An article in The Courant this morning says that this summer’s high street styles are similar to last summer’s because most retailers are worried to put anything new and untried on the shelves while the papers are full of talk about a recession.

The article recommends buying clothes that have a classic fit and that won’t go out of style in a season and pairing them with an item or two to make them look current. This advice, however, seems appropriate for fashion in general, not just in times when money is tight.

While everybody wants to look fashionable, you have to be careful not to try and adopt every current fashion trend all at once. The best way for most people to wear fashion is to find a current look that suits them and adapt it to their own personal style. It’s always important to look like yourself, not like a catalogue. This enables you to look both trendy and unique and to be daring without sending out a red alert to the fashion police.

The main thing to remember is that clothes should make you look your best and should reflect your mood and your personality. Being a little daring is great - but make sure that your clothes reflect what you intend for them to reflect and not something entirely unflattering and make sure that you don’t look like you’ve been trying too hard to look trendy.

We spotted a disturbing article about WAG fashion trends on The Guardian website. Apparently, Cristiano Ronaldo has branded his girlfriend with his own initials and jersey number in the form of a pair of flashy diamond earrings. Does this mean we’re set to see ladies being “claimed” by their blokes with the use of expensive jewellery in an effort to keep other men away?

According to Fashion Trendsetter, checks are going to be the hottest look this spring and summer. It’s not all flannel cowboy shirts and recreations of early ’90’s grunge though as this season’s styles for women look very femine and vary from great girl-next-door blouses and light patterns on sheer fabrics to Dukes of Hazard inspired swimwear.  For both men and women there’s great funky new takes on the stripes we’ve all been wearing for a couple of years now. It seems even the check-pattern trouser is back.

Personally, we reckon there’s some really great-looking stuff out there and for a smart-casual look you simply can’t go wrong with an updated take on the check shirt paired with jeans.