In with the Prints… Out with the Maternity Wear (Thank You Fashion Dictators of the World!)

Someone has heard my prayers.

Maybe it was God, Maybe it was Marc Jacobs, I don’t really know and to be honest, I don’t really care but someone, somewhere has heard my begging and pleading and has done something about it.

A change that makes me so happy, I am twirling around like a 5 year old in my maternity style dress.

Magazines, newspapers, and TV shows alike have been abuzz with “What’s In and Whats Out” for your 2008 wardrobe. And thankfully (or perhaps FINALLY is a better word) I can throw my “Someone’s having a baby dress!” in the trash (and yes someone DID say that to me, to which I proceeded to jump off the nearest bridge)

While I have heard the phrase “return of femininity” the past three years (Fashionistas claimed the baby-doll dress was in fact feminine. I claim that it is a way to make me look like a fat-ass who is ready to pop one out). But this time, the trends for spring/summer are in fact, showing off that we are women.

Belted waists, bodice hugging dresses, flattering pants and a whole lot of bold colors and prints are what you will be seeing this year. Gone are the trapeze dresses. Leggings? So two years ago. Menswear for women, drab colors, skinny jeans tucked into booties, boxy pieces with no shape and oversized cardigans, that we all HAD to have, will be sent away like Lilo being sent to rehab.

And while it is only January, stores are stocking up with Spring wear already. Bloomingdales has missed me, and boy have I missed them. It feels so good to walk through the store squirming with delight at the return of flattering fashions! Seeing these adorable tops that for once in my life don’t remind me of a bag lady make me want to start wearing sleeveless dresses regardless of the fact that its 20 degress outside.

But then again, what about all that money spent on shlumpy sweaters and mammoth mumus? We are students after all and shelling out more money for a form-fitting floral frock after we just spent our bar money on that must have oversized dress seems like such a waste of a whole lot of fabric.

So before you start throwing out the old and buying a whole lot of new, asses your wardrobe and what you can update yourself to fit the trends of ’08:

* Add a belt to make a baby doll dress more defined.

*A floral print scarf or bold jewelry can update your muted colored clothes.

*Thankfully, all of your patent leather can still say! (At least for this season)

Usually, I have a hard time parting with clothes of my past as each one creates a memory… and will one day be vintage. I usually tell myself I should save it for my kids since over the years I’ve yelled at my mom for not saving her retro pieces. However, the trends of 2007 I am SO happy to get rid of with nary a tear of remorse.

Here is a lengthier list of new styles to expect to come and go

What’s “in” vs. what’s “out”

Belted dresses/Trapeze dresses

Fitted tops/Baby-doll tops

Prints (abstract, floral, animal) /Stripes, dots

Bright colors (yellow, coral, fuchsia, emerald) /muted colors

Long dresses /Miniskirts

Full-leg trousers/Skinny pants

Higher waistbands /Super-low waistbands

Bermuda shorts /Short shorts

Gladiator sandals /Ballet flats

Hidden platforms /Stiletto pumps

Patent leather /Distressed leather

Trench coats /Puffer jackets

Sleek totes /Bags with multiple pockets, buckles, zippers

Bold necklaces, cuffs, rings /Delicate jewelry

Mid-length hair with bangs /Long, straight hair

Subtle highlights/”skunk stripes”

Precision cuts/Messy “bed hair”

Pretty pink makeup /Dramatic glitter makeup