Passion for fashion costs over £500 a year

British shoppers are the second biggest spenders on clothes in Europe, according to a new report.

The report by Verdict, the market analyst, says that each Briton spends an average of £556 on clothes a year, up from £518 in 2001.

While the Italians remain Europe’s biggest spenders on clothes, the UK is catching up. Italians splashed out an average £602 each last year – down from £622 five years earlier.

Britain, Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands account for £4 of every £5 spent on clothing in the EU, the report says.

But spending across these six countries collectively rose by just 3.9 per cent in the five years to 2006.

The new EU member states are experiencing a spending boom. Estonia saw its average annual spend per person almost double from £106 in 2001 to £209 last year.

Clothing sales across the 10 new EU member states jumped by more than a fifth to £7.7 billion over the same period.

A Verdict spokesman said: “The EU’s population is finding more attractive alternatives to spend its hard-earned cash on than clothing, and competition between the various clothing retailers of Europe is intensifying.”

The report says the biggest clothing retailer in the EU is Inditex – whose labels include Zara – followed by H&M and Marks & Spencer.

Versatility and Value

The New Year usually heralds a period of belt tightening. Well, financially speaking anyway. With this in mind, shopping for versatile investment pieces can maximise on your fashion budget without having to compromise on quality or design.

This beautiful, single-breasted, silver and gold weave tweed jacket from Basler is a wonderfully chic, classic investment piece. Fabulous materials and impeccable tailoring mean that it’s a piece that will offer effortless sophistication and almost infinite versatility that will endure for many seasons to come. Such is the versatility of this classically designed piece, you’ll be able to revitalise the look time and again, adapting it to suit a variety of occasions.

For a stylish and understated look, perfect for lunch with friends, combine a smart skirt and an on-trend, abstract print top with the jacket. The full look from Basler incorporates this rhinestone fronted jersey top and sophisticated crêpe skirt.

For a daytime look for the spring season, dress the jacket down with jeans and flats and complement it with stylish animal print accessories. Wear the jacket over your favourite white shirt by Gerry Weber. This one is slightly fitted, with pretty box pleat placket and split button cuffs. It goes wonderfully well with a pair of Michele Magic, straight leg jeans. They’re famous for their comfortable styling and for the clever panels which flatten your tummy and shape your bottom. Complete the look with a pair of fabulous Capollini matt-leather loafers and accessorise with this stylish, jacquard-woven canvas bag by Suzy Smith, adorned with white patent faux leather trim, gold-tone accents and double-chain strap.

If the occasion calls for a touch of refined evening glamour, emphasise the expertly tailored jacket with equally sharp, tailored separates in neutral tones and accent the look with gold accessories. These Gina Bacconi crêpe trousers are exclusive to Gray & Osbourn and combine beautifully with this sleeveless top, also from Bacconi. Accessorise this look with Suzy Smith’s exquisite, pure ivory leather bag with gold-tone studs and quilting detail.

Pink

Pink is on trend this spring in a big way.  From blushing shades to vibrant fuchsias and warm corals, there is bound to be a shade that suits you.  Don’t think for a second that pinks can only be worn in a subtle, feminine style.   Gray & Osbourn has  introduced bold shades this season that are set to make a statement.

Chesca’s pink cardigan is a must have for every woman’s wardrobe.  Not only is it in a deep shade of pink that will  transform any outfit, whether it be casual or smart.  But it is also an on trend waterfall cardigan, a key piece this season, perfect for light layering this Spring.

Want to make a real statement?  Gelco’s crushed leather jacket with it’s chic, sharp tailoring will do just that.  In hot pink , this luxurious butter soft leather jacket will be invaluable this season.  And its versatile, looking equally as stylish with a pair of jeans as a black tailored trousers.

Gerry Weber’s collection this spring has embraced this trend, mixing pinks with chocolate and white for a strong contrast.  This lovely knitted V-neck  jumper from Gerry Weber’s web exclusive range is pink, white and chocolate striped with beaded embellishment to make it look extra special.  This looks great with the pink Gerry Weber gilet and jeans, or equally could be dressed up with a  pair of smart trousers.   Or for a more formal look this striped shirt is perfect for work wear but with a soft pink stripe keeps it feminine and on trend.

If you are lucky enough to be going abroad to catch some winter sun, Gray & Osbourn has selected this gorgeous sundress from Pomodoro as a suitcase essential.  With pretty floral and paisley prints this cotton sundress is perfect for walking about on deck or exploring in the day.  In lightweight fabric this print summer dress will make sure you look stylish all day long.

So whatever your occasion or taste, there is something pink in the new Gray & Osbourn spring collection for you, to make you stay on trend and look stylish no matter what.

