I hear you, Angie. Ruffles are coming on a bit strong these days. I think I am done buying clothes with ruffles as well, at least until the ruffle-mania subsides. And I will enjoy wearing my ruffles as much as I like.

I love ruffles too, I have been indulging in all the pretty variations available at the moment, but I think I will stop. One can have too many ruffled items. But I will also still wear the ones that I have.

My next obsession are zippers. Anything with prominent ones catches my attention at the moment.

THANK YOU. I am so tired of ruffles I could spit. It’s one of the main reasons I haven’t enjoyed the Ann Taylor makeover; they are all ruffles and nothing else. I only have 3 layering pieces with ruffles, and even those seem like too much. I’ve avoided buying any tops with them, which leaves me with no tops to buy.

I have never really sported ruffles, so I’m enjoying this trend. I’ve bought two new woven tops with the detailing (one sleeveless and the other long-sleeved). I’m sure I’ll also grow tired of the trend, but at this point, I still dig it.

Ruffles are still very big in Germany, too. Lately, that meant either the classics or the ruffles. I like ruffles when they look sort of “cool”, not romantic. So I bought quite a few tops and blouses. Mexx has very nice chiffon sleeveless tops that are similar to the JCrew top you posted. i wear this top in blue with pencil skirts and my suits for work.
I agree that something new would be nice, just for a change.

Except for a cardi with a modest ruffle detail I’ve not endulged but had intentions of doing so because I think ruffles would be flattering to my figure. I haven’t actively pursued them as I didn’t really need more tops. I’ve been trying to be very picky and if I see the right piece, I’ll probably get it, especially if it is a no-iron buttondown shirt or blouse. Does anyone else remember when you could buy a shirt or blouse with ruffles that could be removed? They had buttonholes down the middle that buttoned onto the blouse.

So interesting you brought this up.I meant to post that on your blog about Ann Taylor last week because I thought they had too many ruffles their current collection. I LOVE ruffles. I spent the past three years looking for the perfect ruffle high neck top and could not find it, and all of a sudden in the past three months there are ruffles on EVERYTHING.Big ones, little ones, and too many not-subtle ones. It is good in the one way that I will now be able to find any ruffle I like, which I will wear even when ruffles are not “in” but I can see how this is a problem with folks who don’t dig ruffles because even I am ruffled-out when I go into stores now.

I love ruffles, but like you Angie, I’m getting a little tired of them. I will enjoy the ruffled items I have in my closest, but give adding new ruffled items to my wardrobe a rest for a while.

Ha, you and Heidi, huh? (A designer on Project Runway got total flak for designing two ruffle dresses intended for the INC line. I personally liked one of the dresses and was surprised to see the jurors be so appalled by the ruffles…)
I still like my ruffles and wear them, but I agree with you that it’s just been overdone and the stores are flooded with ruffle-y items…

Yes, very overdone. I am ready for something new. Nice to see, so many others agree. Thanks for your posts Angie, look forward to them daily!!

I adore ruffles, mainly because I don’t have that much of a chest. I can see where those of us with bigger “girls” might want to indulge in them with great care.

My biggest peeve this fall is the lack of anything other than pencil skirt. Pencil skirts are a hard thing for me to wear and I resent the fact that 95% of the skirts I am seeing are pencils and the other 5% are full and super short. Really, what is a pear shaped gal who needs new bottoms and who does not wear pants (other than jeans) to do?

Sigh… I like ruffles. I have one purple ruffle blouse that I really like and fits me so well and I get many compliments when I wear it. And I’m going to continuing wearing it and enjoying it. I may not be done with ruffles because I suppose I caught onto the trend too late. I think plaid is going way overboard and I plan to NOT take part in that. It’s everywhere and it’s way too mainstream for my tastes. Passing on plaid.

I really like bows and I heard that they were out for fall? That makes me sad… but my bows aren’t going anywhere.

I’m sure I’m in the minority in that I don’t like ruffles, except small ones in small doses. But regardless of personal preference, it surprises me to see so many tops with medium-to-large ruffles. There are so many busty women out there and it’s easy for the look to go wrong when you have a chest!

I agree. I like ruffles in small amounts and I will continue wearing the few items I have, but I am definitely not buying any more for a while. I also feel that many of the ruffled items that are in stores now will date very soon, because they are kind of over the top.

