OK ladies, you’ve got one - maybe two - remaining weekends to find that perfect party dress to wear to the company Christmas party.

Let me save you some bother. I found it for you. Are you looking for a party dress that shows off your personality and your ability to look drop dead fabulous in whatever you have slung on? Effortless beauty is yours at the click of a mouse.

This party dress has all the latest design features, meaning that you will exude up-to-the-minute catwalk poise and refinement. Intrigued? You should be. It does fit into the LBD category but rest assured its streaks ahead of anything else you have seen.

Don’t believe me? Allow me to embellish. Strapless with a bow detail, short puff skirt, a boned bust and moulded cups on the bustier. Dribbling yet? Made from pure silk in a gazer design, let me introduce you to the MINT Jodi Arnold Greta Silk Dress.

Wear it with some super-stunning make up, tumbling curls, killer heels and a touch of glamour in the form of some ice and you’ll be the Wow Factor in human form. This party dress combined with the aforementioned trimmings is bound to give that old boss of yours a heart attack. Perfect if you are looking for a promotion in the New Year!

I tend to shy away from certain stores – mostly the ones that get a bit samey. But sometimes, when you need something quickly, you can rely on those good old faithful high street options to deliver good quality, value for money, off-the-rack pieces.

Take Next, for example. I always felt that their clothing range errs too far on the safe side. Yet for smart office-style women’s clothing, it’s a good choice. I’ve never yet failed to pick up reliable women’s shirts or skirts online or from Next.

Now I have just said all that, I did want to share with you a piece I found in their ladies skirts section. A tartan short skirt with a puffball edge to it, without being overpowering. When you view the piece you can’t help but notice that her entire ensemble is a great look, and you find yourself tempted to purchase the other items. Clever …

Tartan does seem to feature regularly in Next’s designs, but with six pages of skirts to choose from there is something for everyone.

For an up-to-the-minute look, check out the chiffon printed tiered skirt, which is very in style right now and matches precisely the vintage folklore look you might be aiming for. Team it with the boots and the lace neck jersey top in the promotional picture and you will look effortlessly chic

Beaded handbags have never really been my thing; they are just a touch too feminine for my taste. Two of my sisters on the other hand are ultra girly and completely into make up and flowers and all things female.

Umm-ing and aah-ing over what to buy them this Christmas, it occurred to me that a beaded handbag for each of them would be perfect. Perhaps if I can find the time, I could put a little something in each of the handbags, like a lipstick or two. Girly pink for sure *insert rolled eyes*.

Even though a beaded handbag is not for me, I have to admit I appreciate their beauty. The little oriental bags are my favourite, they have a touch of the exquisite about them. Some bags even have the dangling lengths of tassels and beads and frankly I can’t stop touching them, stroking them and running them across my skin.

The designs are so intricate; each bead is perfectly placed to create a gorgeous flower or pattern. It must take the designers ages to put them all together and I think because they are handmade is what gives these bags that added something.

Some women always seem to have the exact right thing to wear at any given occasion. From suits dresses, and bags to shoes, jewellery and accessories – these ladies always look effortlessly beautiful, no matter what the weather or time of day.

If you need to look smart and stay feminine, a dress is always a safe bet. Dressed up or down, they are comfortable and elegant 100% of the time! It is important to ensure that your wardrobe is stocked with a wide variety of different styles and designs with a multitude of colours and then you can pick and choose whatever suits your mood or occasion.

Every woman should have one dress that makes them feel totally sexy and desirable. I don’t mean the PVC version of a nurses outfit, this will come second place in a man’s mind if he was given the choice between that and something magnificent that makes you dazzle. If you feel good, you will come across with an air of confidence that is the sexiest thing you will wear.

Take formal dresses, there are so many styles to choose from. Halter dresses, empire waists, strapless long dresses, gowns with a full skirt, materials such as chiffon, floral patterns and one shoulder dresses… the list is endless.

With regards to short styles, how about the flapper (my favourite at the moment), babydoll, empire line, kaftans, minis, maxis, shift materials, smocks (be careful with these) tea dresses and wrap-overs.

With so many to choose from it’s a wonder we ever reach a decision, but with trying them on and probably hundreds of fashion disasters, you will learn to recognise what suits your shape and complexion!

A designer sweater by nature is designed to provide its owner with insulation. The material and breathability of the jumper should be comfortable to wear. In the main, designer sweaters are made to keep you warm and an excellent material for this is cashmere.

You can actually go mad with cashmere: it’s a gorgeous, sumptuous and luxurious fabric. Cashmere - or pashmina - comes from the cashmere goat. The textile is fine in texture and it’s also strong, light and very very very soft.

Added to which its probably a hell of a lot warmer than its equivalent weight in sheep wool without the extra bonus of a red neck where you have been scratching it.

One thing to be careful of when it comes to cashmere is the fact that it tends to be associated with old fashioned style cardigans and round-neck plain jumpers. Don’t be fooled. Shop around and you can find some opulent pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Take a quick glance at Burberry’s magnificent cashmere dress: cosy and plush. It’s on the expensive side, but well worth it.

Gel bras, a God send for all flat-chested women. My underwear drawer used to consist exclusively of gel bras. They are, in all honesty, one of the world’s greatest inventions for women. Before I gave up smoking and put on a little weight, I used to rely on these squidgy friends to assist me in providing some much needed voluptuousness in the chest area.

