Am I being fashion punk’d?
All season long, I’ve been wandering the malls and independent designer boutiques looking for signs of wearable fashion. Anything, anything! In fact, I’ll even pay full price. Just give me something that doesn’t work against me—emphasizing the parts I need to hide yet hiding the parts I’m proud of. Should I ever cross paths with the individuals responsible for the return of “skinny jeans”—those awful, tightly uncomfortable, tapered things that magnify hips and thighs, amplify every curve of the leg and produce a remarkably disproportionate silhouette—I will tie them all up with fluorescent pink jelly bracelets and pelt them with Rubik’s cubes as “Jump (For My Love)” blasts at an ear-splittingly high volume…I’m serious. But in the meantime, those of us unwilling to ride out the awful style storm in black Juicy Couture sweats and call it a day need somewhere to turn. Here, a roundup of a handful of today’s few-and-far-between flattering trends:
The skirt
Looking for the simplest, most comfortable way to lengthen your legs yet show off your shape? Choose a long skirt that flows loose and falls somewhere between your knees and ankles, and is form-fitting from the waist to just under your bottom. Check out graphic and detail-heavy numbers by Akris and Etro, or last season’s Donna Karan “broomstick” skirt.
Leggings
Don’t give us that look! Yes, leggings can complement just about any body type, depending on their length. If you have long, thin, sexy legs, let the leggings run long—from the hips to the ankles—and pair them with a mini skirt and high boots, or a long, off-the-shoulder t-shirt and wide, ‘80s-styled belt slung around your hips. Those of us with shorter legs should hike them up Capri style (so they hit six inches past the knee) and wear them with a long cardigan over a pretty lace camisole. Unless you’re a ballerina, you’d never wear leggings without something loose covering the waistband and stomach: Hence, they’re one of the best ways to hide temporary bloating problems and a pesky tummy pouch. Try the private label styles by Intermix and American Apparel as well as leggings by Vince and Charles Nolan.
Florescent anything
After black-on-black, white-on-white and camouflage, a nice splash of bright color might be just what you need. Lily Pulitzer and Diane Von Furstenberg are tying hot-pink bow belts around their party frocks, while Emanuel Ungaro and Pucci are selling mini-dresses in bright blues and greens. Those who need a subtle entré to the trend should start by pairing high, bright shoes (we love the fire-engine red pumps by Miu Miu or Pedro Garcia with an otherwise all-black ensemble.
Headbands
Not only do thick, Alice-in-Wonderland-like headbands give your hair volume, they tend to hide roots—buying you an extra few weeks before color touchups are necessary. Pick a pricy Miu Miu patent leather with velvet accents, or grab a suede, metallic or quilted two to three dollar band from Forever21.
