Not sure about you lovelies, but year-end has come around way too fast? It is said the older we get, the faster time flies, however, I am a tad overwhelmed at how short this year felt, and I know I’m not the only one. I did feel better when one of my pixies told me she could not keep up with the year either. She’s thirteen, chuckles…

So, it’s galloping towards that time of year, when year-end events abound and the feasting, not to mention guzzling our favourite tipples, begins. Of course, it goes without saying, we now start hunter-gathering outfits to suit all the occasions we need to attend, and with flair.

This is usually the time, especially at the start of a new season, when one’s partner, bestie, dog, cat, and offspring seem to be rolling their eyes when we say what they’ve become accustomed to over the years, “I have nothing to wear,” said in our most desperate voice.

Before going online or dashing out with the credit card grasped firmly in our greedy little paws, stop, contemplate, and consult the existing wardrobe.

Which items do we feel fabulous in, which outfits invite compliments from others, and which outfits elevate current trends we favour. This is a good place to start.

What is on trend now? Animal print is huge for any season and styling it with denim instead of the traditional black for a casual lunch, or with white pants, or a white midi-skirt for a more sophisticated outing, could easily soften the wild-cat allure, whilst still offering a promise of kitty mystique… (do I hear a low leopard growl?).

Colours that are trending globally include fuchsia or cerise-pink, bright orange, mint green, and all hues of red, including deep berry shades. Do we need to follow trends? No, we create our own and we embrace the hues we know flatter us the most.

I’ve had a leopard-print silk blouse for many years, and after plenty exposure, I banished it to the back of the wardrobe for a two-year sabbatical. I’ve just retrieved it and it somehow feels like new. I now prefer styling it with white as it just brightens the look, whilst softening the wild-cat vibe into a more sophisticated look.

Alfresco lunches call for linen, and even when it creases, it still looks stylish, comfortable, and nonchalantly classy.

Another classic that never dates for me, is the black pants suit. It is ideal for styling for lunch with a white shirt, or for evening with a shimmer top. Yes, shimmer is huge for added glamour.

My preferred evening dressing for a stylish occasion? A silk dress, midi or maxi, in a silver or old-gold palette. However, a little black dress never goes out of style as it offers a myriad mutable style possibilities to suit the occasion, and, most of all, our mood for noir mystery.

I’ve banged on about shirt dresses for some time, so, brace yourselves, darlings, here it comes again. Why? They are versatile and could be worn as a dress, a summer coat, or paired with pants to add a level of sophistication. We decide how and when to wear it.

Navy and white always look fresh, offering a classy Riviera feel to the occasion, whilst stripes are big this season. So, a striped shirt, classic or oversized, creates easy glamour.

Big jackets are quite the rage again, and I love them as they are slimming and forgiving. However, wearing a little cropped blazer adds some French flair to the mix. Want to elevate a neutral outfit with panache? Add a bright summer coat in your happiest shade to put a spark into the look.

Don’t forget to add a lip colour to enhance your complexion so the jacket draws attention to your lovely face. Ah, and then, there is that final spritz of our favourite fragrance just before we leave the house. An old friend, married happily for years to a lovely woman, recently mentioned how important it was for women to wear just enough perfume to entice, but too little to smell as if we’d been marinaded in it. Sound advice, hie!

If the weather is being naughty and surprises us with some chill, a faux fur gilet is ideal for making a luxurious statement.

Hope some of these suggestions inspire you to style your wardrobe like a star, and if you are so inclined, to acquire something sparkling new to breathe new life into an older outfit. Cheers to happy eventing, we’ve got this, oh gorgeous tribe!