Introducing the best fashion trends you need to know for spring and summer 2012. From romantic 50s silhouettes to bold tailoring, this season is going to be bold, ladylike and very exciting.

Feminine silhouettes

The catch-all phrase of the season is femininity. Ditch your boyfriend jeans in favour of high-waist A-line skirts, nude accessories, and soft fabrics. Play up the elegance in pleats, florals, statement jewellery (especially earrings), and peplum skirts that add structure to dresses or a feminine touch to suits. Rosette detail anyone?
Spring Summer 2012 collections: Oscar de la Renta, Jason Wu

Neons and pastels

From romantic pastels to high-voltage neons, Spring 2012 fashion brings a softer approach to colour blocking. This time, ice cream nudes, sorbet pastel hues and clear whites get mixed and matched with neon pink, tangerine, yellow and lime. They say opposites attract.
Spring Summer 2012 collections: Jil Stuart, Prada

Prints

History repeats itself. Besides, is there anything more statement-making than a good old bold print? Play with lines in Art Deco graphics, find your inner Hippie in tribal and floral print, go feminine in polka dot. Show your support to ornithology and try something new, like hummingbirds, swans, and pheasants. Or birds in general.
Spring Summer 2012 collections: Giles, Vera Wang

Retro and vintage

Take a fashionable trip to your favourite times. Make a choice between roaring 1920s with a boxy cut and dropped-waist dresses (book a ticket for The Great Gatsby movie to get some dressing tips), and feminine 1950s old Hollywood glamour inspired by Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Laylor, their empowering and strong sex-appeal, with full skirts and upper belly-baring crop tops.
Spring Summer 2012 collections: Oscar de la Renta, Gucci

Bold Tailoring

This season brings an easy update to the tailored separates. Sporty enough to be functional, yet still incredibly fashionable thanks to a tailored shape. Look for edgy crop tops, one-shoulder dresses, retro-style bra tops, and luxurious tops and jackets with rounded shoulders.
Spring Summer 2012 collections: Rick Owens, Celine