Insider fashion: The strangest characters are inspiring designers this year

Unlikely icons

CLOWNS: The Pierrotian frills and ruffles espoused by Giambattista Valli and Viktor & Rolf are theatrical but gorgeous, though recreating the painted faces of models at Comme des Garçons' last show is not advised.

UNCLE SAM: Chanel, YSL and Ralph Lauren have all pledged their allegiance with stars and stripes. Red, white and navy blue make for a preppy college look, but don't overdo it unless it's the fourth of July.

BROS: Soft, pale denim is being touted as the replacement for trusty indigo. Christopher Kane is indulging in the 1980s with raw edges and rips, but 1970s styles in light washes are a less scary alternative.

Unmasked: three key beauty looks

Britain's leading make-up artists reveal the new faces for spring...

Mary Greenwell, maquilleuse to the stars: "The nude look with a strong lip in a pink tone will be big. Perfect, even skin is essential. Forget eye and hair colour and always match lipstick to your skin tone."

Make-up kit essential: "Chanel Teint Innocence foundation ( www.chanel.co.uk)"

Ashley Ward at Max Factor Pro: "Think Studio 54 with a modern finish. Give smoky eyes depth and interest with the new generation of high-quality, subtly metallic eye shadows."

Make-up kit essential: "Dior 5-colour Eyeshadow compact ( www.dior.com)"

Sharon Dowsett at MAC: "Designers are forward-thinking, so make-up should be too. Put lots of kohl and eyeliner on the lower lid and keep the upper lid nude for a minimal, modern look. Keep the rest of the face, including the lips, fresh and bare."

Make-up kit essential: "MAC Lip Erase ( www.maccosmetics.co.uk)"

Births

The world of Stella arrives at Selfridges for Fashion Week as Miss McCartney launches a highly desirable new lingerie line to coincide with Valentine's Day. Hurry along for special events, the odd freebie and an appearance by the lady herself.

Banana Republic, Gap's stylish sister, has crossed the pond to open in London next month. Last week's preview had the fashion press in a lather over catwalk-led designs at great prices.

Fashionistas are go! Work begins on Dubai's Isla Moda, the world's first "fashion island", later this year.

Mulberry's accessories line continues to blossom. Following its covetable eyewear line, a range of shoes designed for the label by Jonathan Kelsey is unveiled on Wednesday.

Marriages

America's most stylish actress, Chloë Sevigny, is teaming up with the label Opening Ceremony for a capsule collection set to hit Selfridges in March.

Fashion and architecture will collide at the Skin and Bones exhibition at London's Somerset House in April, exploring similarities in the two disciplines. Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood headline, alongside Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry.

Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf bring their quirky aesthetic to the cult Japanese beauty and cosmetics range Shu Uemura. Prepare for seriously theatrical false eyelashes this spring.

The online boutique Yoox.com has commissioned a range of items by stars from the music world. The first piece is a dress by Antony Hegarty, the singer from the Mercury Prize-winning Antony and the Johnsons, that will be auctioned for charity on eBay this week.

Deaths

Unworn clothes cluttering your wardrobe will be a thing of the past as high-street stores are lining up to take them off your hands. The latest is TK Maxx, which will pass items on to Cancer Research on your behalf.

Boys: get your hands on Miu Miu's menswear while you can – this season is the last before the line is discontinued as the brand focuses on womenswear.

It's the last rites for sanity. Designers have let their imaginations run wild, with surreal pieces dominating the catwalks this spring. Indulge in the madness with crazy prints from Prada and outlandish accessories from Galliano and Marc Jacobs.

Valentino bowed out with his final couture show last month, but the Italian legend lives on. Catch him in upcoming documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor in March and at a Parisian retrospective of his work this summer.