Fashion goes in cycles, but fashion technology and comfort are always improving. Here are four breakthroughs for which I am eternally grateful:

• Denim: I cannot imagine a fashion season without jeans. They are the quintessential basic.
• Stretch: We enjoy Lycra, Spandex and Elastine in so many of our clothes and I still take it for granted. Think of how uncomfortable a bra would be without elastic.
• Knitted fabrics: Living in a world of woven fabric would be dreadful. Knits give us comfort and choice. Imagine wearing woven socks and woven underwear!
• Comfortable shoes: They are still hard to find, but they do exist.

Silhouettes and trends come and go, but technological advancement is here to stay. Which comfort breakthroughs make your world a happier place?

Ultra high-waisted jeans started coming through a year ago in skinny and straight-leg denim silhouettes. This season high-waisted, wide-legged jeans are the next big thing. They’re available in both faded “hippy” looks, and dark, streamlined modern styles.

I have fallen in love with this design. I do not have a bohemian element to my style and much prefer the smarter version in dark denim. It’s a great look when the strictness of a high-waisted jean is contrasted with a sophisticated and soft tucked-in blouse. This ensemble is all about tucking in tops to show off the mid section. You’ll therefore need the right body type to pull off the look and preferably a bit of height and a pair of heels. Am I alone in loving this look?

Dark high-waisted jeans and one faded high-waisted “hippy” style. I adore blouses and denim so I’m definitely giving this look a bash.

Spring and Summer 2008 introduces a tribal-rich trend that’s fresh and new. African inspired patterns, animal skin prints, natural fibers, safari looks, beaded ornamentation, gladiator sandals and wooden jewelry are what make the global trend a wearable and mainstream style.

You don’t need to wear this look from top to bottom to achieve a great effect. It can be interpreted in numerous ways and it’s all about mixing it up appropriately to suit your style. Simply add gladiator sandals to a modern black and white ensemble, or a safari jacket to a classic smart casual outfit. Match zebra print flats with a preppy look, or sport a tailored caftan over white skinnies and cork wedges.

Don’t choose beige items if the colour washes you out. Choose white, cream, mushroom brown, black and army green instead. I’ve added a tomato red belted safari jacket and an army green shirt dress to my Spring mix and they’re a nice change to the trapeze jackets and A-line jersey tunics I’ve been wearing for a while.

Athletic-inspired anoraks were fringe fashion last year, but are now mainstream. They’re a super lightweight, casual cover-up that’ll give your look a sporty edge with lots of style. You’ll find them shiny or matte, long or short, and neutral or coloured. Fabrications like nylon, polyester and acetate give them a particularly authentic active appearance.

I like anoraks best when they’re contrasted with dressy attire, like a little black dress, dark jeans, slacks, swanky walk shorts and fancy shoes. This is a rather avant-garde, high fashion look, so it’s a little tricky to pull off if you don’t get the components right.

I’ll bypass this trend – the less sporty trench is more my style. But If you’re an active zip-up-and-go kind of gal, than the fashion anorak look might be for you.