A decade is over; we’re done with the noughties, and desperate to soak up the style of 2010 onwards, which will no doubt involve a great deal of catwalk shows, collaborations and innovative new collections. We thought it was only appropriate to warn you in advance of the highlights of the coming year, so that you can note them in your diary and begin to plan your outfits…

Josep Font Autumn/Winter 08

Fashion Shows

London Fashion Week will be held this year between 19th-24th February, at the event’s new location of Somerset House. The week will be showcasing Autumn/Winter 2010 collections, and is sure to attract fashionistas from all over the globe. Monday 22nd has a particularly enticing line up, with Nicole Farhi, Christopher Kane, Roksanda Ilincic, Erdem, Jaeger London, Marios Schwab and Paul Smith being just some of the designers on show. There is a veritable plethora of talent running throughout the week, with big names such as Jonathan Saunders, Burberry Prorsum, Richard Nicoll and Jenny Packham taking to the runways. London Fashion Week’s menswear day, on Wednesday 24th February 2010, will see recent recipients of the NEWGEN MEN Support Initiative (sponsored by Topshop), Christopher Shannon and J.W. Anderson, exhibit their designs along with previous winners, Carolyn Massey and James Long.

Paris will present its Couture Week from Sunday, January 24th to Thursday, January 28th this year. Long running Haute Couture members including Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier will be joined by guest members such as Alexandre Matthieu, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Jean-Paul Knott, Josep Font and Marc le Bihan. The final day of the shows will present the Haute Joaillerie members, with luxury designers such as Boucheron, Cartier, Chaumet and Van Cleef & Arpels. The Paris Ready to Wear shows for Autumn/Winter 2010 will commence on Wednesday, 3rd March and last until Thursday, 11th March.

The Italian shows will start on 16th January and last until the 19th, boasting major labels like Prada, Jil Sander and Gucci, closely followed by New York Fashion Week (11th-18th February) which is expected to attract its usual estimated 116,000 attendees. Better apply now if you want to be on the list!

Belgrade Fashion Week April 2010

We must not forget all the other lesser known shows, which are a brilliant way to draw out the season and swot up on new design talent; hopfoot it between as many as you can manage. Copenhagen Fashion Week will start on 10th February and end on Valentines Day; a stylish alternative to drinking cheap wine and cursing those who are loved up! Expect to see emerging talent such as Bibi Ghost and Stine Goya, then swan over to Stockholm on the 15th for their equally swish Fashion Week which lasts until the 21st.

April will present shows from Belgrade and Budapest. Last year’s Serbian shows presented sports designers such as Puma and Adidas, along with graduates of the Faculty of Applied Arts Belgrade. Dubrovnik Fashion Week International is due to take place during July, and is proposing an especially interesting line up; Derek Lawlor‘s structural and scalloped designs caught our eye last season and we’re looking forward to seeing more of Hippy Garden‘s neutral party dresses.

New Collections

Alice Temperley just couldn’t seem to find the exact shoes she wanted to complement her effortlessly chic, classic designs. So she has decided to make her own, and we are utterly thrilled about the venture. Due to be launched in February, this sassy line of varied styles is sure to sell out fast.

Halston, our favourite label for Studio 54-inspired designs, is set to release an affordable selection of pieces based on the most iconic looks from their archives. The Halston label, founded by Roy Halston, is now being led by fashion wunderkind of the moment Marios Schwab, so we’re expecting great things from the new line, ‘Halston Heritage’. Plus with t-shirts starting at £60, and dresses starting at £180, you should be able to indulge in a new outfit for under £200, from January onwards. We look forward to uber cool jumpsuits, sequinned disco frocks, flowing maxi-dresses and glamorous accessories, all available at Net-a-Porter.

A classic Vionnet creation

Perhaps one of the most exciting events this year is the resurrection of the House of Vionnet, a legendary brand that undoubtedly shaped the course of fashion history. The founding designer of the brand, Madeleine Vionnet, put an end to her business in 1939, yet it has been brought back to life this season by Matteo Marzotto, the former chief executive of Valentino. Madame Vionnet revolutionised couture by developing the bias cut and complex draping to create garments that were functionl yet intensely graceful; so we have high hopes for the new collection which intends to emulate her original designs. The range features loose fitting tunics, flowing scarves and other equally nonchalant garments that can be thrown in a suitcase and will allow you to emerge looking glamorous, a whole train journey later. Keep a watchful eye on Net-a-Porter for news of the collection’s release…

Exciting Collaborations

An old hand at designer collaborations, Tosphop has invited two striking new talents to join them this year. February will see a stylish partnership with Mary Katrantzou, whose trompe l’oeil perfume bottle designs truly captivated fashion enthusiasts last season. In March the high street giant will collaborate with Mark Fast, an equally inspired London knitwear designer, who recently made waves in the fashion press for sending his creations down the runway on size 12-14 models. We can only hope then, that he will be the perfect choice to create affordable, high street fashion that is made for real women.

