Rejoice ye lovers of 1950s vintage fashion.
This summer, finding clothing to resemble those worn in your favourite era won't have to involve hot afternoons in musty second-hand shops or sitting in front of a computer trawling overseas websites.
One of the biggest trends for the coming season is "Ladylike", which will
have you instead browsing boutique stockists of New Zealand designers for full-skirted dresses, bustiers, cardigans and sheer blouses.
Louis Vuitton led the charge towards more demure dressing with the Fall 2010 collection.
Elegant vintage-style dresses were paired with pared-back handbags, proving the days of lugging around bulky and heavily embellished bags are done.
Smaller bags with straps take centre stage in this coiffed look and lower heels also make a relieving comeback.
After years of being told by magazines that kitten heels are the wimp of the footwear world, they are the height of choice when it comes to Ladylike.
Alternatively, invest in pairs of dowdy, thin beige socks and wear them with higher brown heels.
Keep your new 50s-influenced pieces updated by looking for modern prints - see Karen Walker's Salzburg collection for inspiration - and you can't go wrong with a big floral print in Spring.
Flower necklaces, from the likes of Diva, will help set off the look and, if you're looking for new eyewear, frames with a sexy cat's eye shape will have you perfecting it.
Keep waists cinched - the Ladylike trend is all looking innocently sexy, so show off your curves.
The best bit about this trend, though, is that although demure may be de rigeur at the moment, looking ladylike never really goes out of fashion. So feel free to spend without consulting your conscience.