Subtle ruffles are a huge part of my style, however we are taking a break at the moment due to the numbers of ruffle items available at present. Hopefully my style will evolve this season because of this decision.

I love ruffles too but I prefer them to be confined to accessories. I still enjoy ruffled bags and shoes and can see myself continuing to enjoy them for a long time to come. I just don’t feel that there is any place on my body that is going to be flattered by ruffles. This is not to say I want them to go away completely though. I love the dimension and texture they give an outfit and even if I can’t wear them on my well-endowed frame, I still like them on others. I just wish they were scaled back to adorning only a significant minority of clothes. It is understandable why many clothes are not busty-friendly, otherwise all tops would be plain boring v-necks, so I have learned to live with that. I just wish they would come up with some new ornamentation.

I can see how the ruffles are over done now. I have one blouse with what I think is a subtle ruffle, and I have 2 of the J Crew tanks with the rows of small ruffles down the front. That is definately enough ruffles for me.

I like them but am tired of them too. I noticed on project runway one of the contestants said he felt ruffles were too often used to cover up bad construction. I wonder if that is so. I can only think of one ruffled item in my closet right now and it is a well-constructed blouse, but I have tried on many sad, droopy ruffled cardigans and have fallen in love with none of them.

Oh, and I’m with Lissie on the pencil skirts. I’m starting to feel dated in my knee-length a-line skirts, but I know they are the most flattering shape on me. May I suggest a post on this topic? I would find it very helpful.

It’s interesting to come back and read everyone’s replies. To me, there is an important distinction that needs to be stressed: I like seeing ruffles in people’s outfits and I don’t think anyone needs to apologize for liking them and wearing them. BUT, I think that the stores are carrying far too much of them and not enough of other details and styles. That is where I am overdosing on them — there needs to be more options and variety!

Love the headline of your post, Angie!

And I agree with the sentiment as well. Right now, ruffles in stores are too much of a good thing. I’m with Tanya in loving zippers, but now I fear that zippers will soon go the way of ruffles, totally overkill, and we’ll all be sick and tired of them!

While I do love ruffles and will continue to wear them ….I am not purchasing anymore at the moment….I have plenty!!

Like every trend, retailers oversaturate the market with whatever is HOT at the moment, until we are at the point of nauseum:)

I agree as well! I love my ruffled items, but I think we have Retail Ruffle Overdose lately. I am not buying anything else ruffled either. It’s just too much.

I have never been a fan of ruffles, and have noticed that they’re available in abundance these days. Didn’t realize it had reached epidemic proportions!

I guess I only wear ruffles a couple of times a week, so I’m not overdone on the trend. I still like them and am happy to learn the trick ruffles along the neckline to draw attention away from my middle section. But I suppose that trick can be done in other ways (necklaces, for example). Its just that I just learned it through ruffles this season.

I haven’t noticed any ruffle epidemic in India. But I’ve seen lots of plaid (and purchased some). A few months back, I did buy two items with ruffles, one a red dress and the other a pair of shoes. I couldn’t bring myself to wear the shoes, so those have been exchanged for a simpler pair. My tomboy-ish tendencies are still around!

To add ..I am ALREADY tired of plaid….it has only just begun I fear:(

I have never been a fan of ruffles on myself. I am petite with a relatively large bust, and I find ruffles seem to “young” on me, as well as calling attention to places I’d rather not have it. Looking for tops this season has been very frustrating. Everything is either ruffles or plaid. Or ruffled plaid.

I still love ruffles, probably because we haven’t been bombarded with them over here (yet). And because I was a little late catching on – didn’t realize at first that a ruffled top or blouse would make a great layering piece, adding interest to an outfit without even having to try.

I’m going shopping on Saturday, and I’ll keep an eye out for them, but up until now, I have only seen a few ruffled items in the stores in Belgium.

Well, I am in the same age bracket as Joy. I DO remember those button on and off ruffles. It made ironing much easier during the days with very little wash and wear.

I was just thinking about this very thing yesterday at The Limited (a place I rarely get to because of its location) THE RUFFLES ARE OUT OF CONTROL! Every shirt was ruffled and I had to litterally stop and think to myself – is this normal? Guess not. I walked out with a very non-ruffled cropped jean jacket. (we can check that off my list, Angie.

