Well, it’s the last month of the year!  I thought it the most appropriate time to come out of my hiatus from blogging and come up with a list of my favourite trends of 2009.  These are clothes and styles I absolutely LOVED or at the very least, wish I could have pulled off (if not, hope, that they’re still hot next year and maybe I will!).

Patterned tights and stockings.  Yeah, sure, they haven’t been just this year (certainly Gossip Girl pushed them further into the limelight last year), but I’m glad it’s becoming a more fashionable alternative to skinny jeans.  Patterned tights have seen more styles and colors to choose from in 2009, not to mention cheaper variants are now available at SM (Leg Love by Kate Torralba and some others).  I remember the days when I used to purchase these online or have someone buy them from me abroad.  I love that it has such an old school girlish charm but it can also easily be modern chic.  I especially like layering the fishnet styles and the patterns with wider holes with sheer colored stockings.

Another reason why I love these so much: possibly even more than my height, my greatest frustration are not having smooth legs (I blame it on the combined efforts of sports, insect bites, ingrown hair and definitely constant waxing/epilating. I’ve been saying it for years—I ought to save money for laser hair removal).  The stockings are chic camouflage—even the fishnet ones distract the viewer from flaws!

Hell, I even like the fact that you can now keep the dozen or so pairs of hose with runs.  Get Velcro happy, rough them up against your old pantyhose and thread them to perfection.  The Rock Glam loves it.

Booties.  Boots are definitely not resting on their laurels this past decade, which is why it’s well worth the investment.  They look good with almost anything!  SM has a precious collection of booties paraded in the most recent Philippine Fashion Week.  They were even paired up with Chanel-inspired suits, which look just lovely.

The Boyfriend Shirt.  This is a classic!  It’s always been sexy—but now, the sexy just took to the high streets.  I like how it looks so laidback and effortless, but it can be killer with the right attitude.

Blazers.  I like how blazers go well with anything nowadays.  Blazers in my mind back then were more business-like and office fanfare, but now it can go with street wear as well as little evening dresses with the proper accessories.  My favourite is the the boyfriend blazer (or any oversized one for that matter), because much like the boyfriend shirt, they lend a certain edge to a too casual outfit with an air of careless chic.

Denim cut-offs.  80s came back with a vengeance the past 2 years, and this is one of my favourite recalls yet.  Nowadays you can parade in your Daisy Dukes with high heels, a blazer and designer clutch and look rockstar glamorous.

The Maximalist.  Layering is an idea that goes for everything in fashion.  I’m more inclined to pile on the accessories, though admittedly I’ve sacrificed freedom of movement for the name of style (I’ve had several snags on my wardrobe caused by wire bracelets and broken long chain necklaces that gets caught in everything).  I like it with clothes, too, but they’re a bit more tricky with tropical weather.

Animal prints and skin.  I once thought animal prints were only for cougars (a term coined for middle-aged women wearing animal print for seducing younger men).  But now I find that it mixes well with ballsy looks that are young and fearless (like bohemian, tribal or even rock glam).  What better way to say “I’m a woman, hear me roar” than taking on the wilder side of fashion?

Now that you’ve recalled the best, how about some other things that’s probably best forgotten (at least for the meantime, until they get a decent revival)?

Some things that ought to have, but still didn’t die this year…

Gladiator shoes.  Come on.  I know they’re comfy and two years ago I thought they were ultra chic—but that was just my history geek showing its two front teeth.  I liked that they look old world and tough and different from the usual pumps or sandals.  But I think I’ve seen enough.  This, paired with the Plaid or Check Shirt which young girls everywhere just wear to death—and trust me, the plaid was one of my favourite 80s revivals, too, until everyone got lazy and wore nothing else—and had me wishing they were lumberjack exclusive again.  I don’t really mind people wearing it if they just had a bit more creativity and not stroll out in the streets of Manila like it were a national uniform.  I swear I once saw a group of about four or five high school girls strolling in Greenbelt, all of them wearing gladiator shoes and checked blouses.  Really??

(That pic above is not as bad as the same ensemble I’ve been describing but it’s the closest I can get with Looklet.  I think what’s so bothersome about the said combo is that here in Manila the girls wear the same style of gladiator shoes and checked/blouse, down to the cut and length, only in different colors).

Some alternatives: make it a tartan skirt or tube dress if you’re Agyness Deyn.  Or Gwen Stefani.  And cage heels in place of last year’s gladiators.

Pictures from:

trendhunter.com
bodenusa.com
style.com

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