An invite to a friend’s party pings in your mailbox. What’s the first thing you do? Well, most of us will scroll down to check the level of formality because even if it’s just a small do between friends, a party is always the right occasion to showcase your wardrobe.

RodarteRodarte

The problem is that dress codes vary in complexity. Some are pretty straightforward. You don’t wear white to a wedding. Black tie ushers in a catwalk of tuxedos, dark suits, evening gowns and cocktail dresses. And black and white means just that: black and white. Other dress codes are as difficult to break as the World War II Enigma code. What does ‘dress to impress’ or the more semantically challenged ‘out of control’ actually mean?

There is a moral to this story. And that is to stick to this season’s trends. You’ll be bang on fashion. And if someone doesn’t like what you’re wearing, well, you can always blame this season’s trends.

For her

This season marks a return to two decades which we will always remember with nostalgia and fun: the 1970s and 1980s.

The 1970s are back in all their glory: cue flares, fringed waistcoats and capes, peasant blouses, skinny scarves and dungarees.

They say that if you remember the 1960s, you weren’t really there. On the other hand, we all have fun memories of the 1980s: the white handbags, big lips and bigger hair marked us for life. Which explains why designers keep returning to the 1980s for inspiration. This season, the 1980s revival proposes power shoulders, rainbow colour combos and mini-length prom skirts. The fabrics of choice are velvet, leather and shearling.

Saint LaurentSaint Laurent

Bold graphic art prints are also a trend worth investing in. From monochromatic prints to cubes and zigzags, it looks like a mathematics exam revision – with more fun.

Knits are also big this season. They are literally big because the thicker the knit, the more fabulous your wardrobe. Team up Aran jumpers and cable knits with big-shoulder coats, baggy boots and huge earrings for the ultimate 1980s effect.

It’s not just big knits which get our vote. The good old polo neck is back – such a versatile element which can be worn day and night under pinafores, over long skirts and tucked into trousers.

Your party wardrobe is also in full swing with sequins and glitters. Cocktail dresses border on the glam-rock and have plenty of after-dark appeal. Brocades are also very in this season, adding an element of ultra-luxe.

For him

The male of the season is green. In a good way, of course, because this season celebrates all shades of green, from light to military and the darkest hues. Another key colour for the male wardrobe this season is orange. And if that was not bright enough, a lot of designers are proposing an orange-yellow combo. If you’re brave enough, then go for it. If you would rather tone it down a bit, then go for orange with splashes of yellow in your accessories.

For men, the decade of reference is the 1970s. Which explains why shearling is all over the place, from jackets to linings and cuff and trim details. British menswear label Hackett has also proposed some smart takes on the fabric: a shearling gilet and double-breasted jacket.

For prints, men are wearing checks this season. Cue tartan suits, micro-check tailoring and layered checks straight from the 1960s.

In recent seasons, men’s trousers were getting increasingly tighter. This season, designers went to the other extreme with wide-legged trousers and relaxed cuts. Team up with thick ribbed cardigans and double-breasted jackets.

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