Our favourite accessories mogul, Anya Hindmarch, is joining forces with British countryside label, Barbour. The designer has created four capsule pieces, available in the autumn, that retain classic Barbour practicality whilst encompassing her intense attention to detail. Starting at £249, the range isn’t cheap, but we reckon the durability and out and out style value of this partnership will make them well worth the pennies.

Just when you thought the collaborations this year couldn’t get more diverse, there is a ray of hope for your boyfriends’ wardrobes. The Kings of Leon have paired up with hot Parisian brand, Surface to Air, to launch their first clothing line. Based on the staple pieces of the boys’ gig gear, the line includes skinny jeans, a leather jacket and matching guitar strap. Available at The Shop at Bluebird, this is one shopping trip that he might not complain about…

On Screen Glamour

May 28th 2010. Yes that’s right ladies. The release date for Sex and The City 2. Need we say more? This time, we see Carrie and her gals skip off to Marrakech, enjoy a flashback to the 80′s, a wedding scene to boot, and rumour has it that Mr Big’s hands go wandering… can we really take all that tension?!

Fashionable Scents

One of the most stylish little ladies around, Eva Longoria-Parker, is set to release her first fragrance, ‘Eva’ later this year. Having worked with the Falic Fashion Group to create the scent, the front woman of L’Oreal Paris has designed a perfume that is light, fresh and uplifting. If however, you’re looking for something a little more heady, you should turn to our favourite fierce diva, Beyonce Knowles. Her new perfume, ‘Heat’ is set to hit the shops in February, and is sure to represent the siren’s sensuous side.

Antonio Berardi S/S 2010

Trends 2010

Nudes, Nudes, Nudes. The key look of this year is an ethereal, earthy and delicate silhouette in egg shell shades. Sheer chiffons, billowing drapes and natural linens should be combined with structured underwear to create a new type of romantic dressing. Make sure you choose the right shade for your skin tone, and don’t be afraid to toughen up with leather accessories.

2010 is set to see a digital revolution; expect high colour graphic prints and computer generated style. Last year’s prints have been upgraded to even more detailed, more eye catching designs, that work best on clean-cut shapes. McQueen and Armani created digital designs that still retained feminine allure, cinched in at the waist but big on bold colour. Make sure you keep hair and make up simple, although if you really want to exude technological queen then feel free to slather on a treasure trove’s worth of paste jewels.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on your undies as well as your outerwear too. The corset is making a come-back, particularly in blushed pink shades and lascivious lace. Channel the lace trend through your footwear too; the hottest item of the season is the Louboutin ‘Bridget’ shoe, a decadent heel that encases the foot in embroidered cobalt lace.

Alexander McQueen S/S 2010

Prada has pioneered the embellished look this season, creating delicate, crystal chain mail dresses that swung like chandeliers along the runway. If you can’t afford the real deal then grab yourself a packet of diamanté, a tube of glue, and get sparkle happy. Lanvin went the whole hog, creating full outfits that glittered with gold spangles from head to toe, although we suggest taking one embellished piece and balancing it out with a neutral nude or classic black base.

Oscar de la Renta showed some equally glimmering pieces, however the Dominican designer chose a tribal vibe for some of his gowns. The Spring/Summer 2010 runways were awash with exotic embellishments, serpentine jewellery and natural weaves, so wait until the sun starts shining and dress like an Amazonian in heels.

Now one important detail about our namesake, the heel, is that this year it is undergoing yet another revolution. Please say goodbye to all of those bondage inspired, club-foot monstrosities, and welcome back… the court shoe. Aaaaah. A simple, elegant classic that oozes sex appeal without blood trickling over the straps, it’s about time that we returned to old school glamour and rejected foot mangling creatures that we could barely hobble in, let alone run.

One last trend worth noting is the tassel. VV Rouleaux sells elegant pastel versions for a mere £2.50, so don’t feel you have to turn to designer prices to update a plain piece with a bit of show girl charm.

So there you have it ladies, a roundup of the most fashionable things to see, shop and sniff in 2010. With so many exciting partnerships, shows and trends on the horizon, it really does seem that we are more spoilt for style than any previous generation. Happy New Wear!