Lilac dresses

The violet solution to occasion season? Our flowing dress designs. Charming and feminine, they are everything a spring staple should be. We'll be wearing ours with vibrant accessories and statement jewellery. If you’re already on board with this palette, why not add a matching eyeshadow and manicure? The best part about these must-have dresses is that they can be worn again. Style them with sandals for garden parties or under neutral blazers for work.

“When it comes to lavender dresses, it’s all about whimsical details.”

If in doubt, accessorise

Still unsure? You don't need to dress head to toe in violet this spring. Instead, ease yourself into the trend with pastel shoes and handbags. Backpacks are the perfect style to revamp your workwear, whilst essential totes sit stylishly with tailoring. Looking for something more subtle? Treat yourself to a pretty purse or a leather cardholder for a weekday update.

“If you buy one accessory this spring, make it violet.”

Weekend essentials

The key to keeping this trend cool is to keep it simple. A plain lilac t-shirt paired with blue jeans makes the perfect off-duty outfit. Planning an evening out? Swap laid back tops for an embellished blouse and add your favorite heels. If you aren't ready to style this shade in public, why not try some lingerie? Our favourite brands are now releasing a host of pastels designs - this chemise just moved to the top of our wish list.

“Let the violet trend extend to your lingerie for romantic spring style.”

The Rivington stud

For a touch of everyday luxury, look no further. Only available at House of Fraser, our Michael Kors satchel tote combines practicality and style with an edge. The detachable shoulder strap guarantees comfort, whilst the studded trim will add punch to your workwear. These signature shades will also take you from day to night and into the weekend. What more do you need? For polished off-duty styles, wear it with your favourite denim and trainers.

“Meet your new autumn hero that’ll compliment everything”

The nylon collection

This nylon collection has a bag for every occasion – whether you’re preparing for a weekend getaway or heading back to work. The roomy interior will allow you to keep your essentials close, from your gym kit to your laptop. Feeling daring? Fall back in love with leopard this season and make a statement. If your style is more subtle, embrace the cross-body bag for a busy weekend on the run.

“Versatility meets style with durable backpacks, totes and cross-body bags”

How to make buttermilk pancakes

Skip the store-bought mix in favour of this quick recipe, which yields a stack of light and fluffy buttermilk pancakes sweetened with a hint of vanilla. If you’ve got enough willpower to save them for later, simply slip baking parchment between each pancake and pop into a warm oven – but we’ll be tucking in straight away.

Ingredients

• 375 ml plain flour
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 425 ml buttermilk
• 1 egg 4 tbsp butter
• Melted 2 tsp vanilla

Method

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

2. Whisk buttermilk, egg, half of the butter and vanilla; pour over dry ingredients. Gently, whisk until combined but still slightly lumpy.

3. Heat a large non-stick frying pan; lightly brush with some of the butter. Pour batter, scant ¼ cup (60ml) at a time, into the pan; spread slightly to form pancakes.

4. Cook until bubbles appear on top, about 2- 5 minutes. Flip and cook until bottoms are golden brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to baking sheet; cover and keep warm.

5. Serve with blueberries, raspberries, and maple syrup.

When else do you get to go to a black tie dinner in, well, black tie? New Year’s Eve is the ideal moment to get spruced up and grab yourself a great tuxedo that’ll be the source of many compliments. Want to try something a little bit different this year? Go for a subtle pattern or a statement jacket in wintry hues or lustre textures. Add a polished pair of Oxfords or Derbys and order your martini shaken, not stirred. James who?

If you’re going to an event or fancy dinner and want to look suave but a tux is too much, try a slim cut grey, black or blue suit instead. The trick is to dress the suit down slightly, so wear the two piece with just one button done and a great skinny tie and shirt, do away with stiff collars altogether and opt for a simple crew neck and trainers or mix and match your jacket with chinos and your trousers with a t-shirt and bomber jacket. The options are plentiful and a hard-working suit will buy you some serious mileage.

If you’re heading down the house party/ going out out route, get yourself a statement tee, some great fitting jeans (black and tapered are our current favourites) and some on-trend, clean-line trainers. Pair with a bomber jacket that’s not too warm, not too cold, or a parka to add to the coat pile. If you need a hand in getting the vibe right, look to The Chainsmokers’ casual-cool style for inspiration.

