I’ll be honest for a moment – everything I know about fashion fits neatly inside a
thimble. Most of the tips I’ve picked up come straight from television shows, such
as TLC’s makeover show, “What Not to Wear,” Bravo’s design competition, “Project
Runway” and, of course, any of Tim Gunn’s offshoot projects.
On makeover shows, half the battle is getting the subjects to dress in styles that
flatter their body types. For the rest of us who aren’t rolling in cash and don’t have
the luxury of getting nationally televised assistance from these style gurus, keeping
up with the latest trends seems like a pipe dream.
That’s where “Project Runway” gets really interesting. Watching each designer
try to bring one’s vision to high fashion is just as exciting as laughing about the
contestants’ catfights and listening to Tim Gunn ask, “Where’s Andrae?” in the
show’s second season.
Who are the designers really designing for: themselves or a certain type of customer?
Sometimes, on shows such as “Project Runway,” this question determines which
contestant is eliminated. When the contestant follows one’s creative vision instead
of the challenge, he or she is often doomed.
Then there’s the age-old debate regarding “form over function.” Depending on the
designer, clothes that appear on the runway might be meant purely for celebrities
and people who live in the Hamptons or, more rarely, the clothes are designed for
commercial wear. However, as I’ve learned from my TV viewing, there is a good
chance that someone somewhere has designed a more affordable and more functional
version of that Diane von Furstenberg dress you’ve been dying for.
And what is it with the explosion of celebrity designers these days? Just because
celebrities have style teams and VIP passes to the hottest shops and shows in town
doesn’t necessarily mean they’re talented. While I can get behind Sarah Jessica
Parker’s new “Bitten” line, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s “Elizabeth and James”
line is nothing to write home about. Have you seen these girls? With all the money
they’ve amassed as child stars, you’d think they could at least dress themselves.
So, with all that said, here’s my fashion rundown of the spring 2008 collections,
which look promising, for the most part. The most exciting trend is belts, which
cinch many dresses, jackets and tops. According to the experts, belts help give more
definition to the upper body and the waistline, so it was great to see belts featured
in just about every collection. In case you’re wondering, this little nugget wouldn’t
be as uplifting if every other shirt in stores didn’t look like some variation of a
maternity muumuu.
Oh, and guys? You are not Jude Law, so stay away from the exaggerated V-neck
shirts. I think Tim Gunn would agree with me on this one.