Top 10 Fashion Trends Begging for a Comeback

Posted at 5:00 AM Nov 30, 2009

By Kathleen Willcox

"Turn to the left. Fashion! Turn to the right. Aaaaawaaaaaaaawwwwwww, FASHION! Beep beep."

Sometimes I feel like the catwalk is one giant revolving door with which tricksy designers hypnotize the drooling public. I mean, how many times can we see shoulder pads and cigarette pants dust themselves off from their brief snooze in the closet before crying "Uncle!" and just shop the sales racks at Sears for the rest of our weary days?

I mean, if designers are too lazy to come up with truly innovative new ways to tailor items that we can use to attractively protect ourselves from the elements, the least they could do is recycle some kick-ass trends.

Below, a round-up of fashion re-runs I'd actually like to see crowding the racks at H&M, Forever 21 and Tarjay.

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10. The Monocle

Technically a corrective lens, the monocle was (and still is!) an opportunity to look sassy, studious and quirky all at once. It's like reading Proust in a short skirt and a buttoned-up top without all the bother and forethought. Bring it!

9. Motoring Veils

Back when going on a "motor trip" seemed as exciting as boarding a spaceship, women would prepare entire outfits around the event, as if they were ready to jet off the moon. One practical piece they donned that I could certainly use the next time I strap myself into a convertible is the fabulous set of goggles and veils women would put on (and somehow manage to still look elegant) to protect themselves from dust, flying bugs and other unpleasantries that still exist and always manage to find their way into my eyeballs and wind-whipped n' slapped 'do when I hit the road sans roof.

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8. The cape

Oh, mama: the cape evokes high drama, Dracula, Little Red Riding Hood, danger, knights on white horses--its conflicting associations rival only the bra! And since it's arguably less important to our day-to-day life than the old boob container, the classic cape has been off the fashion map for way too long. It's time to bring back the knee skimming, red velvet, button free, highly impractical, visually dramatic cape. It's up to you if you want to exude the sado or maso vibe.

7. The Folding Fan

Whether made from silk or beautifully decorated paper, the fans available for mass consumption these days are but a whimper of an echo of the insanely gorgeous works of utilitarian art that women used to carry. They were often as singular as handbags are today and as indicative of personal style. And it's still hot, people! Until the brainiacs of Silicon Valley figure out how install central air in Planet Earth, there's still a big market for fans. It's just that no one wants to buy the fugly ones made from paper and plastic that melt on your car windshield and work better as emergency Kleenex than cooling devices.

6. Charm Bracelets

Yes, cheesy little girls (myself included) still get cheesy little charm bracelets when they're about 7, and they're expected to add "charms" as they get older. Invariably lost or tossed to the back of the jewelry chest, I think it's time we reconsidered them. Part of the problem with CBs is their retro associations with 1950s femininity and all that it implies. But the concept is fabulous: grab a simple silver or gold chain, and strap on little trinkets to memorialize important incidents in your life. No one's saying you gotta strap a mini-Tower of Pisa on there--why not a beer tab from the can of Pabst you bought right before you met the love of your life, or your dog's expired tag from last year? Just don't call it a charm bracelet.