2008-04-03

Tricky fashion trends to be wary of this summer :


Fashion's always tricky, and this summer MoS will attempt to guide you through the potential minefield of fashion faux pas with some brief guidelines. We hope you find them helpful and people don't point and laugh at you in the street.



Perms. Yep, they look hot on famous people, like in Flashdance, or on Halle Berry, or Chloe Sevigny, but remember when you do a perm, there's no turning back. It's not called a "permanent wave" because it washes out in a few weeks,and if Nicole Kidman couldn't pull off the frizz, chance are neither can you. Fortune does favour the brave, however, so if you go for the perm, do it with gusto and be proud of your resultant fake afro. Or do it with hot rollers, that way it'll only lastuntil you wash it.


Sandals. Sandals are an essential part of the Bohemian look that seems to come into fashion for about two minutes every year. Flat, brown, retro-looking sandals perhaps with straps and bead detailing are the most coveted, with silver and gold versions also very popular. You might want to purchase stocks in Band-Aids when you first get your sandals, as jute and other sandal-type materials are regularly quite unforgiving on soft foot flesh. For more of a statement, a JC (Jesus Christ) style sandal from school days is a hot look. JC couldn't be wrong!





Kaftans/caftans. Whoever started this trend must have had Christmas in mind. Perfect for slobbing out in on hot days, the kaftan hasn't really been popular since Kamahl's heydey. This is mostly because it has all the shape of an onion bag and can make you look like you have a Messiah complex if done wrong. Other than that, though, they can't be faulted.


Oversized sunnies. There are too many pluses associated with big sunnies to really go through here, but the biggest one is the amount of face they cover. This is an invaluable trait when emerging from dark clubs in sunlight, or just emerging from the morning after work drinks. The only real drawback to big, crazy sunnies is potentially looking like Elton John. So be careful and get a second and possibly third opinion when you purchase. Looking like Eliot Gould from Ocean's 12 is OK.


Short shorts. And when we say short shorts, that is above the knee. Lots of girls make the mistake of confusing short shorts with hot pants - no. Never do this. You're not cycling the Tour de France, so there's no need to wear skin-tight shorts. It's a completely different look altogther - what you want is a linen pair of dress shorts to wear with high heels, sandals or cowboy boots. Hot pants just don't fit into the equation. EVER!

10 Best Spring - Summer 08 Fashion Trends

Vibrant floral prints and fairy motifs on featherlight fabrics make for fashion magic. Forget shrinking violets – this summer, florals are bold and beautiful in striking colours and near-abstract prints. For the ultimate in romance, floor-sweeping frocks have whimsical charm. Opt for an edgier take on the trend with sculpted silhouettes, short hemlines and off-beat, asymmetric shapes. Strong detailing – oversized corsages on shoulders, headscarves and ties – injects drama into the prettiest pattern.