Top 10 fashion moments of 2008
Valentino retires
When the Italian designer took his last runway bow in January, the world became a little less glamorous. He was the last of the great Paris couturiers (Chanel, Givenchy and Dior long ago lost their founders). And although ex-Gucci designer Alessandra Facchinetti picked up the reins, she was dismissed in October after just three collections. Now, the team behind the successful accessories line is in charge and the future of the label which once counted Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Nan Kempner and so many ladies who lunch as fans remains to be seen.
By Booth Moore / Times Fashion Critic (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images for 20th Century fox)
‘Gossip Girl’ is the new ‘Sex and the City.’ Skinny jeans are out and boyfriend jeans are in. So is pregnancy!
Fashion gets political
Michelle Obamas everywoman J. Crew ensembles and divisive Narciso Rodriguez election night dress (pictured). Sen. Hillary Rodham Clintons sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits. Gov. Sarah Palins rimless Kawasaki eyeglass frames, red peep-toe Naughty Monkey shoes and $150,000 wardrobe malfunction. Fashion is a campaign issue. (AFP / Getty Images)
Heels get dangerous
In April, Gwyneth Paltrow goes globe-trotting in 7-inch stilettos to promote her film Iron Man and (surprise!) the paparazzi take tons of pictures of her hobbling down red carpets. Meanwhile, at the fall-winter runway shows, the heels are so precarious that models at Prada and Alexander McQueen stumble and fall. (Elisabetta Villa / Getty Images)
Pregnancy is chic ...
The Hermès Kelly bag rose to fame in 1956 when Grace Kelly used it to hide her pregnancy from photographers. But now, stars let it all hang out in magazines (Milla Jovovich, Christina Aguilera), on the red carpet (Cate Blanchett; Angelina Jolie, pictured with Brad Pitt), even while performing on the concert stage (Jennifer Lopez). Then they proceed to lose their baby weight in record time, just to make the rest of us feel that much worse about ourselves. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)
Goth returns
Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior do black lip gloss, L.A. fashion house Rodarte shows slashed knits on the runway, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York hosts a Gothic: Dark Glamour exhibit and legions of young fans embrace the vampire movie Twilight. Black is the new black. Which means the future has to be bright. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)