Party season is upon us, and thus beckons the question….what to wear!

The classic little black dress has taken on many forms this season, with military and studs still featuring strongly, and many options for the simply stylish.

Rock chicks eat your heart out. This strapless party number from Piper Lane features silver studs and a visible zip for street cred.

This simple yet stylish Matilda LBD from Motel will have  heads turning. Pair with red heels and big earrings for a night out to get the party started.

Embrace your inner pirate with this Olga dress from Motel.  The gold embossed buttons and capped sleeves make this military style LBD easy to take from day to night.

 For those loving the girly vintage look, French Kitty has it covered with this flowing LBD featuring wide dotted sleeves and ruffled hem. Keep in your wardrobe till winter and pair with bright tights.

Fairground takes child’s play to a new level with this Scents of an Icon dress. Featuring checks and pleats, this cotton LBD is perfect for lazing at a family BBQ.

For more LBD’s, check out www.frockyou.com.au

Loved by celebs and making appearances on catwalks the world over, sunnies with translucent lens are the hottest thing to hit the sunglass world since Nicole Richie rocked the Willy Wonka look.

Think pink, yellow and blue lenses, or for the more conservative fashionista, neutral!

Pair your transparent shades with a leather plaited headband and loose waves for a hippie look, or be bold and rock out with block colours or graphic prints to stand out from the crowd.

Emma Watson

This little star is one who everybody watches for some great style ideas. Who would have thought the Harry Potter geek girl would turn into this fashion queen?  Not many students’ favourite stores are Harvey Nichols. Her favourite designer is Chanel which shows just how glamorous this little starlet is. Not only is she signed up to London’s Storm modelling agency but she also has been the face of Burberry in a campaign shot by fashion-photography-giant Mario Testino.

Emma’s style is very classic and natural. In the evenings she is often seen in a totally demure designer dress grasping an oversized clutch bag. While her daytime style is still classical, she whips out chic blazers and skinny jeans.

Vanessa Hudgens

Could this girl be any hotter? Not only is she screaming sex appeal and a Hollywood star at 18 but she is also dating Zac Efron. In the fashion-world she is most famous for the couture gowns she floats down the red carpet in. And she really loves her floor length dresses as her daytime attire is usually a maxi dress.

Her favourite shops are Urban Outfitters, Levi’s and Planet Blue. If she is your no. 1 in the fashion world you can follow her style on www.dresslikevanessa.org. However to really get this look down to a T the accessories are what needs to be focused on. The scarves, shoes and oversized bags are what makes her skinny jeans and cardigans up to the minute every time. Her hair is another huge factor. Although difficult to achieve for some her long wavy hair makes all her outfits more boho.

Miley Cyrus

Although she’s not my favourite teen fashion queen you can’t deny she has risen to be one of the biggest icons around in this last year at only 16 years of age. After proving she can act, present and sing she is now bringing out her on range of clothing for Walmart. Cyrus and designer Max Azria are going to put their fashionable heads together to come up with some Miley-style affordable clothing. Not big enough? There are more rumours that she is going to star in Sex and the City 2 after being seen on set with Samantha.

Usually flashing shade of green eye shadow and a fan of neon colours, Miley is a great fashion icon for summer. Going for rock chick, to look like Miley you’ll need a leather jacket, leather boots and some ripped jeans. She loves American clothing store Forever 21 and believes anyone can make Mark Jacobs look stunning.

Unfortunately for those with real budgets, brand names may not be affordable but there are always op shops and sales!

Who’s your fashion icon?

Image by ursulakm

Firstly, let’s look at colour! Although neutral beige and nude tones are sure to abound, if you want to add a splash of colour to your look go for bright oranges, magentas, teals, pinks, reds and metallics are the colours to go for. These hot little numbers (pictured) by Nine West are available in stores from mid-August.

Look for sandals with subtle detailing this spring/summer. I’m a big fan of these ones (pictured) from BANK with their delicately beaded strands that wrap around the ankle. They also have a zipper at the back to make getting them on and off simple, and the fit perfect.

Militaristic buckles and metallic trimmings that dominated winter shoe fashion will carry through to spring, paired with bold colours and atop platforms almost high enough to warrant vertigo. Take a peek at some real shoeart, check out Gucci’s 2009 Spring Collection to inspire this look. I like these (pictured) ones from Tony Bianco; the heel itself will add an extra 15cm to your height… that is if you can stand in them, let alone walk!

