As much as the wet and windy weather can be depressing, there’s something extremely satisfying about wrapping up in a gorgeous new coat and facing the elements. Rather than making you feel shapeless or weighed down, effective winter pieces will feel like a natural extension of your outfit. You can get a lot of mileage out of it too – after all you’re likely to be wearing it every day for the next few months, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

A new year means new trends, and as the dust settles on the Christmas sales, the fashion industry is already looking towards the styles that are going to become ubiquitous in 2012. As ever, Freemans are ahead of the curve with the launch of our exclusive Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Here’s a guide to what you should be wearing in the next 12 months.

It may be difficult to imagine now, with the early nights and relentless rain turning everything a depressing shade of grey, but tropical colours are going to be huge in 2012. Bright striking colours paired with lighter tones make a bold statement that really stands out. Take this new Oli Feather Print Woven Strap Maxi Dress, for example. It’s playful and flattering, but also suitable for a more elegant occasion due to the classic floor-length cut.

Of all the major trends of 2011, the re-emergence of the pencil skirt has probably been our favourite. You can make so many statements with a pencil skirt – from office professional to party playful. The vogue for 60s-inspired day dresses ushered in by the popularity of shows like Mad Men and Pam Am has played a major part in the pencil skirt revival, but you don’t necessarily need a figure like Christina Hendricks to pull off the look.

Pencil skirts …

On behalf of everyone here at Freemans, we’d like to wish all of our readers and customers a very happy new year. Whether you’re heading out on the tiles or ringing in 2012 with family and friends, we hope your celebrations are as fashionable as they are fun-packed.

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since we first launched the Freemans fashion blog. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as …

It’s official – the weather may be rapidly approaching sub-zero, but knitwear has never been hotter. Partly thanks to the practicalities of winter casual-dressing, and partially due to millions of Britons getting hooked on gritty Danish detective drama The Killing – in which star Sofie Gråbøl goes through the entire 20-episode first series without ever changing her strangely jolly-looking white polo-neck jumper – fashion magazines and taste pundits are united in singing the praises of the woollen look. When a …

These days a look can go from on-trend to over so quickly that it’s hard to keep up – not to mention expensive. That’s why it’s comforting to know that there are some things that never go out of fashion. A well-chosen and accessorised little black dress will never let you down; it’s a classic look that’s very difficult to get wrong. To help you to make the right choices, here’s a guide to some of our favourites.

Style is all in the details; those finishing touches that turn an evening dress from functional to fabulous in fell swoop. Whether it’s an eye-catching extra feature or a subtle design detail, the little things can make a huge difference to your look. Here’s some of our favourites.

When it comes to above-the-knee dresses, a straight, no-nonsense hemline is the standard. However, if you want to really stand out, a cocktail dress with a frilled skirt can really soften up the look. This Mesh Tea Dress is a gorgeous party piece that strikes the perfect balance between sultry and celebratory. It also comes with another lovely feature in the ribbon detail beneath the bust. This is a dress that just cries out to be combined with a pair of killer party heels!

For those who want to make a really stylish impression with their winter wear, the contrast sleeve is a fast-emerging trend this season. As the name suggests, the idea is to wear sleeves that create a strong contrast with your top or dress. Some jackets come with contrast sleeves attached, but for a more versatile look, we prefer a sleeveless women’s top and a bit of creative colour blocking.

There’s just a few shopping days left until Christmas, so if you haven’t checked off your list yet it’s time to get serious! Whether you’re buying for a loved one, treating yourself – ‘tis the season after all – or gently encouraging your other half to get it right this year, nightwear and lingerie are evergreen seasonal gifts that will be much appreciated long after the mince pies have been polished off for another year.

The question for today’s dress:

This is the last of our 12 dresses of Christmas! For a chance to win, just tell us about your best ever Christmas present.

Answer this question by leaving a comment for a chance to win this dress. Find out more on the 12 Dresses Competition page.

Update: The 12 Dresses of Christmas competition is now closed. The winner of this stunning dress is Vanessa Cox.

For a full list of winners and …