One of the hottest items at present are decorated shrugs and boleros (we can also include capelets). Gals buying these sometimes heavily sequined items are not waiting for the Holidays to wear them. For them the moment is now...daytime, clubtime, anytime).

The reintroduction of two new styling techniques... the gore skirt and belted waists for tops, cardigans (looking exceptionally good), dresses and jackets are of considerable importance. Both of these treatments are perfect to go forward with.

Metallics in the form of laminate, lurex yarns, sprays, and foil are adding to the overall Holiday luster. It is also de rigeur for belts, bags, and shoes. Metallics are stronger now than they have been for quite some time.

Another item continuing its reign is the gaucho. This month along with the gaucho we are seeing cropped full (almost baggy) styles versus the cropped lean styles of the past few seasons.

The strength of satin and other shiny textiles goes hand in hand with the prevalence of all that can be easily identified as retro or vintage. As mentioned in the last report, shoppers prefer mixing these items with street items such as denim bottoms, gauchos, or the new cropped baggy styles.

The most striking treatment for dresses in the use of the empire line. It is being shown, bought, and repeated by just about everyone.

We know that t-shirts are not exactly the most representative Holiday item but they are nevertheless out there as a gift choice and a resort item. Popular graphics include skulls (no crossbones), metallic effects, and ecological motifs that include trees, log cabins, and woodsy and barnyard animals such as owls, squirrels, chipmunks, antelope, moose, does, and reindeer.

Seasonless and timeless items and fabrics continue to be Hot news. Light weight cotton knits, flimsy and definitely fit for layering seem to be the outstanding proponent of this trend. This goes well with seasonless colors ( brights and pastels for both Spring and Fall) and items (such as cardigan sweater styles for Spring). We have many examples in this report from the likes of CC and Company and James Perse.

Raw edges or fraying continues to be in demand. Skirts, jackets, tops are still with us and have become part of what can broadly be called decoration. It is also part of what we call a message trend where distressed decoration whether it be fraying, rips, tears, wearing signals to others their stand, there faux history. The message she wants to convey is that she has been there, and has done that.

The uptown cowgirls is taking a hiatus for Holiday deliveries but has taken the sacred cowgirl oath to be back for Spring in a stronger way, prairie skirt and all.

The 3/4 sleeve jacket is the most popular. An interesting one was one where the sleeve is very wide and falls exactly to the hem of a cropped jacket giving the item the appearance of a cape. There are also many retro and vintage reproductions being shown. With all this attention to this category it has become the foundation of the season. Other jacket ideas seen were:

• holiday specific styles in brocade and velvet
• vintage classic trash looks with those frayed edges, spot wearing and shredding.
• classic styling in shrunken variations
• belted styles
• cropped styles that include shrugs
• dressier ones for evening, popular are the shawl and peaked lapel.

Embellishment is the overall key treatment for the holiday season and is found on all sorts of items from tops to pants. This look includes embroidery of all kinds, beading, sequins, lurex, and metallic and escorts street-wise trends of decorating with patches, appliqués, mending, shredding, ripping, and fraying.

color
• Brown continues to be a very strong basic color.
• Purple has replaced red as the Holiday color.
• With all that talk of metallics, silver being one of them, it would stand to reason that silver and gray becomes a educated choice for many items. Looks great in satin, jersey, and charmeuse
• Other colors that can fall under the purple banner such as lilac, lavender, mauve, grape, aubergine, and wine accompany purple through the Holidays and well into Spring.
• Jade green has risen to the and has inched its way into the designer bags and purses of shoppers.
• Pink tones that include antique, vintage, dusty are still important for vintage looks that look fresh alongside any of the brown offerings.