By Marriam N Mossalli

Quit smoking. Lose weight. Every year we have the same kind of lifestyle-altering New Year’s resolutions. And every year, the fashionistas’ of the world commit to their annual pledge: To never be caught out of vogue.

Unlike smoking and dieting, you’ll have no problem sticking to this latter one thanks to Holli Rogers, buying director of the online fashion world, Net-a-Porter.com. If anyone knows the global trends of this New Year, it’s Rogers.
Arab News got a chance to pick the fashion guru’s brain, who makes it easy to stay stylish all year long with tips of what to covet this Spring.

I loved the bursts of bright color and bold prints that punctuated the spring summer collections, from graphic stripes at Missoni and Carven to a more fruity and floral feel at Erdem, Paul & Joe & Stella McCartney. This explosion of color and print marked a departure from the more neutral hues of fall winter.
Embrace this bright trend and wear block colors such as chartreuse, fuchsia and canary yellow, pairing with white or nude to keep the look fresh. Or, give a nod to the trend and choose bright accessories. Wedges with a flash of neon from Pierre Hardy or a lime green belt from Burberry Prorsum offer a subtler take on the trend.

At the opposite end of the spectrum were the many permutations of white seen at the collections. I particularly loved Stella McCartney’s take on the trend. Showcasing razor-sharp culottes, silk linen blend blazers and preppy polo shirts, the look was crisp and clean and offered a master class in masculine/feminine dressing.
The SS11 runway shows were awash with seventies referencing with a return to a high waisted wide leg silhouette and the addition of flounces and frills. Opt for a flowing maxi dress from Derek Lam or Roberto Cavalli, a Printed kaftan from Emilio Pucci or a high waisted pair of fitted flares, which are everywhere, from MiH to Acne and J Brand.
For SS11 the mini bag will become your go-to-bag for daytime dressing as we move away from the oversized bags of previous seasons.  From mini styles of iconic bags such as the Chloe “Paraty,” to super cute mixed-media satchels of newcomer Jerome Dreyfuss; there is a style to suit all.

There was a myriad of different wedges seen at the collections this season, from leather at Givenchy to Geisha-inspired at Lanvin and cork at Yves Saint Laurent. From working perfectly with a pair of high-waisted fitted flares to creating an uber modern silhouette, the wedge will instantly update your look for spring.