Fashionista's A-Z

By NATASHA SILVA-JELLY and BRONWYN COSGRAVE - SMH

Trends come and go and it can be hard work just keeping track of what's hot and what's not - so we're making sure you stay ahead of the game.

Fashion waits for no man - or woman. What's hot one season can be as outdated as swinging a flashy IT bag the next.

Keeping up is a full-time job. To save you the legwork, we present an A to Z guide of this season's hottest names, places and trends.

A is for animal prints

Striking zebra, ocelot, tiger and giraffe patterns have stalked the catwalks for so many seasons now  that animal prints are considered as classic as stripes.

B is for Balmain

And also Balenciaga. Both these Parisian high-end fashion houses are the labels du jour. We love Balmain for bringing us '80s acid-washed jeans, sharp shoulders and sought-after shoes. And Balenciaga, thank you for sparking one of the most coveted trends this decade - the gladiator - and for showing at your latest collection that you do care about the soft femininity of draped satin.

C is for collaboration

Think Stella McCartney for Target, Romance Was Born for Sportsgirl, Kate Moss for Topshop (she's currently the toast of its New York store) and Catherine Martin for RM Williams. Whatever the combination, collaboration is one of fashion's biggest trends.

D is for Dinosaur Designs

Dinosaur Designs has always been hot but now that we're in the middle of an accessories revolution, demand for their range has gone to a whole new level. Every piece is funky, modern and hard to resist, from their signature cube bangles and resin-coated necklaces to their unique knick-knacks for the home. Is it any wonder this home-grown brand has also become a cult in the US? It has its own stand-alone store in Manhattan.

E is for Erdem

Could this London designer be the new red carpet king? There is much talk about him on Planet Fashion at the moment. He has met Karl Lagerfeld via Anna Wintour at the Paris Ritz bar and had intimate tete-a-tetes with Oscar winners Gwyneth Paltrow and Marion Cotillard. Erdem's beautiful, red-carpet-ready satin cocktail dresses (as worn by Keira Knightley and Thandie Newton) were the highlights of London Fashion Week. The fashion pack is wondering how long before he joins the big guns in the grander fashion arena of Paris.

F is for frills

These feminine fashion accoutrements pretty up all the best party dresses, from disco-glam, off-the-shoulder shifts to flouncy floral gowns. Catch them also on blouses at YSL or, best of all, tiered minis and knee-length dresses.

G is for the gilet

If you're not familiar with the term in French, a gilet is a sleeveless jacket or vest. It's this winter's wardrobe must-have, so invest in a waist- or knee-length gilet in fabulous faux fur. You can keep the winter chills at bay while scoring some serious style points.

H is for Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones

Two years in the making, this exhibition is one of the most fascinating displays of millinery ever staged. Alas, it's in London, but you can still drool over some of the exhibition's 300 toppers (including Margot Fonteyn's favourite Dior cloche and Marlene Dietrich's signature beret) online at www.vam.ac.uk.

I is for I-Spy

High-end retailer Belinda Seper, of Belinda boutiques and The Corner Shop fame, named her latest designer haven after the game "I spy with my little eye". Located next door to her Double Bay store, I-Spy is the place for hot designer fashion - think Lanvin, Givenchy and Marni - at mouthwatering discounts.

J is for Josh Goot

Considered an up-and-coming designer on the world stage thanks to his trademark tailored-comfort style, Goot's jersey pieces are seriously on the money right now. With staying-in the new going-out, he's the go-to designer for lounging around in style at home.

K is for the king

The 163-year-old Spanish label Loewe (pronounced low-er-vay) has a new king in the shape of British designer Stuart Vevers. He's the man responsible for turning a Mulberry handbag into the hottest thing on the planet. Vevers unveiled his first collection for the brand in Paris this season, producing a line that was hip, cool and sexy. Standouts were leather T-shirts and trench coats.

L is for luxury basics

The global financial crisis is shaping fashion and has prompted fashionistas to revert to comfy cottons (preferably organic) and fail-safe shades of black and grey as draped dresses, oversized T-shirts and soft tailoring takes centre stage. Investment dressing = understated quality.

M is for Missoni

Whether we're talking fashion or homewares, this luxe Italian brand simply never goes out of style. Its signature knitwear features a kaleidoscope of geometric and psychedelic style prints and patterns.