Gel bras win hands down as far as I am concerned over Wonderbras, which are designed solely to give you two black eyes because your girls have been hitched up as far as they can go. The gel bra has a much more natural look to it and because of the consistency it looks and feels (should anyone try it) like the real thing.

My teenage years and for the vast majority of my twenties were made all the more relaxed and enjoyable because of the gel bra. I began to buy them in every single colour: black, white, red, I even had a blue one with glitter. I wouldn’t even buy women’s swimwear unless it had gel pads in the crucial area!

Fashion Style You has recently profiled a new gel bra by Jolidon and if I needed to double in size once more I would make a beeline for this beauty, no question. The designs now are far more feminine than they were in my day.

To avoid the heinous crime that is the Christmas Jumper, it’s important all you men out there know what is acceptable in terms of knitwear!

I always think there is something cuddly and delicious about a man in jeans and a nice chunky jumper. Fashion Style You has a few great examples of exactly what would look great on any man. Think an updated version of the granddad t-shirt: long sleeves, three buttons to the neck, no collar. It’s warm and fits nicely under a large coat if you have to brave those frosty mornings de-icing the car.

Cardigans are also all the rage, providing you don’t end up looking like a golfer covered head to foot in argyle. Egan have a gorgeous sweater with a big ribbed neck, hem and cuffs adorned with big buttons. The colour of the season seems to be grey and it really does look fantastic atop a pair of well fitting blue jeans. The material is made of 80% wool and 20% polyimide which means you shouldn’t experience too much of the infamous itchy red neck phenomenon synonymous with the woolly jumper. It’s quite pricey at £64.95, but providing you can wash it without it turning out big enough to fit only action man, it should be a great wardrobe staple to carry you through the frosty mornings and bitterly cold nights.

Knitwear has come a long way and the key is to find a couple of original pieces that the masses haven’t all just nipped out and bought in their lunchtime. Check out the Egan Francis knitwear collection and you can’t go wrong.

Every now and then a ladies dress comes along that you just have to have. In my case, it’s officially true love. My dress cupboard takes up substantially more room than my food and storage cupboards combined, but that’s not what’s important.

What’s important is that this ladies dress is unique, beautiful and reasonably priced but above all, I am pretty certain that no-one I know will have anything like it! Let me explain a little bit more …

Sit back, grab a glass of champagne, close your eyes and imagine this … a striking green shimmer satin, layered with stunning green tulle. It’s a wow factor “formal dress” by Unique Boutique and whilst it is strapless there are additional straps which you can attach if you wish. The bustier style has softly padded cups for shape and support, but the piece de resistance is the full puffball style skirt adorned with dazzling and elegant sparkly flowers and tulle. It’s fastened with a back zip.

Am I making you swoon? This dress is one in a million, and the white version rightfully won the Best Dress Award at Ascot Ladies Day.

There are only sizes 8 and 12 left, the rest have been sold. Now as long as you live more than 50 miles away from me, we will probably never meet, so feel free to order one!  If you don’t believe what I’m saying and that this gorgeous dress is a myth check it out for yourself. Google it, just make you’re sitting down, because this creation is leagues above most women’s party dresses you’ll find in the shops!

A new wave of nail art design has been sweeping across Europe and the US and is increasing daily in its popularity.

The world of dollshouse miniatures has joined with the nail industry to offer a variety of exciting new, brightly coloured designs.

The canes are handmade here in the UK from Polymer clay and were originally intended for use decorating miniature food. The perfect replica fruit – strawberries, kiwis, citrus apples etc were first discovered in Germany earlier this year by Nail artists. The canes are thinly sliced and can be used with either gel or acrylic nails.

The initial success of the fruit canes has encouraged us to continue to add to our range – we now have flowers, sweeties and our very popular Halloween canes have now made way for our Christmas designs.

We continue to receive inspiration photographs from all over the world showing how these canes can be used.

It just goes to show, there are many talented, creative people out there.

www.nailartcanes.com

Most people collect something. My auntie has a wall of owl ornaments, hideous. My sister collects boyfriends - an unusual hobby, and my dad collects tools and gadgets that never get out of the packaging. I, however, seem to be collecting hats.

With regards to the hats I have, I actually do wear them all, bar the cowboy hat, which generally makes an appearance on a flight to somewhere hot and sunny. As for the others, I can’t get enough. Yesterday for the first time I dragged my woolly hat out of the closet and dusted it off for its outing to a late night theme park, teamed it up with my extra-extra-extra long knitted scarf and I was nice and toasty.

I have a real penchant for berets. Nothing too French, just the knitted types that keep your head warm without looking like an exchange student. I always find a great selection of hats at River Island, but for something a little less run-of-the-mill there is a great independent shop in Richmond but that’s a trade secret.

Plenty of baker boy hats feature on my hat hooks. I have a white knitted one with a touch of sparkly, a gorgeous brown and turquoise one that I have worn to death, making it look even more delicious and a black one that I try on all the time, but always think I end up looking like I should be driving a taxi in New York.

In summary: hats are multi-purpose, great for keeping warm, and they look awesome. I’m a hat freak and proud of it!