would you wear a peplum dress like…

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ah, yes, the ruffled skirt trend, the one that throws us back to our childhood. thankfully, designers have updated this little girl staple with sophisticated cuts and unexpected details.

still wondering how to wear it when you’re already over 17?

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pvc tights, sometimes latex (call them liquid leggings if you want to sound less industrial), walked down the runways around this time three years ago and its leather counterpart followed very soon after (in fact, leather pants still made it to some of the current collections). the most purist of stylists claim the pvc tights are so over because leather leggings have taken their place, but for others who are less conscious of hot-off-the-runway pieces, the pvc/latex versions of these skin-tight pants are still in fashion. in fact, since it takes a while for designer pieces to get imitated into mass produced merchandise, i have just been seeing pvc and latex tights in some racks.

pvc (polyvinyl chloride, something i used to only know as the main material in pipes and other construction items) is extremely shiny, so shiny it has that permanent wet look to it. leather, on the other hand, is less glossy, but slick nonetheless, and both have that rock star, vampy vibe to them. it is one thing to slink and slither into the things and another to actually pull them off. and whether you wear the plastic or the animal hide, it seems you have to adhere to the same fundamental rules in wearing it.

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as we reach mid-year, let’s take a look at some of the most popular styles in the hair front.

1. the quiff

seen on the runways of oscar de la renta, max mara and l.a.m.b. among others, the new quiff, an exaggerated height that challenges elvis presley’s hair to a battle of blow-outs, is the new updo. take it from the many celebs who have embraced this hairstyle. it has redefined our use of holding products.

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early this year, there were knee-high socks. ironically, as the weather in most designer-influenced countries started to become colder, the socks went down to the ankles in catwalks all over fashion capitals.

ankle socks and mid-calf socks with heels aren’t exactly new (e.g., burberry prorsum ss09 and ss08), but it seems they occur more frequently this season.

you see them in ankle boots…

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before the holidays completely overwhelm me with laziness and before the year finally comes to a close, i would like to take a brief look back at the year that was incredible shoes.

the prevailing shoe trends of 2009:

designs at the back or the heels themselves
platforms to dizzying heights: either artistically rendered or hidden altogether
fringes or feathers
scales (or a simulation thereof)
cut-away or mesh inset boots
thigh high boots
decorative ankle straps
victorian button- or lace-up

and certainly nothing even close to plain!

louis vuitton ss 09

lanvin ss 09

diego dolcini fw 09

nicholas kirkwood ss 09

devi kroell ss 09

cesare paciotti fw 09

christian louboutin fw 09

heather williams fw 09

stella mccartney fw 09

camilla skovgaard fw 09

fendi fw 09

manolo blahnik ss 09

alexandra neel fw 09

omelle fw 09

proenza schouler fw 09

versace ss 09

alejandro ingelmo fw 09

gaspard yurkievich fw 09

charlotte olympia fw 09

tanja s. london fw 09

alexander wang ss 09

michael lewis fw 09

rock & republic ss 09

baldinini fw 09

ruthie davis fw 09

one of the most ubiquitous trends in ss09 is the jumpsuit. a whole pants ensemble in just one piece, this throw-on suit has received mixed reviews from real-world women here and abroad.

hollywood, on the other hand, generally seems to warm up to this grown-up onesie, as evident in numerous red carpet and paparazzi-chance appearances. among the celebrity fans of jumpsuits, eva longoria, rihanna, kim kardashian and beyonce knowles happen to wear the style most frequently.

i myself like jumpsuits, i have always loved the look of them even before designers reeled them out of the 70′s and into the runways last year. i like them best in palazzo or wide-leg styles.

jumpsuit pros:

• no need to slave over separates to find right combinations
• usually simple and quick to put on
• provides a slimming effect since its line is continuous from top to bottom
• no worries about butt cracks showing when bending or sitting down
• easy to pack in luggages or overnight bags

jumpsuit cons:

• they can actually make your butt look flat (notice that the celebs mentioned above have the goods to pull of the jumpsuit without worrying how they look from behind?)
• since it’s one piece from top to bottom, finding the perfect fit can be quite demanding
• obviously, going to the bathroom can be a very arduous task

black formal, celebrity style:

plunging neckline (katie holmes), halter backless (maggie gyllenhall), corset (kim kardashian), boatneck (victoria beckham)

black formal, shopping around:

rachel pally

tart

wink

lighter and brighter, celebrity style:

purple (rihanna), light blue (laura ramsey), white (lady isabella hervey), beige (anita briem)

lighter and brighter, shopping around:

express

erin fetherston

70′s disco elements, celebrity style:

denim (alicia keys), floral (rihanna), sparkly (malin akerman), silver (sophie marceau)

70′s disco elements, shopping around:

arden b

dolce & gabbana

since i am on the shorter side, i don’t think i can wear the floor length palazzo jumpsuit without looking like a walking stump (nevermind eva longoria and kim kardashian, they certainly have more ideal figures than i do).

i think the jumpsuit gaucho would be a better alternative for me:

baby phat

newport news

baby phat

what do you think of jumpsuits?