Purple mini skirts snapped up for £1; crushed floppy hats plucked out of bargain bins - we can all fall victim to sale fever. This month style guru Nadia Clark give advice on the savvy sales buys to take us into spring.

HAPPY New Year! The festivities are over, the little black dresses have been put away and the detox is in full swing. What's more important than knuckling down and throwing yourself back into work? The sales, of course!

Now I know they can be a proverbial minefield and some people avoid them like the plague, but it can make a lot of sense to shop in the sales. So when you're hunting through the racks, trying to elbow some poor granny away from the camel coloured overcoat, stop and think for a second. You should go to the sales with a clear idea of what you need and not leave it to instinct when you get there. I know the silver Cheeky Girl hot-pants are reduced to £5, but will you really wear them?

Firstly, think about investing in some classics. These will form the staple items in your wardrobe and will last a few seasons. If you buy these classics in the sale, you will undoubtedly be getting a bargain. But beware - make sure the cut and style are flattering for your body shape and most importantly, make sure they fit. It's easy to get carried away and just buy something because it's cheap.

A key item is a good pair of black trousers. You are looking for a classic cut, nothing too trendy. Accessory-wise, leather is always a wise choice in either chocolate brown or black. Hunt out some fabulous gloves, a structured bag or leather boots. Cashmere 'anything' is always a fantastic buy, as are classic coats.

I've been doing my research as your resident style guru and there are a few key items to buy in the sales. Try a sexy pencil skirt or even a funky tulip shape. Make room in your wardrobe for fabulous Chinese influenced pieces and throw out anything which could have been bought in a Russian market. So 2005!

Dark denim should be purchased at this time, not distressed denim, which is fantastic news as indigo and black tones are so much more flattering. Golf shirts will be popular, so throw out your polo shirts. The safari look is also in, but military is out.

Finally, forget about your preppy collegiate style and hang onto last season's rock chick clothes.

So you're all sorted with your basics and individual pieces but what about the trends for next year? This winter has seen us change from dippy, hippy gypsies into new, grown-up Miss Moneypennys. Personally, I think this is fantastic although I'm still struggling to get out of a 4x4 in a super tight pencil skirt without snagging my tights.

It's easy to hide a multitude of sins under a gorgeous coat, but how do we stay chic when the sun comes out? We can forget all about the hobo style and bare midriffs of summer 2005 and concentrate on, well, looking like ladies.

The autumn/winter 2005 catwalks saw a return to the elegant way of dressing of the 40s. Think polished make-up, chignons, skirt suits and cropped jackets. We were taught to be ladies. The spring/summer collections carry on this trend but things are a lot more relaxed and delicate. Most of the designers' collections were soft and beautiful but always ladylike.

NEW NEUTRALS

IF it wasn't all white on the catwalks, it was soft neutrals or muted, washed-out palettes. Cream, beige, nude and grey were all used to elegant effect. You would have thought you were watching the inhabitants of a nudist colony at John Galliano for Dior. I had to hide my eyes! Similarly, the models at Prada wore short, loose-fitting, 1920s chemise dresses in cream and pastels, with dropped waists.

Marc for Marc Jacobs concentrated on the nautical and ballerina themes and both trends resulted in a sugary sweet style. His runway show catered for both the girlie girl and the tomboy in all of us. For his cool ballerina look, think nude coloured thin-strapped vests with identical coloured leggings topped off with a pink knee-length tutu and some old school trainers (Converse or Vans only though please).

Thin layering is key to this look and can only be carried off by the very daring or the very skinny.

Stock up on: nude coloured separates, mainly concentrating on tops. If you want a skirt or trousers in a delicate colour, stick to a grey or washed out tone - peach or soft pink aren't the most flattering colours to be wearing over your saddle-bags! If you're a little pasty, consider adding a bronzer to your make-up bag.

COLOUR STEAL

IF looking like the Emperor in his New Clothes isn't quite your thing, then you will probably be interested to know that colours for 2006 will be warmer and cleaner. Yellows will be very popular, with my favourite blue of last season unfortunately receding. The other emerging colour trends for next season are bottle green, violet, teal and deep red.

Stock up on: how gorgeous does a violet cashmere jumper sound or some deep red ballet pumps? These would be perfect items to look for in the sales. Some of these colours may sound quite harsh when worn alone, but the shades on the catwalk were softer with a washed-out or vintage appearance. The fabulous Roland Mouret used subdued jewel colours for his draped silk jersey gowns.

SHORT ORDER

THOSE with legs like Gisele will be very pleased to know that shorts are the key item for next season. Waistlines are higher and the style is much more slouchy than last season's city shorts. They come thigh-high and can be worn in early spring with some tights and sexy biker boots (which will take over from the Victoriana lace-up boot). But remember, if waists are high, then hemlines are even higher.

Stock up on: a pair of shorts if you can, or a mini skirt, which is always in fashion.

METALLIC MAGIC

AS far as evening wear goes, spring metallics were high up on the agenda. Proenza Schouler showed dresses in pale gold and silver, lending the clothes a contemporary luxury. Zac Posen's short puffball dress in silver silk shantung looked fresh and is sure to be seen on the red carpet soon.

Stock up on: gorgeous little numbers left over from the New Year collections will still be hanging around the racks if you're lucky.

Happy shopping!

* Nadia is available for personal shopping and styling appointments and can be contacted via her website www.joeprincestyling.com or on 0191 516 6868.