As it turns out, Christmas colours are all the rage right now. Red continues to hold its own and green is Spring 2008’s hottest new colour. We at youlookfab wish you happy holidays, or as they say where we come from, “compliments of the season”. Travel safely and enjoy the festivities.

Yes, you can, if the sparkle is subtle and the items are dressed down appropriately. You’ll find subtle sparkle in knitwear, jackets, blouses, jeans, pants, skirts and scarves when they have a bit of lurex (gold or silver metallic thread) running through them. The overall shiny effect is delicate and restrained. Sequined, crystal beaded and lurex-rich items on the other hand, are obviously sparkly and should be kept for evening occasions. For daywear I’d definitely draw the line at any items that combine black and sparkle.

Subtle sparkle during the day is a fairly new fashion concept that is easy to put together if you follow a few guidelines:

• Restrict your ensemble to one sparkly item at a time. Metallic shoes and a handbag that work together count as one item.
• Tone down the shine with denim. Add a denim jacket to a sparkly skirt, or jeans to a shiny jacket.
• Create a contrast. If your jeans are sparkly, combine the look with a chunky knit, converse sneakers and messenger bag. Don’t pair sparkly jeans with a sparkly jacket or blouse unless you’re going out at night.

Remember, a spot of sparkle goes a long way.

A smart casual outfit with sparkly suede jacket, ultra casual jeans, spectator pumps and cobalt satchel.

I personally prefer fine knits because I find it hard to layer a chunky knit underneath a jacket or coat and still feel comfortable. I also feel more dressy and streamlined in a piece of fine knitwear that I can either dress up or down. But styles and preferences are different and I’ve dressed and seen plenty of people who look great in chunky knits.

The trick is to choose the right silhouette and pair it with the right items.

• Choosing a cropped style that shows your waistline is a good idea because you can pop a sleek, longer layer underneath that peeks out below the knit, allowing you to retain your shape.
• If you prefer longer length knits, keep them tailored and the length just above crotch point. If you go tunic length, stick to sweater coat guidelines.
• Keep your bottoms long and lean with straight cut or boot cut pants or jeans, or a knee-length straight skirt and knee-high heeled boots.

Chunky knits can be flattering in an uber casual way if you add the right amount of structure to your ensemble. Add a pair of casual boots and a slimming scarf and you’ll look fab.

A long scarf that’s “pulled through a loop” or tied in any other way so that the ends form a vertical line down the front of your body has a slimming effect. Worn this way, the scarf creates a long lean line that is surprisingly flattering. Remember to think of a scarf as an item that you can add to your ensemble on mild Autumn and Winter days without a coat. The scarf is often the first accessory to come out in Europe when it gets chilly (before a jacket or coat), so don’t feel that you have to save the item for freezing temperatures.

I love everything about scarves. They keep me warm and elongated, add colour to my outfit and complete the look. I keep my scarf pulled through a loop because that works best for my style (the blue scarf on the right), but here are more ways to tie a scarf in keeping with its vertical appeal.