Top 10 trends: # 5

# 5: Glitter Who doesn't love a little sparkle? But instead of a uniform bathing in glitter, designers this season used gems and sequins to illustrate naturalistic shapes and images, often over a sheer backdrop. This means that your head-turning entrance will be evocative as well as glamorous.

TO PULL IT OFF: While many bright young things are irreverently donning sequin embellishments on droopy tees and tanks, I urge anyone over 25 to keep glitter for evening. It's not just appropriate, it simply makes a bigger impact against more mysterious lighting.

Could we be a little more French, please? Chanel, mais bien sur!

Classical vines adorned this prim dress at Miu Miu...

... and this red-carpet showstopper at Marchesa.

Top 10 trends: # 6

# 6: The New Slouchy Boot

I never liked the slouchy boot. This season's interpretation, however, is a departure from the sloppy, bunchy sheath style, which only serves to accentuate a leg's stubbiness.

The new slouchy boot is open-toed, an unexpected (albeit impractical) twist, and instead of contrived bunching, we get natural folds and creases for a more architectural effect.

TO PULL IT OFF: As with most avant-garde statements, let the piece lead the outfit and anything else in the ensemble play a supporting role. Try this boot with a figure-hugging jersey or oversize cable-knit sweater dress in a solid colour and chunky lucite bangles.


Costume National
Tough glamour from Vivienne Westwood

Top 10 trends: # 7

# 7: Metallic
The future is now. Metal details and robotic armor are certainly a bold statement, like this Thierry Mugler piece, which Beyonce wears in her "Sweet Dreams" video:

Photo from bryanboy.com (wirq...)

TO PULL IT OFF: For the humanoids out there, this is actually not that hard to work into a sane wardrobe. Try some geometric jewelry or footwear for evening, or throw on some futuristic chrome sunglasses for day. A metal waistbelt is a great option too, like this one from Karl Lagerfeld:



More exquisite metal detailing from Lagerfeld:

Top 10 trends: # 8

# 8: Ruffles Probably my least favourite motif this season, but one which I'm sure will be wide-spread, ruffles appeared everywhere, mostly on flirty dresses. The pretty-factor is undeniable, but it can easily look clownish.

TO PULL IT OFF: I tend to think less is more when it comes to ruffles, but if you have the confidence and want to make an impact, then pile them on. This will be one season when you can get away with it.

Stella McCartney went with the classic application of ruffles on a one-shoulder neckline.

A gorgeous colour for spring from Gaimbattista Valli

Top 10 trends: # 9

# 9: The Menswear Shirtdress This was one of my favourite developments this season. I love a woman in a man’s dress shirt, and have ever since Sharon Stone wore her husband’s Gap button-down to the 1998 Oscars. For Spring 2010, designers took this idea to the limit, stretching the shirt into a floor length dress.

TO PULL IT OFF: While these dresses are not the most forgiving, anyone can wear a crisp white shirt with a black pencil skirt for secretary-sexy. It works equally well with jeans or dramatic A-line skirts.


Designers interpreted this trend in different ways: Yohji Yamamoto gave us structure...

...while Stella McCartney showed billowy bedroom romance.

Top 10 trends for Spring 2010

Over the new few days I will be counting down my top 10 trends from the Spring 2010 women's ready-to-wear collections; not just what they were, but how to wear them without looking foolish. All photos in this series are from style.com. Without further ado:

# 10: Socks with sandals

The impossible has happened. Socks with sandals stomped down many a catwalk this season, dashing the granola hippy stereotype. While most designers kept this unorthodox combination playful, it can easily look ridiculous.

TO PULL IT OFF: keep the sock thin and the shoe fairly simple. Try a white sock with patent leather for school-girl pretty, or beige with chocolate brown.

Sparkly and fun from Galliano at Christian Dior, this is a great example of how to rock socks and sandals for evening. You'll have to supply your own mile-high stems.

If you can't afford a real European vacation, you can still dress the part, like this jaunty lady at Rochas; I personally love the demure yet free-spirited direction Marco Zanini took in his second collection for the label. Great print, too.

Two Feathers (2009)

A feather, blue, caught on a blade of grass,
In wide a field as there has ever been,
Was by a knowing gust released. And pass
It did, o'er country, field and sea. Unseen

By those land-levelled eyes and earth-held sights,
Directedly, unfetter'dly it went.
The way and nature of its molting might
Not matter now, for it was to be sent

To meet another feather on the sand
In lands with Cheshire moons and daunting suns.
Now faced with this red other, will at hand
Came to accept the former host-bird's shuns.

Now feather lays on feather, plume on plume;
A purple flight together they assume.