Move into the New Year in style with the hottest fashion accessories for Summer 2012.

If you were keeping an eye on the shelves and the runway for 2011, you would have noticed that when it came to accessories, size definitely mattered. With the colour blocking trend taking over all facets of fashion, the accessories were bold and colourful to match.

2012 is looking just a little different. Bright colours are fading out just a little to make way for pastels, and have been relegated to accent status when it comes to accessories this year.

Ultra-femme pastel pinks and delicate silver are all the rage when it comes to bags and jewellery this season. This soft colour is versatile and you can wear it in layers – try a layered silver necklace with pink bead detail or bracelets with pink ribbon woven in.

If you’re looking for a must-have bag this season, look no further than the hand held clutch. Forget the strap – go for a soft leather clutch in a floppy, casual style – steer clear of anything remotely boxy.

Waist belts are still a style staple for breaking up an outfit, but for the new year, they’re moving away from wide bands and towards woven fabric and leather straps. Forget about buckles and sequins and sport a long waist belt that wraps around you multiple times. The best thing about this trend update is that you can wear belts in colour, using bright shades to complement the outfit rather than frame it. If you like trim, go for something with tassels or multiple strings of small beads.

Hair pieces are very much in focus this year, so don’t just see them as functional. Look out for oversized hair clips with diamanté detail, especially in feminine designs like bows and flowers. Thin alice bands in pastel shades and subtle, bronzed (not glittery) metallic are a good look this year, and if you’re feeling bold, why not try wearing more than one at a time?

The theme and tone for accessories this year is pretty, feminine and subtle. That doesn’t mean it has to look understated – mix up statement colours and layer lots of pieces for a wilder look.

Delicate is in, so channel your inner ballerina, and step out in accessories that are graceful, soft and accentuate your romantic side.

P.S. Looking for today's secret code? It's SKLS2D and you'll need it to enter the Day 10 festive season giveaway.