The Best and Worst of Trends in '07 (And a Preview of '08)

Trend watching can be a strange business. How exactly does one explain the way a humble tulip skirt or pair of wide-leg jeans becomes a bona fide Look of the Moment? The trickle-down theory (from runway to reality) once had currency, but trends travel in all directions: from high to low, sure, but also from sidewalk to catwalk to red carpet to clearance rack. So how can you tell which of 2007's trends will still pack a punch this spring and beyond? Follow my highly unscientific guide to fashion's good, bad and unspeakably hideous.

Trends I Liked

High-low collaborations. Because good design should be available at every price point. Doo-Ri Chang, Thakoon and Rodarte gussied up Gap's classic white shirts; Vera Wang sprinkled the racks at Kohl's with her special blend of fashion fairy dust. Proenza Schouler's colorful tops and slim skirts for Target (see slideshow) translated especially well on the cheap. Sure, some of the pairings were lackluster (looking at you, Roberto Cavalli and H&M). But when they worked, they worked.

Power palettes. Last spring, neutrals got natty -- who knew khaki could be so cool? For fall, jewel tones such as amethyst and ruby sparkled on shoes, bags and more.

Thom Browne's shrunken suits. Browne's signature Lilliputian-size suits -- and the slightly less-exaggerated silhouettes he created for Brooks Brothers -- are a smart antidote to the saggy-seated ensembles sported by some Washingtonians. (You know who you are.)

The new D.C. streetwear scene. These three stores opened shop, and before you could say "deadstock Jordans" five times fast, the District's selection of covetable kicks and niche brands improved immensely: Commonwealth (1781 Florida Ave. NW, 202-265-1830), Kickballers (3285 1/2 M St. NW, 202-337-1260) and Palace 5ive (2216-2220 14th St. NW, 202-299-9008).

Trends I Didn't Like

Homely headgear. Far better to endure a bad hair day than to cover up with this year's ugliest item: the fashion world's take on the turban. It's almost impossible to wear well, even when fashioned out of buttercup satin by Miuccia Prada (see slideshow).

The incredible shrinking dress. Is it a too-short dress or a too-long shirt? Stores were packed with frock-tops in various hip-gripping lengths; most were frustratingly unwearable.

Celebrity designers. When Venus Williams makes headlines for being a celeb designer who actually attends design school, something is wrong with the world. If I never buy a top from Mandy Moore, Amanda Bynes or any of their Chiclet-teeth brethren, it will be too soon.

Monster trends. Sometimes a simple piece of clothing becomes larger than life, seizing storefronts and gobbling up all the ruched tanks and clutch bags in its path. For spring, yellow tops were everywhere (and it looks as if they will be again this year); for fall, sequined dresses seemed unavoidable. If you happen to own these items, stick them in the very back of your closet right now. Please?

What's Next

Full skirts. For women accustomed to bubble skirts and skinny minis, spring brings a new kind of volume. If you can't swing Derek Lam's luxe take (see slideshow), this is an easy style to find for less; try vintage shops.

Washington's international chain invasion. We've already got Spanish retailers Mango and Zara, and U.K. fashion brand Reiss graces Georgetown with its sparkly frocks and sleek suits. Now Denmark-based jeweler Pilgrim has opened its first U.S. store, also in Georgetown. Will Spain's Massimo Dutti and Britain's Topshop be the next to wash ashore in Washington? Fingers crossed.

Painterly prints. Some designers consider their work closer to art than commerce, so it's no surprise that the style and art worlds are colliding this season. Expect a barrage of abstract prints swirled on such pieces as Marni's top-handle tote (see slideshow). And on that note . . .

Shoes that are works of art. One antidote to It Bag fatigue? Marc Jacobs's visually arresting, gravity-defying pump (see slideshow).

Watermelon. A cheery color that'll look great on a sub-zero day come February. Relegate the hue to your accessories rather than going head-to-toe, though: Palm Beach this city isn't.

Edgy florals. Because posy prints aren't just for grandmas. See Balenciaga's directional take, worn by Jennifer Connelly (see slideshow): Classic florals get a new attitude in an acid-bright palette, topped by the kind of shoulders that would give Brian Urlacher pause.

Sheer = Genius? Lingerie-inspired looks come out from under cover. The surprising thing? Compared with what passes for taste in Hollywood, these delicate tops and featherweight frocks almost manage to look conservative.