How to find the perfect pants for your body shape

While some of the lucky few boast hour-glass figures capable of making even a potato sack look good, others are in a constant battle to find the right clothes to suit their body shapes. This goes for trousers and jeans as well. Not only do you need to find pants that fit your body, they have to look good as well. And while brands like Michele and Uniqsize offer designer trousers or designer jeans that fit the unique contours of your body, you first need to establish your body type before spending money on the latest pair of trendy jeans.

Here are the four general body types and what kind of pants you should be wearing:

The Apple

The Apple shape are those bodies where weight is distributed more on the top half of the body and less on the lower half. To make up for the lack of weight on the lower half, people with this body shape should buy trousers and jeans that are slimming while still making their lower half seem weightier.

Pants that suit this body shape include:

• ‘Bell’ shape flare pants
• Bootcut pants are slimming and help elongate the body

Celebrities with ‘apple’ shaped bodies include Drew Barrymore, Catherine Zeta Jones, Liz Hurly, Tyra Banks and Dolly Parton.

The Pear

Many people incorrectly assume that pear shaped people are overweight people. Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Shakira, Mariah Carey or Beyonce overweight. These famous pears have embraced their curvaceous shape by wearing clothes that fit their bodies, i.e., hide the bad parts and accentuate the good ones.

Pants that will compliment this body shape ar

• Bootcut pants – these help eliminate the weightiness of the body
• Relaxed fit pants draws attention away from the weight of the body

Celebrities with ‘pear’-shaped bodies include Kristin Davis, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Keira Knightly, Mariah Carey, Amanda Peet, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Shakira.

The Rectangular

The rectangular shape is usually a shape envied by many women. This shape has very little curves, and usually a flat chest to match. Women with this shape bodies have a slim, narrow and small frame with a straight linear appearance. Weight gain and loss is evenly distributed throughout the body.

Types of jeans and trousers you should be wearing:

• Skinny jeans – these hug your slim thighs and defines a shapely bottom
• Bootcut pants and wide leg jeans are also ideal for your body type
• Low waisted jeans will create the illusion of curves

Celebrities with this body shape include Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Sheryl Crowe and Rachel Hunter.

The Hour-Glass

Often seen as the sexiest body shape of all, this figure is perfect for many, if not all pants styles. This is a well-proportioned body shape and closely related to the pear shape, but unlike the pear shape, weight is neatly and equally proportioned between the upper and lower halves of the body. The waist is usually defined, hence the ‘hour-glass’ figure.

Lucky hour-glass body types look good in most jeans and trouser styles, especially slimming and bootcut styles.

Celebrities with hour-glass shapes include Kim Cattrell, Scarlet Johansson and Kelly Brook.

The Bohemian Look

There are some enduring summer styles that rarely ever fall entirely from favour and the Bohemian look is one of them. ‘Boho’ dresses have been popular with young and chic for a few years and are an artistic way to blend a number of casual styles. It’s also a light and flowing look that works well for the summertime. As a counter point to the monochrome looks that are set to be particularly popular this season, bohemian fashions aim to be more interesting in their use of bold colour.

The Bohemian trends for 2010 are perfectly accessible to women of all ages who are looking to bring a touch of artistic colour and texture to their summer wardrobe.

Investing in a pair of designer denims is a must for summer, regardless of whether you intend to take advantage of the Bohemian look or not. Michele Magic jeans and NYDJ (Not Your Daughter’s Jeans) are wonderfully slimming and work great under a summery dress for that bohemian look but they can also be dressed up if the occasion calls for it.

The tank top is a simple way to add an element of bohemian layering to your summer ensemble. They’re comfortable and can be easily worn with a skirt or jeans. Adding a colourful and slightly eccentric scarf puts the outfit right on trend.

Your bohemian frock will look fabulous with a pair of boots but when you’re shopping, make a point of buying quality. It’s about style as well as comfort and any item that’s got the potential to make a real statement with your summer dress should be of a high quality. We’d recommend a pair with a mid-sized heel and a rounded toe.

An embroidered frock, or bohemian dress, is essentially the signature item for this look. As long as you go for a colour scheme that suits you and a dress that’s cut well for your body shape, you really can’t lose. If you don’t feel brave enough to bare your legs, a pair of colourful tights will look good too.

With the tank top, every woman should invest in some basic, simply coloured cardigans. As temperatures fluctuate, being able to take off and add on layers quickly and easily is a must. So, start with basics like black and white before moving on to more brightly coloured cardigans. Always refer back to your skin tone but don’t be afraid to be adventurous. For the perfect addition to the bohemian look, layer it over your boho dress, jeans or shorts.

A bohemian dress will look unfinished without the right accessories. So, experiment with silver necklaces, bracelets or anklets; incorporate some wooden or glass beads and big, bright, dangling earrings. Beaded scarves are also a definite nod to the bohemian trend.

Bohemian fashion is all about colourful sundresses, light blouses and flowing skirts. Materials like light-weight cotton, chiffon, silk and velvet are ideal for the time of year because not only are they comfortable but they look great too.