2008 was a very eclectic fashion year. We saw style swing left and right and come all the way back again. It seemed as if the fashion gods were restless all year and kept a continuous stream of new and unusual on the runways and in the department stores. Some were a swing and a miss, others we hope will stay around for awhile, and still others are trying to find their place and may develop into the next great trend.

To name but a few of the best trends we saw this past year, we loved what designers did with florals. These were not the daisies of little girl’s sundresses or the couch-cover flowers of the ‘70s. ‘08’s floral prints were bold in size, pattern and color. They were fun and yet refined enough to be seen on award shows, bridesmaid dresses and in boardrooms.

Ruffles were exceptionally well-done this year. They weren’t frou-frou. They were soft and feminine and added just the right texture and visual appeal to skirts and dresses.

Graphic prints were another one of our favorites. They had dimension and color topped off with just the right amount a refined edge. As tee’s, they gave skinny jeans a new look and were reminiscent of the best of the Madonna-era. As dresses and tunic tops they gave a bit of pizzazz to otherwise dull work wear.

Menswear and tuxedo coats for fall had a cut and line that made almost any figure look amazing. The style remained timeless in black and white, and introduced a whole new palette of gray.

Lace was hands-down fabric of the year. It took a giant leap from the bedroom and as a barely seen first layer under a jacket to a sophisticated stand alone top no longer limited by see-through material. It also was lovely as a pencil skirt, jacket and gown.

Color of the year: purple. Accessory of the year: layered bangle bracelets in a variety of colors and textures.

And now for the worst that we hope is gone to stay. Let’s start with the arts and crafts version of skirts that were covered in feathers and patches of laces and anything else left in the art box.

Another love-to-hate-it trend was skulls. They were okay on skateboards and snowboarding jackets but not on everything else imaginable including baby clothes, eveningwear and bags.

Architectural heels that defied gravity and kept your eyes locked on the wearer not because they were a fashion amazement but because, like a train wreck, you couldn’t look away knowing that she was about to go down simply because those shoes were never intended to be walked on is another glad-to-see-it-gone trend.

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