Is it just me, or is everyone else still writing 2010 on everything? I’m finding it very hard to believe that yet another year has begun. A new year means another four seasons of fashion and another twelve months of ‘what to wear’ dilemmas.

I saw a great deal of women swanning about in full-length furs and there were no lunatics from PETA dousing them with red paint.

But fear not dear readers, over Christmas I ventured over to our opposing hemisphere on a serious fashion reconnaissance mission and I have come back filled with knowledge of future trends, a maxed out credit card and blisters on my feet. I’ll let you in on what the fashion of 2011 holds… All that shimmers Sequins, studs and beads are going to be everywhere, embellishing tops, dresses, skirts, bags and even shoes.

A sequined top paired with jeans can pretty much take you anywhere, while a beaded bag or shoes can dress up even the dullest outfit. But sequins aren’t just for summer, pair a sequined dress with black tights and a pair of killer heels for a great winter look.

Wide leg glamour

Beat the winter blues with a pair of high-waisted wide leg trousers. It’s a very glamorous look that can work for both the office and after hours and is all about channelling a bit of Katherine Hepburn style.

Jungle prints and nautical stripes Stripes are back in a big way, with red, blue and white lending a very nautical feel to everything from jackets, tops and even skirts. Novelty prints are out there in a big way, from zebras to zany fruit motifs. Prada is leading the charge with a range of jungle inspired tops and dresses featuring monkeys and bananas.

Graphic and ethnic inspired prints are still everywhere and no one does it better than Missoni, with their sexy 70s style knit dresses. In vivid colour Vibrant colours are big news, but concentrated mostly on accessories. Embrace the trend by mixing bright coloured shoes, bags, scarves, jewellery and jackets with black and white for a striking effect. Vamp up your daytime office look with silk blouses in shades of ruby, emerald and gold.

Furs

When I was in New York recently it was very, very cold and I was a little shocked to see so much fur everywhere.

Fur detailing on cuffs, collars and hoods was a big deal and appeared in almost every store I entered, from high-end boutiques to Kmart. I saw a great deal of women swanning about in full-length furs and there were no lunatics from PETA dousing them with red paint.

It’s too early in the year to delve into the moral minefield that is fur-wearing, so all I will say is, come the winter months I think we will be seeing a great deal of (faux) fur embellishing everything from vests and coats, to shoes and bags.

In the trenches A trench coat never goes out of style, but each year it is somehow reinvented and given a new twist. This year, investing in a trench in a bright shade of red, green or yellow will help you stand out in a crowd of black.

And while it may sound kind of weird, denim trenches are popping up all over the place, they’re a great option for a more casual workplace, but avoid the whole double denim look, it’s not great.

Neon brights

When I think of neon I think of old school aerobics classes, fluorescent headbands and socks and body suits over shiny lycra leggings. It’s terrifying but apparently unavoidable and this year striking shades will appear everywhere.

Think hot pink and bright orange lipsticks or ensembles in acid shades of lemon and lime. Not for everyone.

Nailed down

The smoky eye look has migrated south. Summer is all about corals, pinks and lolly-bright shades, but come the winter months, nail polishes are taking a darker turn. Come autumn/winter it will be all about shiny, metallic shades of gun metal grey, pearly blacks and metallic navy.