I LOVE ruffles, love that they are all over everywhere and I don’t care that they are a tend. I will keep buying them and keep wearing them even when they are off the radar…sorry for the opposite opinion. Lesa

I agree–stop with the ruffles! They’re not my taste, and as one of those well-endowed ladies Angie mentioned, I cannot wear them without looking like I’m an extra in a movie about pirate wenches. Please please please, stores, give us something else to wear!

I am anti-ruffle, and not just for this season. A few years ago I decided to let my young daughters wear the ruffles & smocking (another designer peeve).

I am a fan of lace though. It is more grown-up and I appreciate seeing that detail.

I have personally not indulged much in the ruffle trend although I do appreciate it – I probably only have 3 or 4 ruffled items total. Honestly, I just couldn’t find many options that were flattering on my body type. I actually just bought an AT sheath dress featuring ruffles this past weekend and now I am having second thoughts about such a “trendy” purchase. It’s always frustrating when one particular trend over-saturates the market – especially when it doesn’t work for you!!

Where can I get some of those ruffled underwear!?!?! I must have some of those!

While retailers are rife with ruffles, they seem to be scarce on the street. I fear many retailers might have risked too much on ruffles. It will be interesting to see how many of these ruffled styles we find on the sales rack before the end of the year.

The only ruffled things I indulged in were about 5 of those J-crew sleeveless tops. They are great, but they have fulfilled all my desires for ruffles and now I have no need for anything else ruffly in my closet.

There are some ruffles here in Australia, but also a lot of pleats and interesting tailoring. It doesn’t seem to have gone too overboard here (at least where I live). There are a few tiered skirts here too which are lovely but probably a bit impractical for office-wear but would look lovely wearing out for cocktails etc. I would say they are a trend.
Personally I like them to add interest but I agree I hate it when something becomes so mainstream it becomes boring. I have a small bust so they look OK on me, but don’t wear them much because they can be a bit “fru-fru”. I have some nice sewing patterns so I might try to sew some summer tops to add a bit of femininity and interest to my wardrobe.

I think ruffles will look very dated in about 2 seasons and then what will we do with all these frilly tops? I, like other posters, have only one top with “modest ruffle detailing” around the collar and the bottom of the sleeves. Very subtle. Bring back elegant, streamlined and classic looks!

I totally agree, Angie and I am so sick of seeing ruffles in stores and on every other person on the street that I could puke. Don’t get me wrong, the women for the most part look good wearing them, but there is such a thing as fashion overexposure and overkill. I find them too fussy & frou-frou to begin with, and I only bought one ruffled item (not because I liked the ruffles but because I loved the color & print).

Are retail buyers & mass-merchandise designers just a bunch of pied-pipers without an original thought? I cannot believe how everyone and their mother is offering up ruffles! Can’t wait for a more edgy look, or a simpler style, but I’m afraid even that is beginning to get over-exposed (as in moto jackets & studs).

This was interesting. A special thank you to those chiming in from other parts of the world, letting us in on what’s going on in your retail world. I guess it’s not just me who is all ruffled out!

To Kristen’s point, I’d like to reiterate that a season with ruffles is a good thing if it’s not overkill. As long as there is enough variety at store level, all styles are good. That’s why I don’t think that ruffled tops will date. They have always been a fringe fashion statement and hopefully in future they will stay that way.

I love ruffles … in small doses. i was at Anne Taylor and the sales girl tried to sell me on a ruffled shirt to wear under my ruffled jacket. There’s a point when ruffles go from adorable to Pirate Shirt ala Seinfeld, and this suggestion veered dangerously close.

I’m from the Philippines and they are hot here, too. I guess it’s better than the plaid flood that happened before all the ruffles invaded us.

-meream

ugh, YES! Enough with the ruffles, they look silly on me.

Love ruffles, but yes, one must tread lightly, lest one look like a pirate!

If you look @ http://www.softsurroundings.com they have a lovely black vest, with a silk chiffon ruffle that can be removed (it is buttoned on).

I feel pretty silly looking when I try on ruffled clothing at the stores. Must evoke too many painful memories of the ruffles and taffeta of my childhood:)

I was in Korea a year ago and ruffles were pretty popular then. At the time, I thought it was just “Korean-style” since I didn’t see the Japanese and Chinese women wearing them, but was soon dismayed when I saw the ruffles showing up in stores in the U.S.!