After spending quite a few summers watching I Love the 80s on VH1, I am well aware that Members Only jackets were the North Face fleeces of their time. With this in mind, you can't imagine my surprise when I found out that Members Only has struck again to coincide with the reemergence of other eighties fashions, such as leg warmers and leggings.

The only problem with these new Members Only jackets is that they have tried to spice up the original jacket instead of sticking to the tried and true form.

The first problem with this jacket is the length. It only hits at the natural waist, which basically eliminates any of the advantages of wearing a jacket. The second problem is the price, $145. These jackets shouldn't cost above 100 dollars unless "when you put it on, something happens."

My advice to fashionistas looking for a vintage 80s styles is to go on Ebay.com. Most of the Members Only jackets, such as the one below, are reasonably priced and hit at the hip, as a jacket should.

In the spirit of Halloween, I have brought to light the recent runway trend of skeletons. I'm being serious, and no, I'm not referencing the models.

As part of their autumn-winter '08 and even spring '09 pre-collections, designers like Rodarte, Narciso Rodriguez, Alexander McQueen, Christian Lacroix are not only putting their heart and soul into their pieces, but also their bone structure. X-ray images are showing up in the high fashion scene, whether it's a necklace, like Lacroix's rib cage accessory below, or a full on internal image, like McQueen's skin tight suit.



Christian Lacroix

Alexander McQueen

Narciso Rodriguez


It seems like McQueen especially feels comfortable in, in the words of a great Scrubs episode, Bone City. His winter collection features this $1,295.00 knit military dress, pictured below.

Skulls and crossbones, made especially popular by Ed Hardy (PLEASE, check out these ridiculous Hardy men's boxer briefs for a scare) started appearing in '06 with celebs like Lindsay Lohan rocking skull rings, adorned belts and bags, but it seems the crossbones trend has given way to the full on skeletal system. If you're looking to follow this trend, steer clear of outdated skulls and opt instead for bone colors, edgy lace and black and white prints.

Want an affordable fix on this new trend? Try a Marc Jacobs bone colored key pouch, only $68 on shopbop.com. I'm also a fan of this Silence & Noise back tank at Urban Outfitters with it's lacey detail that draws attentions to your shoulders.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, FASHIONISTAS!

--Nikki

There is a current trend in the fashion world that I, being a woman myself, almost hate to admit. It seems that female designers today are starting to lose their touch, while male designers are producing fabulous, classy, and modern fashions to make up for it.

I am obviously not making this observation to serve a sexist purpose. I feel bad that I must go against my home girls like Diane von Furstenberg and Celine. However, if they continue to create gaudy, ill-fitting garments then someone has to tell them to step up their game against the boys.

Take the Barbara Tfank gown on the right as opposed to the Brian Reyes dress on the left, both from the designer's fall 2008 ready-to-wear collections
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Both dresses are made of a similar fabric and carry the same belted silhouette that has become very popular for cocktail dresses in recent years. However, where Reyes' piece is modern, edgy, and flattering, Tfank has created a shapless gown that no young person would be caught dead in. The dress looks so boxy on this model, and would on anyone with a decent figure.

Reyes has scored a bull's eye with his gorgeous, sexy cocktail dress, and Tfank seems to have completely missed the mark with her piece.

Another trend observed in the difference between male and female designers is displayed by comparing the Celine dress on the left to the Calvin Klein piece on the right.

Both designers have created dresses with volume. However, Klein's gown adds the volume where it still remains flattering to the model's body. The dress made by Celine has extra fabric in all of the wrong places, hiding the model's figure and creating an undesired silhouette.

I am not saying that all designing from the female spectrum has gone to shit. Some big name business women, such as Donna Karen and Erin Fetherston, are upholding our reputation with sleek new looks and trends that will carry through the decades. On the other hand, there are other female designers who should consider going back to the basics.

Creating fashion is not all about who is wearing the most eye-catching pieces that will get you noticed, it is about dressing o flatter your body and make you feel relaxed and still sexy. This is why I think male designers are stepping up to the plate and creating these great looks. They are dressing their models in the clothes that they love to see women in, which ironically usually end up being the most comfortable and becoming.

If all women, not just fashion designers, could digress from this need to be the most trendy and flashy, the world would be a much more simple place with a lot less ruffles.

-- Beth Ann Downey