Rock It: Houndstooth
Houndstooth was the print that defined the larger than life '80s. Big hair pushed hairspray consumption into the upper echelons of excess, spandex jumped off the treadmill and onto the runway and our president was an unsuccessful actor. Life was great. And what really improved the quality of our existence were the incredibly bold prints of the era. Houndstooth in all its classic grandeur is making a funky comeback. Now the traditionally black and white pattern is taking on magenta, turquoise and daffodil hues to go from classic preppy to mall-ready punk. So embrace this vibrant print -- and everything it once stood for and everything it will come mean.
Stop It: Tweed
Dear Gentle Style Reader, tweed is not your friend. This is not the '40s, and you don't need to wear tweed in lieu of more luxurious fabrics (sacrificing for the war effort). Tweed is for stodgy withered matrons and stiff pruny old Principal No-Funs. Don't believe the hype -- that candy-colored tweed is in the Macy's Juniors section does not mean that it's not still tweed. You don't need to bow to the frugality and practicality of yesteryear. We live in an age of ruinous excess and we should be proud of our legacy. Drench yourself in the satins, silks and polyurethane blends that make our generation great.
