Firstly, start with what you've got. The majority of us dress for work consciously or not using the 20/80 rule – wearing 20 per cent of our wardrobe 80 per cent of the time. Pick out the pieces that you wear to death (you will know them – the basics you can't live with out: perhaps the fashionmister's blue on blue combo or shirt that doesn't need ironing; and for the fashionistas a pair of black pants and a flattering crease-proof pencil skirt.) Are they looking a little worn? If so, replace and update them with something similar in this season's cut or shade. Change a hemline or swap out buttons in a different colour or shape to freshen up your 2012 summer pieces. Cheap and easy updates will extend pieces much further.

Dying to be on trend? One of my secrets is to follow the colour trend forecasts. Twice a year around the time of New York Fashion Week, Pantone (the company known for developing the world's standard colour codes for printers, manufacturers and retailers) release their colour predictions, which is what most designers refer to when developing their own collections. At the start of October they released their next season palette.

So your second step is to get a handle on what colours are going to be trending by visiting pantone.com. Even better still for those in Australia, as we are a spring / summer (S/S) and autumn / winter (A/W) season behind the US, we can predict a year ahead what colours will hit our stores. If fashion is your obsession, you can be quite savvy shopping online and planning a wardrobe one season ahead of the girl at the next workstation.

Now, we're back in your closet. With the latest colour intel your third step is to colour block your current warm weather wardrobe. Pull out all the corporate attire you plan to wear for the season ahead and separate it into piles according to colour. You will immediately see what colours you are most comfortable wearing, and where the gaps are. If you love purple and have a few purple pieces already then work out if the newest shade of violet in socks or necklace will extend your look further. This is the easiest way to ensure that your new items will work with your current ones.

Your fourth step: choose contrasting colours. S/S15's predictions are for muted shades from nature and soothing colours to help executives find moments of calm in their over-processed, non-stop world. Both warm and cool tones, the aquamarines, almonds and marsala-pinks are in favour. Equally muted shades of bone, grey and cream will complement these colours beautifully.  Print out the colour swatches and go forth and conquer the mall – remembering that sometimes an update can be simply a new tie or shirt, a pair of heels or a clutch.

Step five – sell or donate any clothing you no longer need. If you haven't the time to eBay your corporate finest, think about donating your clothes to a worthwhile cause. Men can donate to many of the wonderful charities that accept suiting and clothing, and women can donate their clothes to Dress for Success, a non-profit organisation that specifically supports women who are trying to enter the workforce and can't otherwise afford to buy a suit for an interview. It's a great initiative and well worth supporting – www.dressforsuccess.org

Claire Linton-Evans is a senior executive and author of the career bible for modern women, Climbing the Ladder in Heels – How to Succeed in the Career Game of Snakes and Ladders. Visit www.climbingtheladder.com.au