This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 15, 2015.

Are you bored of your wardrobe or stuck in a style rut? With the coming New Year, this is the perfect opportunity for you to spice things up in the style department and make necessary changes. Here are some style tips that are guaranteed to make you start the year 2016 on the right note. Take your pick from these eclectic mix of styles if you are looking to shape things up for the coming year. 

What’s In 

Pantone colours of the year

For the first time in 16 years, Pantone has unveiled two colours of the year instead of just one — rose quartz and serenity. Rose quartz is a baby pink shade while serenity is a baby blue shade, both of which Pantone calls ‘a softer take on colour’. The company chose the two shades giving the reason that societal movements towards gender equality and fluidity, the consumer’s increased comfort with using colour as a form of expression, a generation that has less concern about being typecast or judged and an open exchange of digital information that has opened our eyes to different approaches to colour usage.

With much discussion this year about the blurring gender lines and the fight for gender equality, the two colours chosen highlights how Pantone wants to end the old blue and pink stereotypes for boy and girls respectively. In terms of fashion, expect to see a lot of gender fluid styles in terms of colour and tone with both shades spotted on the runway at New York Fashion Week. 

Fresh faces 

With spring/summer 2016 styles set to make a debut soon, one of the biggest beauty trends on the runway was the fresh-faced look that many models sported. For girls who aren’t big fans of complicated make-up routines, this trend is for you. For many shows, cosmetics were kept simple with light foundation and concealer, light lipstick shades and soft eyelids. So if you are already sporting the natural look with minimal make-up, 2016 looks to be fresh year for you. 

Sneakers 

Start 2016 on the right foot with a pair of comfy sneakers. The sneaker trend shows for both menswear and womenswear shows no signs of dying down with designers giving some classic styles a high-end twist. Seen at Alexander Wang, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs, some of the designs featured pointy-toes and elevated heels. If you prefer to stick to the classic styles, fret not as the adidas Stan Smith tennis shoes have proved to be a fashion favourite for the past few seasons. Aside from adidas, the Nike Air Max range as well as the Roshe and Thea models are great picks if you are looking for versatility and comfort. 

Petite pleats 

Perfect for the office as well as for dinner parties, pleats are everywhere from high-end designers to the high street. Made popular by Japanese designer Issey Miyake, pleats offer versatile wardrobe opportunities ranging from tops to skirts and dresses. They can be dressed down with an oversized jumper for winter or dressed up with a camisole top and heels for a night out. 

Pleats also add a sense of youthfulness to an outfit thanks to its versatile silhouette and elegance. The one tip to wearing pleats is to make sure you keep the silhouette clean and simple or to add structure by accessorising with a blazer or a pair of smart heels. 

Island vibe 

Many designers took the tropical route this season when it came to looking for inspiration. On the spring/summer 2016 runways, designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria Beckham and Anna Sui featured a colourful array of hibiscus prints, crochet pieces, bucket hats and bright citrus shades. If you are all about carefree island living and bright colours, accessorise with bright sandals or sneakers and a funky hat. 

What’s Out 

High heels 

If you favour comfort over style, then you are in luck this season as flat shoes are dominating the catwalk. Prada’s latest collection featured several scene stealing flats ranging from pointed-toe shoes to Mary Janes showcasing that you can be fancy and comfortable at the same time. 

Strappy ballet flats and pointed shoes are great options for the office and add as much accents as heels do.  

Oversize bags 

The oversized bag trend is history, with clutches and practical-sized totes now a woman’s best friend. The past few seasons have seen bucket bags dominating the runway and street style blogs thanks to its versatile and practical shape. 

Backpacks (for both men and women) have also been given the designer treatment with brands like Balenciaga and Saint Laurent offering them in leather for an effortlessly cool look. The Gucci Dionysus bag has also been revamped this season with a youthful design and embroidered detail with enough space to carry your wallet, keys and phone for a night in town. So instead of dressing like a bag lady opt for these smart choices.  

Heavy make-up 

With the ‘natural’ look now in, it is time to say goodbye to heavy make-up. Seen as a response to contouring, designers have instead opted for a minimal make-up look this season. To start this year, put your contour kit down and instead go back to basics with eyeliner, blush and lipstick. If you are a fan of bold make-up looks, fret not — circumvent this trend by opting to focus on just one feature of your face. A bold lip or glittering eye shadow may do the trick follow with neutral foundation or concealer. 

Flip-flop

Last year it was impossible to avoid seeing a pair of Birkenstock or designer flip-flop on the runway. From resort to formal wear, it was unavoidable to see flip-flop given the designer treatment. This coming year-end season sees the backlash of the flip-flop, with it being relegated to just holiday wear. 

Choose instead to wear espadrilles which add both a smart and relaxed vibe to your outfit. Aside from the beach and the pool, the flip-flop should be strictly kept in your shoe closet.