Have you planned a winter holiday? No doubt it entails skiing on Les Alps, sashaying down the mountain in the latest and up-to-the-minute attire. But what happens when you reach the bottom? Every girl needs a little après ski wardrobe to give her something to look forward to when she hotfoots back to her chalet for a little gluvine!

I have found just the thing. First of all, there is nothing better than sliding your feet into some fantastically toasty moon boats when you get the horrible rigid ski boots off your feet. Burberry has managed to make a pair that actually you could quite comfortably get away with when you come home too. They are black patent with a black fur trim and crossed lace detailing, subtle and chic.

Juicy Couture also has the perfect hooded “designer sweater” to match. It’s made of cashmere and if the gluvine doesn’t manage to get your pulse racing this “designer sweater” will! Long sleeves and diamante heart drawstring ties at the neck and a front pouch will make you feel cosy and relaxed.

If you can manage to stretch the budget a lot more, then the Alexander McQueen Mongolian trim jacket is fabulous. A black wool shearling jacket with a contrasting fur collar and cuffs, it has to be seen to be believed. Obviously, it will set you back more than your ski holiday, but if you’re lucky it might be in the January sales.

Throw in some gorgeous blue “women’s jeans” and there is your après ski outfit! Perfect for slumping by a cosy log fire with some piping hot spicy mulled wine and comparing daily injuries with the rest of your party!

I have so many vices when it comes to women’s fashions that it’s hard to select the most prominent one, but I think shoes would be a definite contender.

I know that I’m not alone. Many ladies share my compulsion to visit every shoe store in town on a regular basis, regardless of my bank balance.

So what shoes feature most in your wardrobe? Are you a stiletto kind of girl? My mum for example wouldn’t be seen dead in anything less than 4 inches and frankly, she’s ruined her feet forever, but there we go! Stilettos ooze seductiveness and are timeless staples of women’s fashions.

A black high heeled dress shoe to go with your LBD is no doubt lurking somewhere in the back of your wardrobe, along with a pair of show-stopping metallic high-heeled sandals. Then there are your everyday shoes – ugg boots for me. I practically live in them.

Just as Coke must have Fries, shoes must have boots. My shelves are stacked with boots - mostly knee high ones that I can team with skinny jeans or jersey dresses and tights. My collection of boots spans a whole rainbow of colours. I have: 2 black pairs (one laced up, one plain that I generally hide under trousers), 3 different shades of brown, 2, a burgundy suede pair, and a blue and gold paisley pair that I bargained hard for in New York. And that’s just my boots … there isn’t enough space here to list every colour I’ve bought shoes in. Just pick a colour … yep, I own shoes in it.

The clock is ticking away and before you know it, January 1st will have dawned and it will time for the dreaded New Year’s resolutions. According to surveys most people make firm resolutions for one of the following reasons: to lose weight, give up smoking, spend more time with friends/family, get fit, quit drinking, get out of debt, learn something new or get a new job.

Fairly comprehensive and I can’t help too much with most of them, but in terms of the last one, I might be able to help you dress for success. One mistake I always believe women make when attending a job interview is to dress like a man. No-one ever said you can’t be successful and command respect if you wear feminine “women’s clothing”.

Don’t be tempted to go with a bog standard suit and womens shirt (http://www.bizrate.co.uk/womensshirts_blouses/), I am not sure it makes much difference and certainly won’t make you stand out from the crowd. Be memorable in more ways than one and go for a little power dressing!

Sharpen your image with the Vaneau wool “formal dress” from Roland Mouret. A multi coloured (don’t panic, we aren’t talking psychedelic patterns here, a sedate and subtle check in earthy hues) wool blend fitted dress with contrast pleat detailing. With short cap sleeves and a slit at the back with a zip to fasten. It exudes professionalism and poise!

The shawl collar “formal dress” by Alice and Olivia won’t escape your notice either. A gorgeous tailored dress in grey with an elasticated belt at the waist, cap sleeves, pockets at the waist and a zip fastening at the front!

Whatever style suits you best, make sure it’s tailored, pressed, clean and perfect to look at.

Oriental models always manage to look demure, yet chic and sexy when they’re swooshing down the catwalk. Regardless of whether they’re clad in long dresses buttoned up to the neck Kimono style or completely covering their ankles, they exude understated elegance.

Wanting a piece of the action and telling myself in no uncertain terms that at my age, less is most definitely more, I went in search of a touch of Oriental glamour.

I was fruitful in my findings. I adore the Issa Kimono print dress, a charming floor length “long dress” in classic monochrome tones. It has a knotted self tie at the front, short batwing sleeves, a plunge neck and a zip at the front. Fully lined, it’s bound to feel luxurious against the skin.

It doesn’t quite come up to the neck; in fact, it’s not possible to wear a bra with the design as the plunge neckline is indeed plungey. But hey ho, the other old saying is if you’ve got it, flaunt it!

It is loose by design, which will enable its lucky owner to wear it comfortably. It’s also very flattering in its shape, clinging to the all the right places and still leaving everything (well, almost everything) to the imagination.

Having looked out of the window this morning and noticed the thick slab of ice currently stuck to the windscreen of my car sent a shiver down my spine – even if it was nice and toasty inside.

Choosing what to wear that morning was easy: layers, layers and more layers with an extra layer for luck. Now winter is well and truly here, ensuring your wardrobe and drawers are up to the job is a priority.

Let’s start from the top. Beanies, perfect for keeping the warmth in your body and pretty useful for covering bed head if your fringe has a mind of its own some mornings. It seems the “body” is back from the early 1990s, if you fancy avoiding a windy midriff. If you can’t face the thought of those poppers, try stocking up on turtle necks instead. You can’t beat the James Perse Cashmere turtleneck designer sweater, it comes in light grey and has contrasting ribbed sleeves which add some fantastic texture and stop it looking too plain.

