Unless you lead an exceptionally sheltered life, you will have noticed that the time for being harangued, cajoled, enticed and tempted is upon us once again. When it comes to the sales, it is always advisable to have a strategy. Some seasons the best one is complete avoidance, but fortunately this isn’t one of those seasons. The economic climate means that designers feel less confident doing a complete style U-turn every six months, so you can pick up bargains that you’ll still be able to wear come winter.

Indeed, on a pre-sales trawl around a department store the other week it was actually hard to discern which rails were filled with autumn/winter stock and which ones contained clothes that were about to be discounted. There is plenty of continuation for next season, making these sales a fertile hunting ground for canny winter buys. And many mark-downs are starting at a staggering 50 per cent.

Besides assessing the holes in your wardrobe, it’s worth bearing the following trends in mind, here to stay for at least the next six months.

1. High-waisted, cigarette pants Still going strong. Trousers have become a 2009 sartorial staple, just as dresses were a few years ago. You can’t really have enough trousers, especially ones that fit properly (easily said, not so easily achieved). Go for whatever suits your body shape but on the whole, a slim-cut, 7/8 length pair flatters most types. These are far more forgiving than high-waisters or “treggings”, which are increasingly being made in more luxurious fabrics. The pervading silhouette is slim underneath and looser on top, so bear this in mind when considering trouser lengths and how clothes will look proportionally on your body.

A perfect holiday outfit

I am going on a motorcycle holiday to France and have very little packing space. How do I look chic and crease-free for three weeks? I am 57 and a size 14.

BACKGROUND

• How to choose the perfect sunglasses

• A perfect holiday outfit

• What to buy in the sales

• The 8 trends you should buy in the sales

Live chat: how to dress for not quite summer

Times fashion writer Alice Olins answered readers' questions on what to wear for the British summer

2. Soft leather OK, so strictly speaking this Rick Owens-inspired leather jacket (£150, Warehouse), right, isn’t actually on sale, but it had to be included simply because the chances of it being available in a few weeks’ time — so hot are its fashion credentials — are slim. Great with jeans or trousers, belted, unbelted, over a skirt or dress with flat boots . . . ie, goes with most of your wardrobe.

3. Animal print This one won’t go away. A fashion classic of sorts, animal print (zingier in Christopher Kane’s yellow and red version) is fast becoming the easiest and most stylish way to jazz up those block-coloured neutrals. For a subtler look, try a scarf. David Szeto has done different-coloured ones for next season but you should find good examples in the sales at Zara, Oasis (from £10) and Warehouse.

4. Blazers The dinner-jacket style won’t be going far. Get it right and it will pull you together instantly, as well as offering your bottom salvation from slim trousers or treggings. Look for wide-ish shoulders or some sort of epaulette detail, a trend that continues to gather momentum. And wide shoulders make the arms and torso appear much slimmer.

5. Daytime sparkle The idea isn’t to resemble Christmas tree lights but to add some matt interest or embellishment to a predominantly neutral colour palette. This really boils down to creating an interesting play of textures: something rough and shiny worn with cashmere, perhaps, or even a pretty silk/satin top in a pale oyster shade teamed with a heavier tweed. Keep it subtle: the sparkle shouldn’t overpower the outfit.

6. Berry shades Black, navy and grey have hogged the limelight for the past two winters, but something is required to lift the gloom. Berry and other jewel tones add a richness to clothes that can otherwise look a little drab. And the wide colour spectrum that berry shades come in means that you’ll find something to suit every skin colour.

7. Flat shoes Stompy, warrior-style sandals were never going to hang around forever. So here’s to finally being able to walk again. Now’s the time to grab some pumps: Miu Miu do excellent jewelled ones, that are 50 per cent off . . . check out the great selection from netaporter.com

8. Nude shades Another way of brightening up the sea of black. Pale pink, peach and apricot shades provide a feminine antidote to the harder, leaner silhouette that is currently in vogue — and they work all year round. Don’t write them off as too prissy: teamed with black and in minimal tailoring they can take on a surprisingly tough,chic veneer.

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