Throw out anything pink, peach and green - this spring the high street has ditched technicolor in favour of monochrome. Far from looking dull, the black and white combinations are sharp and smart and exude timeless elegance. Whether it is sharp black and white patterns on a skirt or top or a pinstripe suit with a simple white shirt underneath, it looks effortless and crisp.

All the big designer names went for black and white on their catwalks for this season. Many of the shows harked back to the 1920s and 1930s but nonetheless managed to give the classic black and white combination a modern twist.

In fact, monochrome is a trend that seems to come round every 20 years or so, according to Caroline Baxter who is fashion editor of Cosmopolitan. She believes it is endlessly adaptable and always looks smart - although like everything else it needs a bit of thought rather than being thrown together.

"Black is a staple and so is white but you have to be careful that you don't look like a waitress," she warns. "There are ways you can work it into your wardrobe."

She adds: "It's all about accessories. The best way is to wear it is with pearls or add a bit of a hot colour like purple, which is great with black and white, as is fuchsia pink or emerald green.

"Wear a plain black suit and underneath an Argyll check sweater, like the ones Marks & Spencer are doing this season. There's also an androgynous look around of a shirt and tie but you have to be careful with that.

"Team white and black with red lipstick, a chiffon scarf, diamante jewellery and wear them with strappy sandals with a little bit of detail on them."

At Autograph, Marks & Spencer's designer collection, Sonja Nuttall has created a white and black range which is both versatile and stylish.

The store's main collections feature a strong Eighties look, with lots of monochrome pieces which are reasonably priced and good wardrobe additions. Look out for the sleeveless printed top in swirling black and white patterns (£15) and an abstract print blouse (£30).

Episode has gone monochrome with a range of stylish designs. Its black knitted top (£89) and black and white floral silk skirt (£139) make an elegant outfit, while a black and camel diagonal stripe skirt (£119) teamed with a black cotton cable neck sweater (£99) is also likely to have wide appeal.

On the high street, Dorothy Perkins has a fabulous black and white strappy georgette dress with a tie waist (£35).

Don't neglect the catalogues. In the new Argos Additions, Giant has a suit in white costing £89 for the jacket and £49 for fashionable wide-leg trousers.

And if you are already planning for the beach later in the year, go for a stunning black and white zebra bikini with a turquoise trim (£11).