Moving Forward: To Heal America, We Need the ERA

Matt James' 'Bachelor' Cast: Everything We Know

Teleabortion: A Bitter Pill

How Marie Kondo Does Self-Care

Listen to the Best New Love Songs of 2021 (So Far)

The Best and Worst Fashion Trends of 2008

A look back at the good, the bad and the ugly this year in fashion.

Dec 12, 2008

Fabio Pettniari

From must-have styles to must-hate trends. Here is the year in fashion.

Fabio Pettniari

The Year in Fashion

JANUARY - Best
Khaki: Prep school khaki graduated from casual to runway. Here, Donna Karan Collection embraced an eco-friendly palette of sand, stone, and wood.

JANUARY - Worst
Bright Tights: There was a time when we were convinced that candy-colored hosiery looked good on grownups. That time has passed.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

FEBRUARY - Best
Resortwear: Marc by Marc Jacobs's colorful collection of graphic-print tunics and tops was enough to stave off S.A.D. until spring.

FEBRUARY - Worst
Leggings: Worn as tights: fine. Worn as pants, '80s-style: like, gag us with a spoon.

The Year in Fashion

MARCH - Best
Lotsa layered bangles and bracelets: Burberry, Oscar de la Renta, Lacroix, Pucci. If you could still raise your arm, you weren't wearing enough!

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

MARCH - Worst
Pockets on shoes: People, have we learned nothing from cargo pants?!

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

APRIL - Best
Sheer: Fashion's elegant minimalism - soft-edge architectural shapes in textured silks and barely there colors. Very zen.

APRIL - Worst
Architectural Heels: So cute, but so deadly. A woman should only have to learn how to walk in heels once in her life.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

MAY - Best
The Maxi Dress: The full length '70s style sundress was the new staple for the girls on the go this spring. It was the perfect outfit for any occasion and we saw it paired with everything from sexy sandals to causal flipflops.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

MAY - Worst
The arts & crafts couture trend: Skirts and dresses covered in feathers and mirrors: pretty, Sitting down in one: not pretty.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

JUNE - Best
Ruffles: An emblem of both girl power and retro glam-rock, ruffles ruled! Whether froufrou for evening or formidable for work, ruffles look modern in black or barely-there shades.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

JUNE - Worst
Knee-High Gladiator Sandals: Cute on the runway? Yes. But, this trend is just too much for the sidewalk. Opt for the ankle length unless you're on your way to the Colosseum to slay a few tigers.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

JULY - Best
Blooms Day: Designers were on fertile ground and in a garden state of mind with these lush colorful looks of vibrant flowers and retro shapes.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

JULY - Worst
Dark Fashion: Black bob, black lipstick? Why not just get a T-shirt that says, "I hate my parents."

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

AUGUST - Best
Fall's IT coats arrived in stores in August: Smart girls swung by the mall on their way home from the beach - there's nothing like cashmere and Coppertone working together.

James Devaney

The Year in Fashion

AUGUST - Worst
High Tops: We can all understand the need for some extra ankle support at the gym. But when it comes to street wear, this retro revival should have been left in the '80s.

the best and worst fashion trends of 2008

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

SEPTEMBER - Best
Menswear: We loved seeing pants strut their stuff on the runway. This year's styles have assumed mythic proportions, with big buttons, giant cuffs, and full-blown pleats.

SEPTEMBER - Worst
Extreme Details: Sculptural styles are a definite do but, worrying about de-puffing your sleeves, collar, waist or anything else during your morning commute - no thank you.

OCTOBER - Best
Ultra Violet: Forget power red. The hues making all the news were every shade of purple.

OCTOBER - Worst
It's Halloween - and we all love to dress up. But the ultimate fashion don't this month is any Halloween costume that begins with the word "naughty" as in: naughty nurse, naughty bunny, naughty nun, naughty secretary.

NOVEMBER - Best
Lace: Frilly yet fearless. From boudoir to boardroom to dance floor, lace was the connecting thread.

NOVEMBER - Worst
Yes, Nov. 1st may have been the Mexican holiday The Day of the Dead but skull fashion is so out.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

DECEMBER - Best
Flash Your Brights: Baby it's cold outside but that's no reason to dress drab. Get precious with gem-toned trend.

Dan Lecca

The Year in Fashion

DECEMBER - Worst
Huge Hats: We love the hat trend but sometimes there is a such a thing as too much of a good trend. This December, keep hats fab, functional and frill-free.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below