Merino blend tights are a great investment also, soft to the touch and many good quality brands also do a cotton lining to make them feel luxurious on your skin. Add some women’s jeans and knee length boots into the mix, you will be good to go.

Psychedelic prints really should have been left in the 1960s. I certainly don’t believe that it’s possible, regardless of whether a designer has created it or not, that this look will ever be a fashion statement, unless of course that statement is, ‘What the bloody hell is she wearing?’

I’m left entirely cold by the Emilio Pucci Cristalle print silk formal dress. As far as I am concerned it doesn’t have very many redeeming features. Least of all the price tag for this hideous number.

It’s sold with the promise ‘As seen on the runway’. Unfortunately, that’s where I really think it should have stayed. Clothes from Fashion shows, like concept cars should be left exactly where you saw them, on paper or wrapped around a size zero.

This formal dress does make a dramatic statement. Let me try and paint a picture for you. Multicoloured, with a blue hue, featuring teal, royal blue, purple, yellow and orange. It is a long dress with a high neck, added to which are the long full sleeves and a zip and a button to fasten at the back. Meaning, readers, there is not a single flash of skin anywhere except your face and goodness what make up will match it without you ending up looking a little Aunt Sally!

I appreciate that everyone’s tastes are different and I apologise profusely if anyone out there has actually purchased the £1390 dress. I am certain though that Gladys, my local seamstress, can knock one of these beauties out in nylon for under a tenner. Give me a Miss Sixty dress over an actual sixties dress any day!

Having spent the last few weekends glued to Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor, I’ve persuaded myself I do it all in the name of researching ladies dresses.

For the ladies dresses worn on these dancing shows are truly to die for. Glitzy, glam and sparkly are all well and good, but throw in some fantastic shapes and swirly skirts and I’m in heaven.

It’s not too hard to replicate at the moment, with a tremendous amount of floaty, flowing above the knee skirts that swish as you walk. Sling on some high heels and frankly, it won’t just be builders making wolf whistle noises at you; girls and boys alike will stand gaping at you as you walk away.

The Herve Leger Basket weave halter dress in cool steel tones is such a dress. It’s more than a dress in fact, it’s a creation. It is a vintage inspired cocktail dress with an up-to-the-minute swishy bottom half! It’s backless, all bar a strap running across the shoulder blades that holds the basket weave tight fitting design to your body. Honestly, it’s beauty personified.

Never one to really applaud or encourage spending above a maximum of £300, this one is totally worth it. If I had £1330, I would spend it on this dress. I would be sure never to sit down, or stand anywhere near anyone that had a nervous twitch holding a drink but I know I would feel like a true princess in this number.

One of my favourite “fashion blogs”, I am Fashion, let out the bag a 60% off sample sale. And the best bit? You can buy online! It would be a long and expensive trip state-side otherwise …

The designer is MINT Jodi Arnold and the dresses on here are divine. I particularly love the shirred dress in stone which is reduced from $495 to $198! The Zelda turtleneck dress is also stunning.

Several slightly different styles are available. Some of them I would class as quite shapeless dresses, nevertheless they all have redeeming features with added detailing around collars, little belts attached to add that special something. Bold colours or quirky designs, there really is something for everyone.

Take it from me, exchange rates and a discount is fantastic. Not having to jump on a plane to take advantage – unless you were planning a holiday anyway - is the cherry on top. These sample sales don’t last too long with this one in particular coming to a close at the end of November, best to hurry and stock up!

I’m looking for a short dress that I can wear in the day, probably with tights and boots as it’s a little nippy but certainly versatile enough to wear with shoes. Tent and tunic winter dresses are out, they make me look ridiculous. So that leaves an off-the-shoulder pegno dress.

When I look at this style and design, I can see myself wearing it. I can actually picture exactly how this would look on my body and I know, in no uncertain terms, that it would suit me and I should have it. Immediately.

I’m also slightly concerned that my bank manager could ring at any moment to ask me whether or not I am aware there is a credit crunch and could I perhaps stop spending their money, at least for a moment.

Sorry Mr. Bank Manager, on this occasion, it’s a life or death situation. I simply must have the Missoni creation or I will die and then where will you be. I’ve heard its hard repaying your overdraft when you are 6ft under.

It’s a subtle design, perfect for the daytime. The colour would look sensational with some brown tights and if I add some ankle boots, I am forewarned that it would be traffic stopping. It’s a multi-coloured stripe with a contrasting knit trim with detail on one shoulder. It’s 75% wool so it’s got to be dry-cleaned, but it’s a small price to pay for such a beauty.

It’s the festive party season and you’ve got the dress of your dreams. Either that, or you’ve got that last minute frock because the one you really wanted wasn’t available in your size. Whichever one applies to you, it’s now time to turn your attention to the accessories.

Shoes are a must, not least because your feet will otherwise get cold and damp but also because they add height, elongate your legs to make your dress look super fab and add a little something to the look on your face that only new shoes can achieve.

The new Jimmy Choo Presta Metallic Sandals are very Strictly Come Dancing and will be fantastic if you have chosen a slightly above the knee swingy style “ladies skirt” and, with a 4.5 inch heel, they will certainly make your pins look like they go on forever!

Finally, its not your “party dress” that makes the first entrance, it’s the coat covering the dress, so make sure you don’t sling on last year’s floor length puffa! Try a gorgeous velvet evening coat to keep out the winter chill and stop your teeth from chattering!

Finish off the look with some confetti earrings made with glittering Swarovski crystals to add that little extra flash when start to move on the dance floor.