12 March 09

Fashion Flash

Fashion Flash

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Clothes horse Charlie Dawson helps you get dressed

Harem pants
Humph…Stop! Hammer Time!
If you thought the tulip skirt, the statement shoe or knee-high socks were b***ches of trends, cue the fashion industry with the spring piece that will strike fear into the heart of every non-model female…the harem pant. Original worn by Aladdin, MC Hammer and now, Sadie Frost and Katie Price, this baggy trouser does find its way onto some quality bods. Declaring itself the spring trend of 2009 at New York Fashion Week last year, we saw it rocked at runway shows from Calvin Klein to Vera Wang, McQueen to Chloe. Apparently, the person to blame for this deluge is a certain, chic French fashion editor who wore them and left a trail of wannabes racing to the rails to grab themselves a pair.

“Fashion designers see someone like her and think they look cool,” says Amy Astley, editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue. “Trends by their very nature aren’t for everyone, but everyone likes to try them.” So, it’s Friday night… you’re off down the chippy to line your stomach before a Bacardi Breezer or five in town. How are you going to pull this off? Choose a pair that falls high up your calf to stretch your silhouette and wear with a fitted shirt, a tight or (you better believe it) crop top, to contrast tight with billowy and avoid drowning in fabric. As for shoes, try this season’s colour-popping, patent peep-toes with sky scraping heels. Look complete, go grab yourself an Arabian Adventure. Even if it is a late-night kebab.
For harem pants on the cheap (€13.50 A Pop) check out www.missbutterfly.co.uk

Will it travel?
So fabulous in New York Sadie sweedie, but will they work when we’re shoplifting souvenirs at some European flea market?

YES
MAJKA CASTELLANI
27, ROME, ITALY
“We prefer to overdress than underdress so, sure, with a tailored jacket and heels, why not?”

NO
NINA LAMPARSKI
30, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
“You can’t touch this, seriously. People have their own style here so you’d get stick for jumping on a lame trend.”

Beauty and the piece
Expose those pasty ankles/calves in spring before those harmful but bronzing rays have zapped them? We know – it’s tricky. Fake tans come in many fabulous forms, from gels to lotions, but we rate the Clinique Quick Body Bronze Tinted Self-Tanner Mousse. It’s the longest name for a product in the history of grooming. Still – containing soothing black walnut extract and hydrating Glycerin, it’s dead easy to put on and won’t look like a gravy stain by the time you’re on the dancefloor, or at the harem.
RRP £13.50, 150ML