Last week’s Globe and Mail had a great article on what the year ahead will hold. Apparently fashion and design “is rife with scaly things, one-piece wonders and plenty of gloss”. Let’s take a closer look at what this means for our shopping and wardrobe adventures:

• Shocking shades – pink, purple and green join last year’s yellow and cobalt blue. Fantastic. it’s high time we had options other than neutrals.
• Acid wash denim – for jeans, trenches, dresses and swimwear. I’ve never liked acid wash, so I shall be bypassing this trend.
• Garden State – say goodbye to dainty floral designs and hello to huge hydrangea prints. I’m reserving my judgment until I see how this trend has been interpreted.
• Size matters – billowing sack dresses are bigger than ever. I’m used to the look and enjoy the silhouette when it’s worn in the right way. It’s a fashion forward and ultra comfortable alternative to body conscious silhouettes.
• Shoulder pads – I can’t go there again. I’ll leave this fad to the youngsters to enjoy for their very first time.
• Sheer delights – it’s the start of the “see through” trend and I’m intrigued. I enjoy delicate fabrics when they are contrasted with sturdier ones because it’s feminine and robust at the same time.
• Romper room – jumpsuits and all-in-one playsuits are hip again. Oh dear. We’ll think twice about needing the loo if we wear these numbers.
• Funky footwear – lots of colour blocking, stubby toes and sky-high platforms. Another disappointing footwear season.
• Blazer of glory – blazers with tipped lapels and embroidered crests make their preppy return. Love it. Uniforms are underrated.
• Flashdance faces – black ringed eyes, goopy gloss and heavy handed make-up are the “it” look. Awful. I’m sticking to my subtle 30 second make-up routine.

You will recognize colour and volume, which also featured in the fashion buzzwords for 2008, as common themes for the year ahead.

Beyond fashion, you’ll be in vogue if you live in a modern, chalet-inspired interior, eat locally produced food, cook with copper pots, install a lift in your home and make North Africa your top place to visit this year. For better or for worse, 2008 is full of ‘80’s excess. I’m sure we’ll have a lot to say about what we loved and loathed at the end of this year.

Hot-off-the-press colourblock footwear from Nordstrom’s 08 Spring collection. I can’t say they’re my cup of tea.

Last week The Seattle Times confirmed that Swedish “high fashion low cost” giant H&M plans to open not one, but three stores in the greater Seattle area:

• University Village (which we knew)
• Southcenter mall in Tukwila (their largest store in Seattle)
• 520 Pike Tower downtown (great news)

The article points out that the chain stores are expected to open in Autumn 2008 instead of Spring. This makes the wait for Seattleites a little longer, but is well worth it if three stores are in the pipeline instead of the original one.

After all the hype I’ve created I hope that the Seattle stores are high on H&M’s priorities. I’ve shopped at H&M in Asia, Europe and America and the stores are not created equal. As is true for all fashion chains, the best merchandise goes to their top stores. There’s only one way to find out, so roll on Autumn and let’s see what they have to offer.

Storing necklaces in a jewelry box is not the best solution unless…

1. there are compartments big enough to hold each necklace separately and
2. the full contents of the box is visible at all times.

I’ve found jewelry box storage for necklaces to cause endless tangling and chaos. I forget what I have and refrain from wearing anything that requires straightening out. Ideally, necklaces would be hung tangle-free in an area where you can see them as you get dressed.

I have an inexpensive, convenient solution for my everyday fashion necklaces. I’ve hung a tie-rack horizontally on the wall of my walk-in wardrobe and each hook holds a few necklaces. A hook rack will also work and so will hanging necklaces on nails on the inside of your closet door. No untangling, effortless access, constant visibility and easy accessorizing. What a pleasure.

I much prefer the aesthetic of pretty jewelry boxes, but the messy inaccessibility of my necklaces drove me batty.  Seeing as I don’t wear earrings or bracelets, my jewelry box is home to my rings and nothing else.

USA Today confirmed that Sunday’s Golden Globe award ceremony has been canceled due to the ongoing writers strike. They point out that this is miserable for fashion designers who rely on red carpet events to expose their work and that the cancellation would have a financially draining ripple effect. Make–up artists who make the bulk of their income during award season are out of a job, and non-profits such as “clothes off our back” (who auction off red carpet gowns for charity) can kiss their inventory goodbye.

It is a pity that the designers’ efforts won’t be seen at the Globes, but all is not lost. Well known red carpet dress designer Monique Lhuillier astutely pointed out that dressing celebrities for movie premieres will gain importance if fewer award ceremonies are in the pipeline. There’s also the rest of the award season to look forward to. Hopefully there will be ample opportunity for designers to showcase their work at the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys this year.

I’ll miss reporting on my top red carpet picks at this year’s Golden Globes. Perhaps a glimpse of last year’s favourites will bring back a spot of Hollywood glamour this month.