N is for Neoprene

Marc Jacobs ingeniously resurrected this synthetic rubber, most often associated with dodgy 1980s Body Glove wetsuits and bikinis. Jacobs instead uses it in Louis Vuitton's Cruise 2009 collection in desirable totes in eye-popping shades of neon orange and hot pink.

O is for theoutnet.com

Masterminded by Natalie Massenet, founder of luxe retailer Net-a-porter.com, this much-anticipated online fashion outlet launches this month. Stocking designer labels at heavily reduced prices it promises to be the recessionista's shopping paradise. Massenet describes theoutnet.com as a site her customers can "call their own". O is also for Obama (see power dressing below).

P is for power dressing

What links women of politics Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Brown and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy? For one thing each has an individual sense of personal style and the confidence to work it. Which could explain the strong return to power dressing. Trouser and skirt suits were huge news at the recent autumn-winter 2010 show for YSL and Prada. Who said women don't wear the pants?

Q is for the Queen of Pop (Madonna)

Even at 50, the Material Girl manages to remain a fashion icon. From design collaborations with the likes of Jean-Paul Gaultier (who can forget the conical bras?) to Dolce & Gabbana designing the racy costumes for her recent world tour, Madonna has consistently pushed the fashion boundaries. Her original ensemble of neon pop pieces is reflected in the current fashion trend of '80s trash. Not to mention the fact that Madonna is now starring in the Louis Vuitton summer campaign (and dating a Brazilian model young enough to be her grandson.)

R is for RAFW

Now in its 14th year, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week officially kicks off on April 27. A week-long round of catwalk shows, the annual media-only event is a platform for the country's hottest design stars to showcase their spring-summer wears. This year's line up includes Wayne Cooper, sass & bide, Willow, camilla and marc, Ginger & Smart and Zimmermann.

S is for Sex and the City the Sequel

Sex and the City made its name on rarified fashion, frivolity and enough Manolo Blahniks to shoe the well-heeled women of Manhattan. Now the fashion pack is wondering what stylist extraordinaire Patricia Field has in store for SATC the Sequel, which is coming to screens later this year (or early 2010). Will the vibe be different now that people are demanding their Prada purchases come in credit-crunch-friendly brown paper bags?

T is for The Towering World Of Jimmy Choo

Authors Lauren Goldstein Crowe and Sagra Maceira de Rosen claim their telling of how "the Jimmy Choo brand got where it is today is one of love, hate, sex, fashion, finance, drugs, celebrity, power, intrigue and ambition. And every word of it is true." The unauthorised publication has already upset Jimmy Choo founder, Tamara Mellon. Will it be this season's hottest fashion read? You bet.

U is for unique

Unique pieces will help you stand out from the crowd so it comes as no surprise that Brit retailer Topshop has a line called exactly that. The Topshop Unique range boasts easy-chic smocks with a hint of Chloe, some Marc Jacobs-esque, sporty oversized sweaters and LBDs that could give Balenciaga a run for its money. Check out the line at topshop.com.

V is for Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham's decade-long assault on the fashion industry appears to have finally paid off. Her eponymous collection of luxe, three-quarter length dresses has been given the thumbs up by some of the world's most influential fashion journalists. Never one to shy away from the latest trends Beckham is committed to the cause. She's been a Marc Jacobs muse, an Armani lingerie model, a fashion designer and a style icon.

W is for Willow

Designer Kit Willow is the hot name on everyone's lips right now. Her signature brand of glamour under the Willow label is a hit with the chic Sydney set and this is translating into serious sales. She now has two retail boutiques, her pieces walk out the door at frockaholics.com.au and a recent stint in Europe to show her International AW09 landed orders with Net-a-porter and London department stores Liberty and Selfridges.

Y is for Yves Saint Laurent

All hail Stefano Pilati who stepped into Tom Ford's hard-to-fill shoes at YSL back in 2004. Since then he's delighted the fashion pack with delicacies such as the YSL Tribute shoe, the cage heel and at the recent autumn-winter collections, the '40s pin-stripe suit.

Z is for Zeitgeist

The trick to capturing fashion's zeitgeist is to be ever so anti-fashion (without actually meaning it). It's about anti-IT bags, investing wisely in clothes that will last beyond a season and steering clear of in-your-face fashion. It's about a new modesty and worshiping the three Ss - smart shopping, sustainability and shoes.