One of my favourite S/S 09 trends has been described as ‘forever pieces,’ ‘tomorrows antiques’ and ‘make-up colours’. This ultra chic and feminine trend is all about nudes, soft flowing materials and ladylike qualities.

At the top of my wish list is this beautiful double layer v-neck blouse from Vanessa Bruno.

Made of 100% cupro it has all the hallmarks of the embodiment of femininity – semi-transparent, delicate button through detailing and soft draping to name a few.

Team with super skinny denim or tailored trousaers and sky high heels to toughen up and offset the soft antique-like feel.

If this ticks your boxes too, then you can pick one up from Net-a-porter for £235 here.

So florals are going to be huge next season and my top pick so far for this trend has to be this beautifully feminine blouse from Elizabeth and James (one of the Olsen twin’s stunning fashion lines).

This multicoloured button up blouse is 100% silk and features Victoriana style ruffles trims and puff sleeves. I love the sheer quality to it – which is another top trend for S/S 09.

Toughen up as the Olsen’s would with high waist trousers and sky high heels.

You can get yours from Net-a-porter for £220.21.

I love the new print trend and this top is no exception. Following the key rules of carrying off this trend; it features a solid block colour with an accent of print making it a really easy piece to wear.

Simply throw on with super skinny stone wash jeans and killer heals for effortless chic and a great relaxed Sunday look.

The cape style sleeves give this basic sweat a stylish feel and the price isn’t bad either. At £25 from Topshop it’s an affordable way to buy into the trend.

What’s more, from what I’ve seen so far this trend seems to be applied mainly to shift dresses more so than sports type wear, and I would get more wears-per-buy from a sweat top like this than a smart shift. I’m sold!

Sonia Rykiel is an iconic French designer, and her bright jumpers proved fashion doesn’t always have to be serious to look great.

Her Sonia by Sonia Rykiel line is available from ASOS, and there are some great new items just in. They’re not bargains, but aren’t bad for some top quality designer pieces.

The Heart Stripe Long Top, £89 on the left, is unmistakably Sonia Rykiel, and will go with absolutely everything. Wear it loose over leggings, or tucked into a skirt or jeans. And made from 100% cotton it’ll keep you warm and won’t aggravate!

If you’re looking for more of a statement piece, then the Stripe Shift Dress definitely hits the mark. A classic loose, high neck, short sleeves shift shape, this is a timeless dress, brought up to date with the exposed zip on the back. The stripes means it needs minimal accessories, and would look great with bare legs or black tights. It costs £220.

You can see the rest of the Sonia by Sonia Rykiel range over at ASOS now.

If you weren’t quite brave enough to try a jumpsuit first time around then don’t worry – there’s a second chance as they’re still big news for S/S 09. Now we’re (supposedly) heading towards warmer weather, jumpsuit designs are moving away from looking like head to toe boiler suits in dark colours, and have got a more feminine, carefree look to them.

This Belle & Bunty for ASOS Draped Halterneck Harem Jumpsuit is perfect for spring evenings, and combines the jumpsuit with harem trousers – another key trend. The halter neck gives it a less intense look, and the contrasting black waist band helps break up the colour. Made from 55% silk it won’t grip or cling in all the wrong places.

It costs £79 – not too bad as you’re getting trousers and a top – and is available now.

Part of the New Exoticism trend includes what we would call ‘safari style’ looks, which help sum up the ‘travelled woman’ vibe that the trend is all about.

I love safari style clothes – great for hot weather they tend to be loose and breathable for the sun, whilst at the same time they give a ladylike and chic look too.

This floral print shirt from French Connection is a perfect example of this trend. Added to which not only does it cover ‘New Exoticism’ with it’s traditional safari belted blouse qualities, but it also rocks the Garden trend vibe with it’s pretty floral print.

Perfect for work or play, it’s 100% cotton and costs £50.

Sheer fabrics and peek-a-boo sentiments were all over the SS 09 Collections. Within this trend, the colour white seems to dominate and a great starter piece to crack this trend has to be a semi-sheer plain basic cotton top, such as this one by Rick Owens.

Layering is the key to creating the sheer look – exposing as much skin as you wish, with the main aim of creating layers of varying transparency.

This super fine ribbed top features a seam up the back which is great for accentuating its sheer qualities. Layer with contrasting colour tops underneath (look to Nina Ricci and Max Azria fro inspiration).

You can pick this up for £140 from Net-a-porter.

With designers debuting their S/S09 collections now, new trends are emerging left right and centre. Colour blocking looks set to be really popular, continuing on from this season’s jewel colours, and the ever popular purple.

You can check out how the designers are doing it over at Vogue – there’s a great photo gallery full of ideas. However, some of the high street shops are already ahead of the game, producing great on-trend pieces that are available now, and for a fraction of the price.

Marks and Spencer’s Limited Collection can be a bit hit and miss, but they’ve nailed colour blocking perfectly with two great tunic tops. One the left is the Short Sleeve Block Colour Tunic, costing £19.50. Teaming a bright colour with a more subtle one, this is a way of doing colour blocking that will ensure you don’t end up looking like a set of traffic lights.

The Colour Block Top (which can be worn as a dress if you’re daring and a bit vertically challenged!), at £35, matches blue and two shades of gray in a wide sleeved tunic shape. Team it with simple black trousers, jeans, tights or leggings for a simple but effective look. It would also look great with some blue accessories.

Both are available from the Marks and Spencer website or in stores that carry the Limited Collection range.

Look out for this trend hitting the rest of the high street soon!

It might be freezing outside, but I am already dreaming of a hot summer and eyeing up various pieces I would like for my S/S 09 wardrobe. One item I particularly love is this pretty cami by Fendi.

Featuring an ultra feminine sheer panel on the back (sheer materials are set to be hot again next season) with a keyhole button detailing this is a really girly top and ticks all the right boxes trend-wise.

Prints are set to be really popular as well as pretty muted ‘make-up’ type hues. Style as Net-a-porter have done with rolled up city shorts and a blazer.

Made from 100% silk, you can pick this top up from Net-a-porter for £387.

I have two tactics when it comes to the sales, my first is to pick up classic items that I can wear anytime no matter what the fashion (such as a cashmere sweater, the perfect fitting crisp white shirt, any fabulous shoes etc).

This can prove very rewarding – the feeling of joy when you can add something totally perfect looking, functional and half price will never loose its allure!

My functional pick is this cashmere batwing sweater by Alexander McQueen. A classic that you could wear forever, this one can be picked up from Net-a-porter for £305.40 (down from £509).

However, my second, more frivolous approach is to snap up those items that you may never actually wear but will look great in your clothes collection and might one day be just the perfect thing you need.

Such items include say a vintage Victoria lace slip… too beautiful and ancient to wear, but having the opportunity you cast your eyes over it day after day makes it every bit as worthwhile as say finding the perfect ‘interview shirt’.

My potential frivolous purchase this season might just be this ostrich feather bolero (from humble old Topshop surprisingly!). Right now I have no where to wear it, no dress to match it, but one day I may discover the perfect glittering 20’s style flapper dress and it will be the perfect adornment.

If not, I shall forever gaze at it adoringly hanging in my closet and never regret a penny spent. And I certainly wouldn’t in this case as it’s marked down from £85 to just £40!

If you have any sales tactics you swear by, please feel free to share!