Take a walk on the bright side

With the weather finally warming up, it's time to embrace colour-blocking, the latest trend for brightening up your day. Colours are very powerful and can have a massive impact on your mood and the way you feel. It's hard to feel angry when you're surrounded by intense, happy colours.

Savvy designers have always known this and cleverly incorporate colour and pattern into their successful designs. Consider the playful patterns of Pucci, the graphic fabrics of Missoni, and Valentino's obsession with red.

This season bright shoes are providing a major fashion moment, dominating the shelves of stores around the city. I couldn't help but smile last week when I stepped into the Tony Bianco boutique in Melbourne Central and was overcome by a wall of heels in a rainbow of bright shades. Electric blues and emerald greens sat beside deep violets, lemon yellows and zesty tangerines, and dotted in between were brilliant shades of fuchsia pink and tomato red. How to do colour Colour-blocking is one of the easier trends to embrace this season. All you have to do is think big, bold colours.

Explore primary colours thrown together for a fun and fresh look. For example, a simple colour-blocked look could be a blue skirt paired with a yellow blouse, and some green shoes and accessories. Play with shades and tones. You might match a red skirt with a pink top and some tangerine shoes. If the thought of complete head-to-toe colour is too much for you, then elements of this trend can be easily incorporated into your everyday wardrobe by adding simple touches of colour.

Think shoes and accessories. A black or grey outfit can be given new life with the addition of some colourful heels. A bag or clutch in a matching shade will complete the look. Where to shop Tony Bianco has this trend sorted with heels and wedges in pretty much every colour imaginable, and some brilliant colour-blocked items as well. If you need a shoe shopping fix, but don't want to leave the couch, then the Style Tread web site is the answer. They've got the latest trends and brands covered, plus free delivery and free returns.

Head to Mollini for a great range of chunky suede heels in killer shades of citrus and sky blue. If you are looking for something a little more subdued, Nine West is your best bet. For all your colour-blocking needs under one roof, try Sportsgirl for bold tops, shirts, dresses, pants and shoes, that are all bang on trend.

If you're after a great bright shoe and bag combo, head to Zara. Their vivid clutch bags are exquisite and shoes are very reasonably priced. Wittner is also getting in on the colourful act, with a range of lively patent heels with a vintage feel.