If your personal style is more of-the-moment than classic, that means update with a few, inexpensive key looks, and emphasis the cutting-edge ones that will take a bit longer to spread to the main stream.

The trend gone mad right now is lacing. from lace-back boots to corset inspired romantic blouses- anything that ties up is "it". So don't bother with a pricey top designer version because next season it will be totally dated. Instead, go with a cool designer look-alike.

"The fashion Ford" of this season is a dramatically laced-front, black blouse by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche. Be thrifty on the obvious trend and consider a particularly fetching Zara version that's obviously inspired by this blouse of the season and then splurge on a designer staple, like lean, black pants to wear with it and everything else!

Covet more up and coming trends that we know aren't in your working wardrobe, yet!

Why?

Because this new crop of too cute trends are a blast from style past.

The best part of these European street styles is that if you can't find them at your local mall, you can sure find them in vintage shops or on eBay. Then again, they're sooo fresh, you may want to scoop up a top designer splurge right now!

Fast forward to retro redo. Be the first to rediscover:

Culottes, Gauchos, and Knickers- We can't stop cooing over how darn cute these look right now. If the Jean Paul Gaultier clever culottes, Louis Vuitton denim culottes, the Max Mara salt and pepper tweed gaucho, or the burnt orange Keenan Duffy gaucho pant are out of your league, keep your eyes peeled for lesser-priced denim versions in the junior department and gabardine knickers at H & M. Want to fake some knickers? Do the Prada thing and tuck pants into a great pair of.

Slouchy Boots-Tight ankles have been around long enough. Give it up for a gutsy pair of slouchy, droopy midcalf boots that ask to hold a drapey pair of pants.

Skinny Pants- Lot's of ankle details, like shirring, slit sides, or the double-wow draped pants at Gucci, or the super slinky shirred drainpipe pants at Catherine Malandrino.

Chunky Sweaters- Wonderful, voluminous, floppy, sweaters with more than a hint of hand-knitted embellishment. There's nothing more now than the Stella McCartney super-textured sweater or an oversized Missoni zigzag pattern that welcomes an exposed shoulder. Plus, they look fantastic over a skinny pair of pants!

Capes- Swing out, sweet sister, shed that shawl and get dramatic. Do as Marc Jacobs does, wear a mile-long knit scarf with a knee-length cape or try a crocheted capelet a la Burberry. Every town is now Cape Town!

All-In-Ones- Jumpsuits in every incarnation from flight suits, corsets, one-piece tuxedos, tailored jackets with legs, fakes that look like 2-piece dressing to whatever style you can slip into in a snap found a version on almost every runaway, including Hugo Boss, Julien MacDonald, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, and Diane Von Furstenberg. Got the picture? Drink one less glass of water and you'll find all the fashion you need in an all-in-one.

Opaque Hose- After seasons of bare legs and fishnet stockings, opaque and textured hose look so right again. Don't cop out on style with this one--- funk up the obvious. Valentino shows black opaque hose with gold boots and good-taste classics. Bright white opaque hose at Keenan Duffy graphically awakens a.

Fluffy Mini Skirt- Top the short list but keep the girly feeling fresh, not tarty. The flirty mini skirt is the perfect young look that has legs into next spring 2003.

About last season's peasant look? Cleverly mix just one element with something fresh and you'll stretch it's trendiness a bit longer.

---October 7, 2002

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