feature

Ladylike fashions were all over the catwalks again in 2006 as designers proclaimed Boho to be gone for good.  So what were we donning this year?  Where were we shopping?  And will any of it last?

Pump Up The Volume
The 2006 catwalk heralded the demise of skinny.  Not twelve months ago we were squeezing our size 14 behinds in to size 12 drainpipes and now they’re telling us all those Topshop changing room tears were for nothing.  2006 was all about the tulip coat, the bubble skirt, the boyfriend jean and anything else that would make an average size girl look chunky of calf.  Bloody typical.

The Return of Biba
Back in the ‘60s a Biba coat or Biba boots were a badge of fashion honour – our Mums proudly walked the streets in white eyeliner and cute, patterned mini dresses imagining themselves to be the next Twiggy.  Never mind eh Ma?  But when the brand couldn’t keep up with the crazy ‘70s, Biba shut its doors.  Who knew that Bella Freud would get those rusty cogs (or should we say clogs?) turning again?  A new flagship store opens in 2007.

A Passion For Primark
Who among us ever thought we’d be heading to that stalwart of the cheap and poor quality, Primark, for our fashions of the season.  It all started a year or so ago with a very good value military jacket and ever since the Primark effect has spread.  From the white trench coats to the Sienna style sequinned dress (now going for twice its price on eBay) somehow cheap really does equal cheerful.

Ankle Boots – The Comeback
Fashion is a fickle thing – one year something can be the must have item, the next you’d be crazy to be seen out in it.  Ankle boots epitomise this very problem.  Get them right and you’re on the money, get it wrong and ‘80s here we come.  This year saw the Shoe-Boot take centre stage, perfect with a mini and forty denier but so right with jeans too.  Just make the most of ‘em while they’re in.

Waisted
Just as All Saints decide to make a poptastic comeback the hip skimming trouser that they made in to a long term fashion finally waves bye bye.  No more will we struggle with the low-rise/g-string problem, no longer will our post Chinese takeaway bellies poke out between jean and top.  Instead we have to endure the long bottom look and trim our waists to Dita Von Teese proportions.  Why us?