Other party heroes include a rugged leather jacket, hiking boots (the ones you don’t actually use for mountaineering) and the failsafe indigo denim shirt. Fashion’s fanciest night of the year just got a whole lot simpler.

The suit has made its return just in time for the height of summer and we couldn't be happier about it. With ample fits, shapes and colours on offer, summer suiting really can work for everyone. From work to play, here are three of our favourite ways to style them.

We're loving grey suits for work this season. Opt for light fabrics and neutral shades that'll keep you cool in the office. Pair with everything from slogan t-shirts and trainers (perfect for laidback offices) to blouses and heels for big meetings. How to transform this look for the weekend? Throw your blazer on over blue jeans and sliders for a chic take on the trend.

It's Saturday night, aka your one chance to get really dressed up, so don't hold back. Nothing turns heads like a head-to-toe red ensemble, so be brave and style up some bright and bold tailoring. Slip over bodies or silk camisoles and add longline earrings for an extra dose of glitz.

If you're heading for brunch or to your favourite gallery this weekend, switch tailored trousers for some easy-to-wear shorts. This season, the new spin on tonal dressing is perfect for balmy days, so swap out brights for subtle variations of white, albaster and cream. The best part? These pale pieces can easily be added to your vacay wardrobe and restyled as separates.

Linea jacket, Linea skirt, Biba top - all COMING SOON

House party over at ours

The house party is often the most casual of all yuletide festivities. Like arriving fashionably late, the trick is to give the air that you didn’t even try, while looking ridiculously good. To pull off this elusive equation, we recommend centering your outfit around a great shirt.

“This is not the place for peacocking”

Keep your shirt slim cut, roll the sleeves up and pair with chinos (rolled above the ankle) and minimalist sneakers. Vary the look by choosing a denim shirt and inky black jeans, or a plaid shirt, mid-wash jeans and a tee underneath. Accessories-wise just stick to a watch and if you need an outer layer, choose a black puffer that says both sensible and free-spirited, casual but not too undone.

Base your outfit around: the shirt

The office Christmas party

Whether you’re dutifully joining in or are an enthusiastic participant in the after-work antics, the general consensus for an office party is it’s important to look good. Often going straight from work, you don’t want a full outfit change. So that day wear suit trousers and a roll neck or a fine knit in an autumnal hue. When the drinks get passed around, throw on a statement jacket – velvet, pattern or check – and you’ll look instantly event-ready. Alternatively, wear a grey suit and when you down tools, swap your shirt for a simple white tee, and wear with your suit jacket over the top.

“Look like you’ve made an effort with little fuss”

We’ve all had the temptation to literally roll from your desk to the party without any change of attire but trust us – it pays to look like you’ve made some kind of effort. Even later when you’re not feeling the jovial vibes, senior management will take note that you valiantly joined in with the celebrations.

Base your outfit around: the blazer

The black tie do

Black tie is code word for ‘make an effort’ and we jump at the chance to feel simultaneously like James Bond and royalty. The tux is arguably the most sophisticated thing hanging in your wardrobe – the luxe, satin lapels distinguishing it from all your standard suits. Keep your look classic with a black dinner suit or for the more daring, choose a burgundy or emerald hue. To finish things off, polished black Oxfords or Derbies are a must.

“Your starring moment”

It’s hard to emphasise enough the importance of fit. Great men of style – we’re thinking David Gandy, David Beckham et al. – all sport suits tailored exactly to fit. If the one you wore to that thing a couple of years ago is a little loose, do away with any risk and get yourself a new one to fit your shape. You’ll thank us later.

Base your outfit around: the suit

Kenneth Cole Marrakech Embossed Velvet Blazer COMING SOON

The dinner soiree

A dinner party invite is a compliment for two reasons: a) fewer people are on the guest list b) the host is putting in a lot of effort. To return such a gesture, you’ve got to look sharp. In this intimate, classy setting go for refined elegance and anchor your style around knitwear. A chunky cream turtleneck or a sweater in an earthy tone teamed with neutral trousers oozes easy sophistication. Similarly, herringbone trousers with a simple knit and shirt will always go down well.

