Hints of the Spring line have come in early this year. Here are some of the headlines:

• Green, the next big “it” colour
• Orange, a close second
• Bright yellow, ink blue, tomato red and purple still strong
• One piece dressing continues to rule… dresses, dresses, dresses
• Bold ethnic patterns everywhere
• Transparent fabrications
• Voluminous and body conscious silhouettes
• ‘80’s street wear influences
• Floral footwear and handbags
• Peep-toe booties
• Soaring heel heights
• More patent
• Tribal jewelry
• Clutches, clutches, clutches

The first thing on my Spring 2008 shopping list is a pair of green converse sneakers.

End-of-season sales are here for those of us that live in the US or some parts of Asia. In Europe the sales start in the first week of January. If shopping the sales is on your calendar in the near future, remember to and to shop with a strategy and to be sale savvy. The most important things to remember:

• Get to the sales as soon as possible because sizes run out quickly.
• Don’t allow yourself to be seduced by anything that does not absolutely work for you!
• Head out early in the day to avoid the chaos.

You might even like to bring along a printout of “this season’s must haves” for easy reference.

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.