What to wear in the new year; pictures and story

Jan 1 2009 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IN THE depths of midwinter the fashion industry is already turning its attention to the warmer months ahead.

Spring collections will be appearing in stores any day now, pushing all those rails of woollies and party clothes to one side.

Last summer was a pretty disastrous one for the fashion industry as the sun rarely broke out from the clouds and most of us went seamlessly from spring to autumn, wearing the same clothes virtually all year round.

However, despite the economic gloom, recent surveys of shoppers have found that while many of us will be cutting back on holidays and re-fitting our homes most say they will continue to shop for fashion and the credit crunch won’t deter us from looking our best.

Which is good news for the fashion buyers, who had to pre-order spring and summer collections before the recession took hold and are now praying for sunshine and better weather.

As we prepare to welcome the new year we’re taking a peek into the fashion of the future months and what you’ll be wearing in 2009.

Vintage is still a major trend and looks like it will never go away, perhaps because the past offers a rich seam of inspiration for designers who need look no further than the best of each decade.

Call it lazy designing or a celebration of design classics; either way you’ll be wearing 1970s kick flares, dip-dyed jersey, sheer blouses and tiered skirts.

There’s also a strong move towards elegance with a strong French feel. Chic trenchcoats; striped tops with blazers and wide-legged trousers; printed dresses with nipped-in, belted waists - looking smart has never been so fashionable.

But wear your tailored suits, tulip skirts and crisp shorts with loose, flowing blouses in soft printed silks and satins. And don’t forget to accessorise with scarves and outsize jewellery.

The nautical look always pops up somewhere for the summer. This year it has influenced the colour palette of many collections, which are strong on red, white and blue, with checks and stripes to brighten up the plain colour scheme.

Last but not least there’s a move towards what is best described as ‘modern utility’ clothing, with neutral colours and bold, minimalist shapes.

Not for everyone, but chic and classic if you can wear it. Look out for clothes that are colour blocked and monochrome.

Remember, when the new collections start to appear, our Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants us to shop for England.

So it’s every woman’s patriotic duty to replenish her wardrobe; we need no further encouragement!