“An invitation to sophistication”

Look expensive in soft fabrics and tonal hues. Complete your look with a clean-line coat and as soon as you knock on the door (bottle in hand, of course), you’ll soar in the first impression stakes.

Base your outfit around: knitwear

Label Lab Shelby Epsom Peak Lapel Coat With Top Collar Detail COMING SOON

Going out out

When you’re dressing for drinks there are lots of ways you could go, but for winter we like to think about it in terms of boots. Just picture a pair of sand chukka boots, light jeans and a statement tee… the dream. Black Chelsea boots, dark jeans, black jumper - also a winner. And this can be your moment to go vintage. Try rugged boots, a supple leather jacket and worn-in denim for effortless cool.

“Be prepared for anything”

To be honest, we never know where drinks are headed. Keep a peacoat or Harrington handy for any location moves or impromptu alfresco drinking. Layers are great for transitioning from hot bar to blustery pavements. Think comfy, easy, suave and you’ll have a great time. Clink, clink.

Base your outfit around: boots

As temperatures begin to rise, it's time to phase out your winter coat in favour of a spring jacket. Enter the blazer, which has had something of a resurgence over the past year. Worried it'll feel too corporate for spring? Fear not, this season it's been reinvented in bright colours, bold prints and signature stripes. Here's how to make the blazer work for every summer occassion.

Looking for a sharp 9-5 staple? Be brave and go for bright colour waves, like the below fuschia number. Throw on over loosley tucked in shirts, beach accessories and summer's staple; the mule. Our handbag of choice? Straw, of course.

If floral dresses aren't for you, opt for a floral blazer instead. Top of our wish lists? The Biba palm print version, which comes with matching trousers. Don't want to go all out? Wear with blue denim, a metallic handbag and chunky wedges. Underneath, go for a silky cami - perfect for those hot summer evenings.

Who said blazers are just for work? Fitted sillouhettes can easily be thrown on at weekends too. We're in love with stripes at the moment. Wear yours with blue denim and white trainers for a simple finish - perfect for Saturday brunches and Sunday lunches. Add a luxe leather backpack, a red lip and some subtle hoop earrings.

When it comes to Christmas Day dressing, it's nice to treat yourself to something new. But, how do you get more get-ups for your buck in the new year? Re-cycling dresses might seem like a sartorial shocker but adding some of your everyday wear into the mix will mean you can maximise its outings.

Desk

Desk dressing demands a multi-tasking outfit; appropriate for the office and for after-work drinks. This dress with its high neck line and just-above-the-knee length does the job, but it’s the ensemble add-ons that make the look. When it comes to shoes, a pair of humble loafers is the way to go – comfortable and cool, while a super chunky knit and sophisticated trench coat will add some serious chic.

Date

Dinner at a swish restaurant, cinema and a night cap or bowling, you need your date night outfit to cater to all three. You want to look stylish at the same time as being comfortable. This dress and a pair of thigh high boots were made for each other. They’re on trend and there’s varying heel heights to ensure your feet last the whole evening through – just chuck on an oversized denim jacket to add some cool.

Dance

Party on past the festive season by changing up the way you wear your dress with statement accessories, the way you wear your hair and what makeup look you go for. Why not throw your hair up in a messy pony and add some look-at-me dangly earrings? Compliment the look with a slick of ruby red lipstick and some slip on metallic courts.

If there's one bag we're lusting after this summer, it's the humble straw bag. No longer reserved for the beach, they're fast-becoming a wardrobe staple, looking just as at home in the city as they are on the sand. From oversized totes to cross-body essentials, there's an array of takes on the trend for every occasion.

City break

Mini break packing can be a tricky affair, but the straw bag might just be the perfect handbag solution. Come day time, opt for your favourite trainers and loose-fit jeans, and when the evening sets in, switch to a maxi dress and lace-up espadrilles for easy boho style.

Dinner date

Miniature straw styles are the perfect finishing touch to date night outfits. Pair with everything from floral dresses to jeans and courts. Take your look even further with nods to the print trend and add statement blouses under denim jackets.

Back to work

Refresh last season's tote with a large straw bag and team with new season tailoring, think neutral palettes and wide-leg trousers. For a more relaxed finish, pair blazers with denim and mules for a modern take on 9-5 dressing.

