Phew, thank heavens most of the predictions made here a year ago turned out to be correct. Bias-cut dresses in sheer fabrics, chinoiserie-style jackets and skirts and trouser suits were among the key fashion features of 1997. But now brown is no longer the new black - it has returned to being merely a colour reminiscent of school uniforms - and no one would dare to be caught carrying a Prada nylon handbag. Eight style trends for the year ahead follow. But the biggest drive of all will be towards the demise of fashion dictates. Absolutism no longer rules and while it has not been replaced by rampant individuality, at least every woman (and man) knows personal choice is allowed. The fashion business continues to produce twice-yearly collections, but the number of people willing to submit to its demands has decreased. So the main trend of 1998 is against short-term trends.
1 Follow the example of Kay Thompson in Funny Face and Think Pink! Together with lilac, it is set to be the colour in 1998. If the thought of wearing fuschia from head to toe makes you feel unwell, try just a touch about your person; a little sweater, for example, with a dark suit, or a giant silk wrap for evenings. And always remember the late Diana Vreeland's non-sequitur: "Pink is the navy blue of India."
2 Designers are always on the look-out for new materials, and the latest to be discovered is latex. Not necessarily the easiest to wear, and certainly with discomfort potential in warm weather, but at least it requires minimum maintenance. Seen in a number of collections last autumn, latex - especially in its natural colour - is certain to lose some of its sleazy connotations over the next few months.
3 The trouser suit this year tended to be very hard-edged - all sharp shoulders and nipped-in waists. For 1998, the whole look will soften, with a more relaxed silhouette and less tightly-defined legs. This is in line with the general move towards more relaxed living, as the trouser suit starts to take on the style of pyjamas. Lounging will be a favourite activity next year, so start thinking languorous, low key and laid-back.
4 New star of Irish fashion will be student Declan Kearney, 23-year-old winner of the Smirnoff International Fashion Awards last month. Kearney, from Co Tyrone, is currently attending St Martin's School of Design in London and graduates next summer. He has the technical expertise and the commercial flair needed to succeed. And his clothes have just the right degree of theatricality to appeal to admirers of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano.
5 Unisex scents have been best-sellers over the past few years. Next spring sees the launch of matching male/female fragrances from Emporio Armani and they are bound to be widely popular. They come in sealed plastic envelopes similar to those used for disposable cameras, the metal tube has a cute rubber top and the complementary scents are clean and light. Hers has a headnote of angelica and cardamom, his of sage, vetiver and cardamom. You'll smell them everywhere.
6 Favourite style of skirt will be the pencil line to just below the knee, the kind Jacques Fath created more than 40 years ago. That is quite a bit longer than the skirts worn during the past 12 months. Although women with good legs hate the idea of covering up any more flesh than is absolutely essential, the pencil skirt with a single vent at the back can be tremendously flattering. It elongates the figure and focuses attention on the ankle. Wear with a pair of kitten-heel mules for full effect.
7 The sporty/casual trend will continue to grow ever more popular. This is especially true of jackets; taking their cue from the sports track, they increasingly figure zips rather than buttons. Casual ought not to be a euphemism for sloppy dressing - smart casual means relaxed clothing which works just as well during the day as at night. Increasingly busy lives mean no one has the time to get changed several times a day. With this style, you don't have to.
8 Prepare for the Voyage effect. Voyage is a shop on London's Fulham Road which sells pretty, vaguely hippyish clothes. It also has a sensationally exclusive door policy; potential customers are vetted before being permitted inside and there is now a membership scheme in place - if you're not in the Voyage set, there's no admission. With homogeneity now the norm, this move towards exclusivity is an inevitable, if unfortunate, development. Expect to see the equivalent here before too long.