At Fall Fashion Week in 2010, a classic design re-emerged from the depths of history. Quietly marching down the runway, insincerely hugging waif-like Russian models, this product trickled down from the elite, privileged spenders to those on a budget who shop at Forever21 and JC Penney to terrorize the populace. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the pencil skirt, or more recently deemed, the “bandage” skirt. You may be wondering why I harbor such resentment against a seemingly innocent design. Let me begin by assuring you that the original pencil skirt is blameless, if not a tad bland. The original pencil skirt sets itself apart from the mutated bandage skirt because of its quality fabric and appropriate, classy appearance. When the pencil skirt trend reared its head yet again in autumn of 2010, it had been dipped in sleaze and coated with a healthy dose of penicillin. Here’s why this new pencil skirt is ruining my life: [Read more...]

Cowl Necks
First of all, only babies should wear bibs; adults, on the other hand, have no excuse. You should be able to eat without spitting up your food by now. All that extra fabric crowding around the chest area makes women look not only frumpy in all the wrong areas but also like crazy cat ladies.

Hipster Headbands
What is the point of wearing a piece of string across your forehead? This trend was popular in the 60s, and, guess what, people, that was fifty years ago, so get over it. It may look nice for the first few minutes, but lo and behold, in an hour your hair will turn into a colossal, disheveled beehive. Sorry, ladies, but only Amy Winehouse could pull off that look.

Over-embellished bags and accessories
Stop turning your bags into weapons! If you honestly feel the need to protect yourself, then please buy yourself some pepper spray. Studs can be adorable and complimentary on any accessory, but when you’re drowning in them, you begin to look like a prisoner in shackles.

Mom Jeans
The first question that comes to mind is: why on earth would women want to make their butts look longer and flatter than they really are? It does not matter what shape or size you are; these jeans will not work for you! I repeat: they will not work for you! You can cut them, dye them, sew patches on them, but none of that will matter because you are still left with a hideous pair of jeans.

Colored animal prints
This to me is the most disgusting trend of them all. Time and time again, I will see a purple cheetah-print crop top or a blue zebra backpack worn by young girls everywhere. What kind of fashion demon made this idea acceptable, and who on earth is buying it?! I would like to understand when tacky became trendy. Snooki, on the other hand, can wear whatever she pleases because she is paid to look that tacky. So unless you are getting paid millions to adorn this hideous pattern, I suggest you dispose of this trend immediately.

Let’s face it: the weather in Riverside is about as unpredictable as parking in Lot 30 (commuters, am I right?). One day, the sun is beating down upon you as you walk to class; the next, you’re running into the library to stay dry. Sure, it’s easy to look cute on the days when the sun’s out, but what about on those rainy days? Never fear! With just a few pieces of clothing, you can turn your gloomy day into a chic one!

When the temperatures drop, we layer up, simple as that. However, layering can often lead to looking bulky, as we reach for thick peacoats and jackets. Instead, try opting for an anorak! With an anorak, you get the warmth and protection of a coat, all without looking like you’ve got a million layers on. Anoraks are known for having cinched waists and large pockets, adding some functionality to their flattering fit. These jackets were extremely popular in the spring lines of many designers, and low-cost alternatives are hitting the shelves of stores such as Target, Forever 21, and H&M.

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As I’m jumping on the last caboose of the Spring 2012 Fashion Week train – this will probably be my last report on this season – I’ve noticed that I’ve taken a liking to the pale pastels on the runway. Obviously a perfect palette for spring, pastels just seem to scream: “GIRLY! LOLLIPOPS! FLOWERS! HAPPINESS!” – and, really, only make me want to go prance around poppy fields while wearing a breezy dress with a nice glass of apple juice in hand.

The previous, Fall 2011 collections showed off bright, bold prints and furs, but I suppose it was time to cool down for the upcoming spring season, as designers like Vera Wang and Louis Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs picked up on the pale pastel trend, with variations in yellow, blue, peach, and purple being some of the most prominent colors found in many collections. Marc Jacobs stated, that “after the hardness of Fall, we wanted something gentle and kind, fragile but strong, too.” What made Jacobs’s collection stand out was the doily-like lace cut out into beautiful evening dresses, jackets, and skirts.

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If you’re like me, you love to stay up on the latest runway trends. However, if you’re also like me, you don’t have the bank account to spend on these coveted designer pieces. Instead of wasting time lusting after those unattainable items, I’ve compiled five of Spring’s hottest and most wearable trends in more affordable and budget-friendly options. Trust me, your wallet and your closet will thank you!

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As I’m browsing through several fashion stores at the mall, I begin to notice a recurring flouncy blouse style on the racks. I also flip through the latest Elle and Vogue magazines reviewing their spring 2012 fashion week recaps highlighting many of the new trends on the runway and observe how stylists have translated over-the-top runway styles into something wearable. So what’s all this peplum hype about? Maybe you’ve heard of this term before or maybe you haven’t but this is yet another perfect example of history repeating itself! Here’s the low down:

Definition: A flared ruffle attached to the waist of a jacket, blouse, bodice, skirt etc.

History: A term originating back to the 19t h century, peplum was found primarily attached as an extra overskirt and sewn on to and dropped from the waist. Origins of the idea were noticeable in the Puritan/Cavalier era tops and would hide the top of the skirt underneath the shirt. The modernized version of peplum was popularized in the 1940’s (thanks to designers like Christian Dior and Jacques Fath) and faded ten years later but returned in the 1980’s and 90’s with its striking silhouette style that we are familiar with today.

What’s so great about them: Regardless of your body size, peplum can either help hide or accentuate your hips! So all you birthing hip-blessed women, no need to worry about all of the attention going to your hips! Because the tops of peplum-flared skirts protrude out from the waist, everything stays hidden. And if you don’t have too much meat on your bones (especially those with a boyish figure), these little guys give the illusion that you have a waist. Of course, it is important to correctly fit yourself when wearing this trend. Fitted peplums are better for larger figures as they bring attention to the waist and are less on the hips in addition to creating an hourglass figure. On the contrary, flared peplums will make your hips look larger and are appropriate for straight figures. With correct interpretation, a peplum shirt or skirt on top of anything fitted will embrace the natural female waistline. WARNING: If styled incorrectly, you will look dated!

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It seems that with the economic downturn and a slow revival, consumers have been pinching there pennies and have become less likely to splurge on luxury brand name items. Although this is not the case for all, companies like Neiman Marcus are profiting highly from the holiday season, designers are still seeing horrible sales patterns.

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