it with opaque black tights and black leather. It works really well with some of the other trends for this season including goth  and grunge.

Gucci - Autumn Winter 08 - a gorgeous paisly print mini dress.

Gucci Autumn Winter 2008 - I love the print on this dress and also the studded belt and shoes.

Gucci Autumn Winter 2008- This skirt is gorgeous and hasa really folky feel when teamed with a faux fur jacket.

Pictures from www.style.com

This paisley mock shell top from Lands End is a great way to wear this seasons folk trend.

Yes I am feeling glad it is Friday. The sun is shining and the whole weekend lies ahead. Cheer up your day even more by having a read of the best of this weeks fashion and style blog posts.

Laboured and Lovely - Susie Bubble states her case for why clothes should not be minimalist, I can’t help but agreeing with her

Fall Wardrobe - Get an insight into professionally trendy’s very trendy wardrobe. Some lovely ideas for autumn.

 Goldin Girl - Queen Michelle of the Kingdom of style looks at the amazing collection from Louise Goldin and comments on why her Topshop collection bears little resemblance to her signature work.

Quote of the Day - Catwalk Queen gives us a happy thoughtfor the day with this gem from Simon Doonan of the Guardian.

Thrift Star of the day: mixing decades - A great outfit and perfect for those on a budget. Painfully Hip shows how to mix up clothes from different decades.

picture from NY mag.com 

I was quite intrigued to read one of the latest features on Dazed and Confused which was entitled ‘Behind the Scenes:NOKI’. I have seen some of Dr Noki’s clothes but am not quite getting what is going on with this label. I hoped that this article would give me some insight into this mysterious and fantastical looking enigma that is NOKI.

The picture that sticks in my mind when I think of NOKI is the ball dress skirt worn with a cartoon T shirt by a dreadlocked monster person for the  s/s 08 collection. The clothes may not be to everyones taste but they certainly have a huge amount of energy about them and no lack of innovation.

I’m still not really sure that I’m getting the  whole NOKI thing. What  do they mean when they talk about the NHS. Surely the government has not decided that fashion is vital to the nations health and so set up a new health department devoted to fashion.

Whilst I was a bit dispppointed to see no NOKI at LFW. I understand the Dr has been a little busy of late with his new set up including a studio, with a brand new vintage store at the top of Brick Lane. Well I hope to pay it a visit soon but in the mean  time will amuse myself with the thought of his ‘white cubicle party’, which had a strict dress code, no mask, no entry, very funny and just a little bit scary.

This C3PO mask would be just the ticket!

With so may different options for shopping what is a girl to do? Whilst a day at the shops for some is a like a day of pampering at the health spa for others it is like hell on earth. There are so many different shops to choose from both online and on the high street, how can we get the clothes that look great and really suit us whilst getting the best value for money.

Of course, my personal favourite is shopping online. It really gives me a chance to analyse and co ordinate what I am buying and look for the best prices. I have been known to spend days carefully working out what to buy, I could never find this sort of time to trapse around the shops. I have 2 young children and work everyday. Shopping on a Saturday with children in tow is rarely a productive experience and some of my biggest mistakes have been made whilst trying to shop with screaming children.

On the plus side, shopping in shops gives you a chance to try clothes on, but I really prefer to try them on in the comfort of my own home and if they don’t fit or suit they can always be returned. I can also try the clothes on with a variety of shoes and other clothes in my wardrobe and ask friends and family for their opinion to ensure that they look great(assuming they are being honest with me).

The best thing about online shopping for me is the vast amount of choice available, the chance to compare styles and prices and no need to park the car in busy city centres.

I have today found my ultimate comfort buy whilst shopping online. This cashmere top is a great colour and style and a great price.

Yet again we are forced to look into the future of fashion with New York fashion week. It all seems like such a long time to wait until Spring 09 for such gorgeous collections. Particularly so for the Erin Fetherstone collection that showed at the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion  Week on Friday.

The collection was almost entirely in sugary sweet pastels. Some of the clothes were almost certainly inspired by 1970’s sportswear but overall the collection had Erins usual romantic and feminine qualities with chiffon and shimmering sequins at every turn and rainbow ombre and tie dye patterns. The gowns were delectable and could quite easily have come from a fairytale  with huge ruffles and tiers. They made me feel quite hungry as they reminded me of meringues, cupcakes and other delicious confections.

I love the shape of this dress / coat. It so elegant, I think it would be perfect as a wedding dress.

This dress has interesting shape with layers of ruffles. Perhaps not the most wearable item in the collection but gorgeous anyway.

This dress is so light and airy it is almost not there. The beautiful rainbow colours give it a dream like feel.

This seventies sportswear inspired outfit will be great for holidays.

I love the colours and asymetrical ruffles on this dress.

pictures from Style.com

If you have a sweet tooth and can’t wait until Spring 09 for some sugary pastel clothes try this Organic Cotton Dress by French Label Ideo

As Fashion V Sport opens this week at the V & A museum, I find myself wishing that I lived in London and could easily pop in for a nose around. I love the recent collaborations between designers and sportswear companies including Stella McCartney for Adidas, Hussein Chalayan for Puma and Alexander McQueen for Puma and Adidas.

 As so many people now wear sports wear for every day, the link between sports wear and fashion becomes ever closer. High technology fabrics developed for sportswear are also being used for high end designer clothes. The exhibition shows how designers have become increasingly creative with sportwear and pushed the boundaries of what sports clothes can look like.

 I have never been much of a fan of sports wear except for sport that is. I don’t often get the chance to do much sport but with so much gorgeous sports wear on offer, I amy have to make a bit more time.

I just love the V & A. First the Golden Age of Couture, then China Design Now and the annual fete featuring all sorts of creative fashion stalls, now this.

This Gianni Versace Sport Top has a really fun  and bright design.