So, it’s no surprise that our thoughts have turned to next season’s trends earlier than expected.  With that little taste of Spring in the stores there’s plenty to get excited about on the fashion front and looking at River Island’s SS12 collection is enough to have us looking around for a beach to go and lie on.  Layering on the colour and the prints next season is going to be bright and playful for men and women…

Here’s a little taster of River Island’s Spring /Summer 2012 collection.

From left to right: Premium coated snake jacket, Topshop, £110, Premium metallic calf skirt, Topshop, £60; Sequin Wrap Dress, Rare by Topshop, £55, Skinny belt, Topshop, £14; Mixed metal necklace, Evans, £10; Planet Shift Dress, £79, House of Fraser, Black embellished boots, River Island, £55

For more party looks check out our picks from the best party dresses on sale. It’s like Christmas come early!

Animal hats

The quirky hat trend was still a hit on the catwalks and a high street favourite.  Try adding ears to a faux fur hat for a little fun factor or go all out with this wolf hat from River Island.

Left to right: Topshop Faux Fur Cat Ear Hat £28; Leopard fur ears Dorothy Perkins £18; River Island Brown Faux Fur Wolf Hood £25

Hats with pom poms

Pom poms are back and they’re everywhere, hanging down from trapper style hats to on top to both.

Criss Crosse, Dorothy Perkins, £12;  Faux fur pom pom beanie, Topshop, £12; River Island Grey Faux Trapper £20

Woolly headbands

Made for keeping heads warm and bad hair days at bay a woolly headband is the latest winter warming trend.

Claret knitted bow headband, Dorothy Perkins, £8; Knitted grey headband, Oliver Bonas, £16.00; Cream plaited headband £12.50 Jon Rocha Debenhams

Spend or save

Balmain £3000, Reiss £140, Rver Island £45

Pair with leather boots and jacket for a daytime rocker look or for full on evening 80s glam add fur, leather and feathers plus chunky gold jewellery.

Rock chick by day

Boots: Zara £79.99, Top: Topshop £26.00, Leather jacket: Topshop £180, Bracelet: Mango £27.90

Eighties glam rocker by night

Boots: £99.99 Zara, Top: Wallis £100, Bracelet: Michael Kors £65, Clutch: Biba at House of Fraser £145

Founded in 1965, Chelsea Girl was the UK’s first fashion boutique chain.  It was THE place to shop on the high street.  Then in 1988 it closed to become River Island, the more modern take on its predecessor.

But with fashion taking a decidedly nostalgic vintage turn, it’s highly appropriate that River Isalnd is bringing Chelsea Girl back out and reinventing those classic items for the 21^st century girl with an exclusive capsule collection.

Some of my favourite items include the vintage tees, which are having another fashion moment; the perfect 70s flared-jean – a much more flattering shape than the modern skinny jean; and wide-legged trousers in flower-power-tastic prints.  I’m also drawn to this long-sleeved cream top which just makes me think of Twiggy rollicking through a field of daisies..

Floral trousers: £20.  Long-sleeved top £30. T-shirts: £15.Jeans: £35.

How would you define your style?

Global Ghetto Fabulous TOMBOY CHIC!

What makes a person stylish?

I don’t really know if I see myself as stylish, I am aware people think that but I just wear what suits me.

Who is your style crush right now?

Drew Barrymore. She has the right Mix of Rocker and tomboy chic. She also looks amazing in a dress.

What item can you not live without?

My Ruby Woo Red Lipstick from Mac.

Is there anyone or anything that inspires your style?

Grace Jones. Her fearless attitude to clothing is what I aim to achieve.

What is this season’s must have?

FOR SS11 the most have is colour blocking. Everyone needs to own a piece of bright/bold coloured clothing.

Name one crime against fashion:

I hate velour… JLO circa 2000/ 2001 EWWWWWW!

If you could give one piece of style advice what would it be?

You wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you. Basically if you don’t feel comfortable in something, take it off!!

Lucy sheer blouse, Sunflower peg leg trousers £34.99, Nairobi sandals £39.99; all River Island.

While sipping on rose petal cocktails (yes, they are as good as they sound) we saw kaftans, maxi dresses and sandals inspired by the colours and prints of Marrakech with a touch of the seventies trend that is set to be so huge for next season.

We also watched them putting together their look book with the photo shoot happening there and then.   The shots were then shown on ipads and computer screens around the showroom.

And here’s how the final campaign image

We love the collection, but don’t think we can hold out till summer. Can we have a plane ticket somewhere hot please?

Remember when Kelly Osbourne’s look  was all moody goth? Not anymore.  The little lady has been ticking all the style boxes and no more so than when she stepped out recently looking more Marilyn Monroe than Marilyn Manson.

We love the barbie-doll blonde hair and baby pink  against her skull tattoos, studded bag and a look that says: “Mess with me and die.” Miss Osbourne, we applaud you.  And when we applaud, we steal.

Here’s how to get Kelly’s look:

Pleated shift dress, Rare at Topshop, £44.00;  White Lexis Blazer, LK Bennett, £165; Vintage Henrietta Brooch, Monsoon, £10; Beige platform courts, River Island £64.99; Black Olsen Hoop & stud bag, Mischa Barton at Debenhams £79; Domed Cocktail ring, Jon Richard at Debenhams, £10

And here are some of those pieces in the SS11 campaign shots.  Come on Spring.  Get a move on!

Keep an eye out for more from River Island and Arieta Mujay’s Style Notes coming to a blog near you (this one) soon.

Cameron Diaz certainly knows how to light up a room.  While everyone else at the premiere of The Green Hornet played it safe with black and neutral colours, Cameron stood out in a bright red dress matched with this season’s statement red lips.

We’ve decided a red dress in the wardrobe has to be about as essential as an LBD.  Cameron’s gorgeous one is by Azzaro at £785 but here are two of our other favourites from Biba and this version, which is frankly a downright steal, from River Island.

Left to right: Azzaro £785, River Island Westfield London £49.99, Biba at House of Fraser Westfield London, £285