THERE are some exciting party trends arriving in the shops and ANGELA POPLETT Lakeside’s Personal Shopper, is here to guide you through them.

“This season feels very decadent on the whole. Fashion has moved on from sombre and minimalist and become all about rich colours, texture and full on glamour.

“The first party trend that will be big this season is black and gold. Its decadent but its also simple to achieve and suitable for absolutely any age. Don’t be afraid to go really OTT with the gold and make sure it’s part of the outfit, not just added on with accessories.

“For older ladies, there’s a black jacket in Monsoon with stunning gold embellishment that will transform any outfit into a party outfit! Wallis also has a beautiful bodycon dress with gold detail across the front that’s sure to be a hit.

"For a younger look, Miss Selfridge has lots of on-trend pieces that you can have plenty of fun pairing them together.

“The second party trend we’re seeing in the shops this season is a mixture of brocade and velvet. This is a good option if you’re not keen on dresses and prefer to work your separates.

"If you’re looking for deep blue and other strong colours, check out the brocade trousers in Zara, or for paler colours (cream, gold and coral), H&M has some lovely trousers and skirts. These separates also make it a piece of cake to go from a daytime to a party look.

“The third trend is leather and black-on-black. You can ease yourself into this one by picking basic items with just a leather trim or you can go for it with full on leather skirts (there’s a great soft A-line one in Oasis), trousers and dresses.

"If you can afford to, invest in real leather pieces rather than PVC as this trend keeps returning every few years and you’re sure to get your money’s worth.

“For a party look, keep it simple. Pair leather items with statement pieces of jewellery and wear boots rather than heels to keep it modern. If you’re still not sure, buy a magazine and get inspired!

“Finally, don’t be afraid of sequins and beading this season. Partywear is your chance to really sparkle so make the most of it and go all out.

"New Look has some great sequin covered dresses that are perfect if you want to make an impression – and they’re really affordable too!

“If you’ve got a bit more to spend and you’re looking for an investment piece, All Saints has a high waisted skirt in store that’s covered in exquisite embellishment from top to bottom.

"It’ll look great with a simple top and you can be confident that once you’ve enjoyed wearing it yourself, you’ll easily be able to sell it on.”

On 20th and 21st October, look out for the Perfect Party Dress style pod in the Central Atrium at Lakeside. Stylists will be offering FREE one-to-one advice on how to find a party look to suit you.

To pre-book, visit www.lakeside.uk.com or stop by on the day. Lakeside is open from 10am - 10pm weekdays, 9am – 9pm Saturday and 11am – 5pm Sunday.