Speaking Style

They’re probably pieces that you don’t think of unless you’re watching Meryl Streep’s evil boss character in The Devil Wears Prada. But with the frequency that headscarves are popping up this season, you can’t help but feel that they’re already emerging as a fashion trend. It’s one statement that you can’t get out – or off – of your head.

Perhaps you could just see this pattern as a natural progression. After all, scarves have been a major celebrity fashion statement for a good part of 2008; Hollywood was very thoroughly invaded by scarves before fashion week even dawned in Europe. It really wasn’t far off for stylists and designers to play around with extra bits of fabric to create the next new fashion statement.

Hermes, for example, used very plain headscarves in neutral colors (in place of beanies, which they used for most of the collection) to top off some looks for the F/W 2008 runway show. It wasn’t really a necessary touch per se, but it did give a younger and slightly more rebellious vibe to the outfit. When you’re 30-plus and you’re trying to look a decade younger, that probably counts for something.

The same goes for Gucci, where the headscarf became an honorary part of the Gucci clothing collection for the season. It wasn’t very important, but it did fit into the theme and contribute something to the look. Only when Dolce & Gabbana clothing took a very traditional European turn (photo right) did the scarf become critical to the look.

To be brutally honest, headscarves are an iffy accessory to work with because they don’t work with every person and outfit. If you want to try them out for yourself, try it first in the superfluous way that Hermes did. That way, you can just stash it in your statement bag after the first negative comment.

If you’re the celebrity, fashion model or It-Girl type who likes to attend little parties and soirees, your wardrobe’s in for a treat. The last two seasons – F/W 2008 and S/S 2009 – have yielded a lot of breathtaking, party-worthy pieces. Everyone knows that cocktail dresses are the de facto dress code for any party, but this season’s pieces will make you look anything but standard issue.

The designation of a cocktail dress, after all, is all a matter of length. It seems that designers have been realizing that of late and have been really working with the little stretch of fabric that they’ve got. Results varied very widely, from all sorts of new little
details to completely new silhouettes altogether.

Just look at this Blumarine leopard-print chiffon dress for example. It’s a very feminine little number from afar, and then you realize that it actually references a really big fashion trend from a few months back. Who knew that a baby doll silhouette could work with an animal print? This one certainly does, and it’ll make you look like a sexy little kitten to boot.

Your dress is one of the few chances you’ve got to make a statement, and a lot of recent cocktail dresses will help you do just that. Take just about any piece in the Christian Lacroix collection with all its sculptural quality and bright jewel-tone colors. Worn with the right pair of shoes and equally appropriate attitude, outfits like those could just about make you the life of the party.

Ladies, it’s time to suspend whatever gender roles you’ve got in your wardrobe and pick up on this hot new trend. The biker jacket has been much updated in the past couple of years, and stars on both sides of the Atlantic are really making a fashion statement with them. For Fall 2008, it’s all about equal opportunity dressing.

This new fashion trend has been sported by fashionistas like Rachel Bilson (pictured right), Kate Moss (pictured, below left) and Rihanna, and makes for a tougher look that doesn’t lose out on the femininity. Big brands Rick Owens, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs carry some of the best biker jackets this season, and you’d best check them out for inspiration, if not to get a jacket for yourself.

You don’t even have to get your biker jacket in tired ol’ leather anymore. There are lots of other options in fabrics like cotton and cotton blends, if you find leather too hard to maintain. The usual retail stores are likelier to carry non-leather options, so drop by to take a peek. Vintage fashion stores are also great places to find hot pieces.

Do you want the look? Take a page out of Miss Moss’ book and pair the jacket with leggings or a pair of skinny jeans. Dump the denim and try to experiment with other fabrics in other colors. Miss Moss here went with what looks like a blended fabric in black, equipped with zippered pockets for that biker look.

Keep your accessories and other fashion details to a minimum. Kate proves that she really is a celebrity fashion trendsetter by keeping the whole biker look together. She layers a couple of simple tops and uses a plain pearl necklace and black bag to complete the ensemble.