"And it was so important in so many different proportions. With the [shoe] bootie . . . it was just huge."
But many of this year's fashion choices left self-appointed stylistas shaking their heads.
Those bendable, colorful Crocs were deemed aesthetically atrocious, yet they became a major leader in footwear. Even President Bush was spotted wearing black Crocs with icky black socks. He's no style icon, but people talked and bought the shoe anyway.
And then there is that unlikely It Bag, Vera Bradley. The quilted floral satchels actually rivaled Longchamps with area suburban teens.
Ugg boots remained on the radar after almost three years in the fashion eye. Nordstrom sold out shipments as fast as the store got them (I know; I'm trying to track down a chocolate-brown pair). Despite their furry insides and the disapproval of fashion mavens, Uggs became a year-round shoe as young women, imitating starlets like Kate Hudson and Lindsay Lohan, rocked them with flimsy spaghetti-strapped dresses during the summer.
Speaking of shoes, the flat - whether the real Tory Burch deal or a reasonable Nine West facsimile - was more sought-after than the round-toe pump. This makes me chuckle, as it's proof that women are tired of having their feet pinched.
At the beginning of the year, the skinny jean was still riding on its hype from the previous fall. By September, however, its popularity had simply evaporated, to be replaced by wide-legged dark denim. Oh, joy! (I finally found a pair on sale for $15 from Mix It at J.C. Penney.)
"Those dark wide-legged jeans helped with the retro glamour of the '80s," said Leehe Fai, owner of the Center City boutique bearing her name. "We saw women pairing them with dark neon colors. It was retro and fabulous."
