You’ve heard it all before: if you make a clothing investment, make sure it’s a white shirt, black trousers and a faithful LBD. How terribly dull.

View the picture gallery.

For those who want some excitement amid harsher financial times, just look at the key – and not to mention fabulous - pieces for this season and decipher which ones are set to last and which ones won’t break the bank.

Here we give you our tips for the top ten budget buys of this year, and years to come.

Sunday Times Style Beauty Awards 2008: the winners

More than 22,000 of you voted in our survey, telling us which beauty products are best

• Jourdan Dunn is the colour of money

• The Sunday Times Beauty Awards: beauty rules according to you

Related Links

• Looking great on a budget: top 10 bargain cosmetics

Multimedia

• Slideshow: Get star style at a pittance

• The thrifty 50: your guide to scrimping and saving

The Blazer (River Island, £39.99)

As seen on Gwyneth Paltrow.

Tailored jackets are a crucial wardrobe component, whatever the season. This season your luck is in because they’re everywhere, and the high street has pulled its socks up and produced some gems. Gap, River Island and Topshop have all toyed with the theme, from classic black versions to nautical ones, with anchor motifs to boot. And if all that fails, you can resurrect your old school blazer. Yes, really.

The floral dress (Primark, £16)

As seen on Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse.

Amy Winehouse has proved she has at least one thing under control – her style. It’s inimitable; so inimitable we all want to copy it. Cue Primark, fashion’s first class copycat, and rail after rail of floral prom dresses à la Amy, a mere £16 a pop. And the best thing? Floral proms are not just reserved for.. the prom. Throw on a white t-shirt underneath and voilà, a party-loving, 24-hour outfit for any time, any event, any season.

Maxi Dress (Asos.com, £35)

As seen on Paris Hilton.

Times recommends

• Minister sacked over fake degree
• Student grant blunder will hit 80,000 families
• Half of Cambridge students admit cheating