Socks & Sandals? A fashion trend? I am a little skeptical about this one and if it does make it as a mainstream trend I am pretty confident that I’ll be avoiding it for fear of embarrassing photographic evidence of me looking like a crazy woman once this fad falls out of favour. Nonetheless, in their 2009 Spring Collection, Marni boldly paired strong, bright platforms with striped knee-high socks. Love the shoes; not sure about the socks.

With spring still a month away we are sure to have more spring shoe trends, so to keep up to date with the latest trends subscribe to this page’s RSS feed or add us to your favourites!

Luscious Locks
Think high glamour when basing your hairdo on this look this spring. Big hair is back with voluminous, soft curls taking centre stage. This trend requires super-soft, super-shiny, super-smooth locks so book a trip in to the hairdresser and trim away all those split ends. If your hair is long, go for long lustrous waves by curling your hair with large tongs and then gently brushing the curls out or let them drop naturally. Shiny and sleek is the look to go for when tying hair back; go for a low pony tied at the nape of the neck. Thick, blunt cut fringes are still in, as are fringes with more shattered ends.

Hair Construction
Make a statement with a high structured hairstyle this season. This updo look is bold, creative and often an architectural feat, requiring the hair-equivalent of a floor plan, design and work crew to achieve some of the most complex dos. At a basic level, think clean lines and play with textures and shapes when going for this distinct look… and hairspray is your friend! Keep your fringe back and hair off the face with this look. The more adventurous fashionistas should take some inspiration from the 80s sexily androgynous square-shaped high top hairdos. This look requires copious amounts of volume to give it height and styling to keep the sides flush against the sides of your head, and again product is your best friend in pulling off this look! For other updo looks, this site has some great hairdo images and tips from some of the latest fashion shows.

Hair with a Twist

Plaits, pleats, and twists are making a major comeback this season. This equestrian inspired look is versatile and can take many forms. The ballerina bun is back with a twist – go for a sleek look with hair pulled back tight and then add a twist with a plaited bun. Transform your regular pony-tail by plaiting the ends and adding a brightly coloured bow – this look can carry over from day to night as a playful look in the daytime and funky, fashion foward choice at night. Alternatively, you can go for a softer, more classic romantic look with loosely plaited or pleated hair reminiscent of the Romeo & Juliet inspired looks of the late 90s. To achieve this look pull luscious loose curls gently back on the sides and plaited the ends.

Accessorise!

And for the final touch – the accessories – bows, ribbons, jewels, clips, and hats. Be daring with your accessories this season – big bright bows coupled with a high messy ponytail are a great look. Or even pair little jewels with ribbons to achieve a prettier, more romantic look. Leather hair clips that dominated 90s fashion are also seeing a comeback; use them to support and secure coiffured looks and updos. It wouldn’t be spring without flowers, look for heabands and clips with blooms attached to achieve this floral look. The good news is that you can achieve this glam looks on the cheap with store like Diva and Equip providing great accessory options that are usually on trend. Also, when it comes to hats fedoras are still big this spring/summer.

Accessorise image by [Nati]

Bright Colours
Just like the spring season itself, clothing represents the bright, happy tone of rebirth that nature is undergoing. Anything bright and cheery, whether a solid tunic or statement belt, will be a great addition to transition your look to springtime.

Sheer
Although the idea of baring it all may be a little frightening to some, the sheer trend isn’t going away anytime too soon. When paired with a nude liner, sheer dresses or tops can make an elegant statement for work or play.

Origami Folds
Clothing is making a statement more than ever in daring new folds. Dresses that have pieces artfully folded to create a dramatic look have been found in abundance on the catwalks. These styles will make heads turn with their simple yet dramatic design.

One Shoulder
This Greek goddess-like design is an elegant style that screams glamour. Whether it takes the form of a simple day dress or an evening gown, the one-shoulder dress is sure to be a staple piece in any spring wardrobe.

Metallics
Either as an accent colour or the main element, clothing in metallic hues will compliment any complexion this spring. This look can be achieved with metallic accessories that work to spice up any look throughout the season.