Designer clothing is something that I’ve never really been able to cut back on. It is my biggest luxury spend and I believe in investing in quality pieces.

Recent research carried out by the Co-operative Bank found that 75 per cent of women in the UK were planning on being careful with their spending in 2010 - and making fewer impulse purchases.

Some 60 per cent of females said that they would be cutting back on what they spend on clothing and 41 per cent would watch what they were splashing out on accessories such as necklaces and bracelets.

And although 29 per cent said that handbags and shoes would be an area where they could save money, five per cent cited bags as an item that they would "splurge" on.

However, its good news in some cases as: "The figures also highlight that more than half of women (59 per cent) confess to buying more classic fashion pieces now, thinking about the good old theory where a cheaper item of clothing can actually be more expensive in the long run than a classic garment," revealed the study.

Recently, it was revealed that Kate Moss will be teaming up with Longchamp to create a new line of designer handbags - definitely something to splurge on!

What are your must-have luxury purchases?

Yesterday I talked about the wondrous accessory that is leggings. But it seems that they are not the only leg wear trend to be carrying through to the next season. According to Grazia, bold, coloured tights are another clothing staple that will help keep us warm and stylish until the cold snap ends.

"It’s officially time to give those drab and dreary black tights a rest people and spice up your outfit with some daring hosiery," were the affirmative words from the publication!

We’ve been told ladies; we need to get stocking up on our legwear this spring.

The magazine suggested for those who don’t want to brave a bold colour, patterned tights are a good option. It noted that Fearne Cotton was looking up-to-date at the Brit Awards, when she wore a pair of black opaque tights - but from the back they revealed a message stating "Wanna Party".

In order to not go overboard with colour, here at Secret Sales we suggest teaming bright legwear with a black dress or skirt - or even shorts if you are feeling brave.

Legs were certainly not hidden away at the National Television Awards this week (January 20th). Fearne Cotton showed off her pins in a short purple satin dress.

Although shopping may be good for you (from an exercise perspective, not a financial one), it seems that people in the UK are doing less and less of it - unless they are simply looking out for bargains and heading to clothingsales?

Figures published this week (January 14th) by the Office for National Statistics, spending on clothing and footwear by households in the UK fell to its lowest level during 2008 since the period of 2001 to 2002.

They obviously weren’t looking at my bank statements!

According to the research, the average family spent £21.60 per week on clothing and shoes. However, the "all-time high" for this category of spending was in 2004 to 2005 where it reached £23.90.

On Monday, Victoria Beckham admitted to being addicted to shopping - stating that to her, it was like a drug.

She confessed to spending £1 million in one shopping trip, on a single street in Milan recently!

"It’s as if all of those wonderful shops are calling out to me, ¬saying, ‘Come and buy me! Come and buy me!’" she said.

Designer handbags, designer shoes, sunglasses and designer dresses were among her extravagant purchases.

The fashion desk over at Grazia magazine picked up on a hot debate in the clothing and politics world this week (January 11th).

What if the government was to dictate to you that what you wear every single day to leave the house was no longer legal?

This is what could potentially occur for many Muslim women on the continent if the French government votes in a proposal that would ban the wearing of full-body cloaks with slits to see out of, niqabs and burkas.

Any person who has their face covered up in a public space could find themselves with a fine of ?700 (£675), it explained.

One person commentating on the article brought up the question - what would happen if during the freezing temperatures that we are experiencing, you headed out with a hat on and a scarf covering your face?

"The trouble is, if the government starts dictating what its people wear, where will they stop? And won’t passing a law that appears to directly attack Muslim beliefs just antagonise extremists? said Kate Faithfull at Grazia.

Islamic headscarves were banned in state schools in France in 2004, along with all other visible garments that portrayed a person’s religion.

What do you think about the proposal? Do you think politics and fashion should be kept separate?

I had to give my date of birth yesterday when I went to the opticians and the man behind the counter let out a grunt of disbelief as he thought it was hilarious that he was three years younger than me - he looked a lot older.

I suppose I should be fortunate that I look younger than my age and I hope that it will stay that way as I get older, but apparently the way you dress can have an impact on what age you appear to be.

According to experts, it’s not the style of clothing that you choose to wear, but the colour.

The Daily Mail reported today (January 5th), that wearing black - although supposedly slimming - can make you look older in the face.

"Black clothing can highlight dark lines under the chin, shadows around the eyes and wrinkles on the face," the publication wrote.

So what can we do to change this if we want to wear the fits-most-occasions colour?

Jules Standish, a colorist, suggested adding a colourful scarf or jewellery to the neck area to reduce the effects that black can have on the face.

"The majority of British women will not look young and healthy with black against their faces," she explained.

Amy Adams was certainly opting for a youthful appearance when she took to the red carpet last February for the Vanity Fair Oscar party. She wore a red satin dress and a colourful necklace.

Will you be avoiding black from now on?