Military style has been around for a few years now, but its popularity shows no sign of declining with celebrities as diverse as Tulisa and Madonna spotted in army-inspired attire. Military style is all about smart, functional, understated pieces that let the world know that you mean business! But if you’re having visions of head-to-foot camouflage gear and night-vision goggles, think again! Military style is popular because it’s as feminine as it is functional. Here’s our guide to getting it right…

One of the very first things we learn as children is how different colours reflect different moods. This is as true in fashion as it is in other walks of life. So it’s only natural that when the sun is shining we’re attracted to brighter, more striking shades. Bold colours are a huge emerging trend for spring-summer 2012, with designers and high street retailers alike celebrating the arrival of spring with day dresses and women’s tops in gorgeously feel-good tones.

We all love a few cocktails and a good night out with the girls, but sometimes having a fabulous time can be dampened by the stresses of what to wear on a night out. Luckily, Freemans have a wide and fabulous selection of clothes and accessories to suit every style so hitting the town never has to be stressful again.

When I’m planning a night out, I always decide what I’m going to wear beforehand, even down to the small details such as jewellery and make-up. This may sound overly organised but ladies, if you want to look good you don’t want to be making any last minute, rushed decisions.

The Ankle Boot is one of the great in-between items that no woman’s wardrobe should be without. More dynamic than a flat shoe, but more practical than a high heel or full knee boot, they’re a versatile all-season footwear choice that can be tailored to just about any outfit or occasion. Here are some of our favourites.

Jeans are the unsung heroes of a woman’s wardrobe. You may spend hours agonising over whether a dress looks right for a particular occasion, or whether that top goes with that jacket, but with a good pair of jeans you always know what you’re getting. However, that doesn’t mean all jeans create the same look – far from it. There are in fact a number of distinctive looks you can achieve with a good pair of women’s jeans. Here’s our guide to some of the best…

Print is a great look that occasionally gets a bad reputation. For children of the 90s, the word brings to mind a combination of the garish leopard-print of Scary Spice and Coronation Street’s Bet Lynch, and the mumsy floral print of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, naturally). However, when worn correctly a women’s top or ladies dress with a print design can capture a stunning carefree spring/summer style that’s dressy enough for the office but casual enough for a day in the sunshine.

One of the first rules of fashion is that no two women look the same. Have you ever tried on a dress that looked fantastic in the catalogue but strangely just didn’t hang well on you? Of course, we all have. Finding out what works for you can be a matter of trial and error, but a good way to discover what kind of cuts and styles are going to be most flattering on you is to be aware of your own body shape.

Most women fall into one of four basic body shapes – apple, pear, rectangle and hourglass. You should be able to work out which you are with a simple look in the mirror and by remembering what parts of your body tend to look good, and which parts often need a little extra work.

I can’t help noticing spring is emerging again; the air is a little warmer and the sun is making an appearance, a rarity, I know. So, it got me thinking about the wardrobe transition from winter to spring/summer. This can be a daunting prospect, especially if you’re anything like me. I usually get sucked deep into the trend of all black during winter and it’s something I really have to pull myself out of when the warmer months come around. I have a feeling I’m not alone, so I’ve put together a style guide to help brighten up your spring wardrobe and offer advice on a few essentials to get you through the next two seasons.

Little girls idolise their mothers, and the first time you help your daughter to get dressed up in some beautiful “grown up” clothes is one of those milestones that we all look forward to from the day they’re born. If your little girl is at that age where she just wants to dress like mum, check out the Freemans kids wear range for a fantastic collection of pretty, age-appropriate dresses and tops for toddlers to teenagers.

Have you consulted the Freemans Style Bible yet? Our monthly online magazine for women who worship fashion is packed with the latest news, style advice and high-street trend alerts. Our aim is to turn it into a one-stop shop for solving our customer’s clothing dilemmas, whether it’s what to wear for a wedding overseas or dressing up for the races on a limited budget.

To help us to achieve this, we’ve just launched a brand new “Ask the Editor” feature, where we’ll attempt to answer fashion queries posed by our readers. Each month we’ll publish a selection of the best questions we receive, with our favourite submission winning a £50 credit voucher to spend at Freemans.com!