Dobby Maxi Dress £69 Maison de Nimes - COMING SOON

Home

We know the feeling: after a couple of hours in the house, all the toys have been played with and the kids are restless. Fear not.

Make an indoor laser maze by stringing up streamers of various heights in the hallway and encourage kids to climb through without touching them. Create a race car track by sticking masking tape on your floors or fill a room with balloons for all sorts of throwing and catching fun. Try an ABC hunt and get kids to run around the house collecting objects starting with each letter (and then challenge them to put the objects back in the right places first).

Suggest kids re-enact their favourite children’s book (complete with costumes) and invite friends round to watch. Alternatively, build a den by draping a sheet around chairs and fill the inside with cushions and fairy lights.

Get creative by doing some baking. Try cutting apples in half and coring them, melting chocolate and peanut butter and drizzling on the top of the apple slices, with berries and sprinkles, so they resemble donuts. Make colourful ice cubes by freezing fruit juice and berries. For more creative fun, use plastic forks dipped in paint to press on paper to create colourful firework patterns or grab a few plastic toys and choose a sunny spot to draw their shadows.

Summer is the prime time to make use of the garden. Camp out overnight and have a bonfire, complete with marshmallows. Get kids’ to keep a nature diary, recording all the wildlife spotted and seeds they plant over the summer.

Get kids to put on an acrobatics display and encourage them to learn to cartwheel and roly-poly. When it’s sunny, string up balloons filled with water on the washing line and play piñata. Alternatively, run a plastic sheet down the slope of your garden, put the hose at the higher end and with a little soap, you’ve created the perfect water slide. Genius.

Layer up

The first switch in transitioning from winter to spring is the coat. Pack away your heavy outerwear and slot a perennially cool bomber, rugged trucker or smart/casual mac into your repertoire.

For knitwear, turn to lighter colours and thinner, breathable weaves. Equally, sweatshirts come into their own in spring as the ideal middle ground – perfect on their own or layered under a jacket.

“The master of layering has a wardrobe of relatively staple items that he twins with designer items”

Let David Beckham be your guide for successful spring dressing. Want to know how he does it? Paul Hayes, Menswear Senior Buyer at House of Fraser, decodes Beckham’s look: “The master of layering has a wardrobe of relatively staple items that he twins with designer items. This formula makes that old T-shirt or well worn pair of jeans look brand new.” For in-between weather, he’ll wear a T-shirt and beanie, or denim shirt layered under a light safari jacket.

COMING SOON: Howick classic khaki baseball cap

Working wardrobe

There's some good news for your working wardrobe, as one of the biggest trends for SS18 is a fresh new take on suiting. But this time around we're looking at a beautiful rainbow of colours, from dusty pink to electric blue.

“Be a little more daring with your workwear wardrobe”

Office codes are also changing. Spring – with all its new season optimism – gives you a chance to mix it up. Change your shirt for a striped tee, wearing with your suit blazer, trousers and trainers. Wear subtly patterned shirts with khaki trousers, or go for a luxe bomber and chinos.

COMING SOON: Label Lab Joel pink velvet blazer

Colour code

"For an evolving wardrobe without the footballer price tag, choose contrasting colours from the same palette,” advises Anita Ross, Personal Shopper at Jenners, Edinburgh. Blue with subtle accents of orange or yellow, for example, is always stylish. Try introducing pattern and colour into your wardrobe through statement tees and pastel Oxford shirts.

“Choose contrasting colours from the same palette”

A few simple changes can breathe fresh air into your outfits. Swap cords for jeans, boots for trainers and scarves for aviator sunglasses and buy items that can work just as well for weekends as they will for smart-casual, from chinos to shirts.

COMING SOON: Turner & Sanderson Fairford monkey paisley silk tie

It looks like the style universe has thrown a crustacean curveball with a sea of lobster and crab motifs. And no one is doing it better than Fabienne Capot. New to House of Fraser, the Amsterdam based brand has a handful of pieces dedicated to the clawed critters. Whether you want to add a subtle touch of rock-pool chic to your wardrobe, or go all out with a head-to-toe ensemble, be sure to snap these styles up this season.