The good, bad, and Ugg-ly
If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me - would we? Could we? So sang Barbra Streisand on her seminal hit The Way We Wore. At least, that's what it should have been called, what with the words being so damn apposite in respect of us summing up our biggest sartorial blunders.
Nobody can say it wasn't a colourful year. Prints ruled the catwalk, with Pucci enjoying a renaissance while younger London talents like Eley Kishimoto and Jonathan Saunders came into their own. Summer saw footwear go Technicolor, as London girls went wild for flip-flops in acid pinks, greens and yellows. Helped along by an ad campaign featuring Jennifer Lopez, Louis Vuitton's multicoloured Murakami bag was the most ubiquitous of the year - until Vanessa Feltz bought it.
Combat pants were everywhere at the start of the year, only to march out of our wardrobes as swiftly as they arrived - not because the war in Iraq made them tasteless, but because we got bored with them. But no other trouser came close to matching them for comfort, and so we spent the autumn in Seven jeans tucked into Marni thigh boots or Uggs.
Gucci's drainpipe trousers were enjoyed by the skinnies, but really it was the year of the skirt. The sawnoff denim mini was a favourite summer uniform, while for winter, micro-minis came courtesy of Marc Jacobs, Versace and H&M - worn with coloured tights to keep out the cold.
On the catwalk, the Sixties was a swinging trend, but it didn't translate well to the average woman. Roland Mouret interpreted it best; the high street did less well. Real women preferred less scary trends such as tweed, and Prada had a vintage year providing wearable Forties chic. The Fifties were also popular, with prom dresses flooding the high street and pretty pastel colours selling like hot fairy cakes.
And now, as we descend into a fug of grey marl trackie bottoms and comfy Gap jumpers until New Year's Eve, we must take the opportunity to pause, reflect and vow not to make as many fashion faux pas in 2004. Yeah, right.
