Fashion Focus 2004: Good-bye to trucker hats and hello to fedoras

Four girls walk together through the quad. Each is poised and confident. Each has her hair straightened to perfection. Each is wearing plaid.

Plaid? Is that not a faux pas reserved for lumberjacks and the fashionably disinclined? Not in 2003, it wasn't.

In fact, plaid was at the height of fashion last year, when Burberry's "nova check" plaid reached fruition after the fashion house reinvented the stuffy, wrapping paper-like print. This transformed it into a staple design which all clotheshorses coveted and acquired.

Shortly after Burberry shrouded jackets, headbands, pants, and even men's polo shirts in its "nova check" plaid, less expensive brands like Old Navy and Abercrombie introduced the design to their clothing lines, making it known to all that plaid was now trendy, with instructions to to wear it liberally.

"I definitely am a fan of the Burberry plaid," said Jenny Kahn, a freshman at Hopkins. "It's funny to think that plaid -- something that's normally ugly -- could become so popular and trendy!"

Another must-have item of 2003 were Ugg boots, the moccasin-like, oval-shaped suede footwear over which so many women -- and men -- were crazed. The Australian-based footwear brand first hit the West Coast in 1999, where celebrities and ordinary individuals snatched up the $185 plus boots. By 2003, the trend had spread throughout the country, with Ugg boots becoming so popular that the brand's online Web site was backordered by two months, and licensed retailers throughout the U.S. placed customers on waiting lists for the footwear. The boots are offered in original tan, dusty pink, sky blue, black and even an exterior of synthetic fur.

Fashion in 2003 also saw designers drawing from and creating clothing inspired by stereotypes of people. For example, the grunge-rocker look prevailed this past year, with wristbands, vintage-looking t-shirts, ripped jeans and high-tops becoming items all sorts of brands adopted, and upon which each company put its own unique spin.

From Urban Outfitters, the quintessential, mainstream alternative clothing store, to the more conservative, basic Abercrombie and Fitch, the grungy, "I found these clothes at the thrift store," look was omnipresent and ever so hip in 2003.

In fact, even such high-fashion, ultra-conservative designers as Chanel and Armani succumbed to the grunge-rocker craze, creating their own stylish renditions of wristbands and ripped jeans -- all, of course, at a high-fashion price tag to match.

Truckers also received much publicity in 2003, with celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Paris Hilton donning the broad-rimmed, oversized hats that truck drivers are said to wear. This trend galvanized further when the California-based brand Von Dutch introduced its ultra-stylish version of the hats, which are available in an enormous variety of materials, colors and prints. Soon, brands ranging from Puma to American Eagle to Christian Dior were offering the hats, with prices ranging from $5 to $500.

Terry cloth, soft fabric used to make towels, became a choice fabric for clothing manufacturers in 2003. Though the trend began with Gela and Pam, the Los Angeles-based designing duo behind Juicy Couture, the makers of the $200-plus sweat suits, designers from Prada to Express followed the trend, making the towel material into a truly fashionable ensemble. Britney Spears even wore one to her 2002 book signing.

Alas, in the world of fashion, trends are about as short-lived as the aforementioned star's recent marriage. Those of 2003 are no exception.

While Burberry clothing in general has staying-power, continuing to be stylish, garments conspicuously covered in the plaid pattern are no longer in vogue.

"For the spring, we didn't get as much in that was covered with the [plaid] pattern," said Victor Costangno, a sales associate at Boston's Saks Fifth Avenue. "What we did get from Burberry is more understated, more conservative, or just plain clothes without the pattern dominating."

While consumers need not toss out their plaid-covered scarves and earmuffs, steering clear of the pattern this spring will prevent one from falling victim to comments from those in the know.

Trucker hats are also on the way out this spring. Having nearly a year-long run in the crazed in-one-minute, out-the-next world of trends, these festive accessories -- no matter the brand -- won't be adorning heads so frequently in 2004. For further proof of this, recall Ashton Kutcher's comments at the 2003 Kid's Choice Awards, where, when asked why he had left the house without his famed trucker hat, he replied that they were now too common for use.

Still, the various star-inspired looks will remain strong in 2004, with the rocker-look managing to stay strong. After all, Americans have always idolized and emulated their favorite rockers.

More important than what's out for 2004 is what red hot styles and brands are to be watched and sought after in the new year.

For one, the fedora -- a bucket-like hat reminiscent of those worn by men in the "50s -- will become the new "in" hat of 2004. Already Ashton, P Diddy, Jennifer Lopez and Alicia Keys have been spotted sporting these hats. Moreover, with an array of brands manufacturing this new trend -- from Pucci to Kangol to Levis -- there are sure to be a wide variety of colors and styles from which to choose.

Also in 2004, color becomes the new black. Though black will be forever chic, turquoise, purple, hot pink, neon green, and any bright hue one can imagine will replace basic colors at every store from Barneys to J. Crew.

"We've gotten more colors for the spring than ever before," said Saks associate Costangno. "Even Theory -- a normally conservative, earth tone clothing line -- has sent us neon shirts and bright purple pants."

Also, move aside Ugg boots, as rain boots will become the footwear of choice this spring, with brands from Banana Republic to Emilio Pucci producing colorful, stylish versions of the age-old accessory. As reporter Lauren Mechling from The Wall Street Journal discovered, "they're coming out in everything from floral prints to psychedelic checkered prints, [with] people so high on them, they're sporting them on clear days."

Perhaps above all trends we'll see in 2004 is a role-reversal in fashion, with designers creating baggier clothes for women and tighter garments for men.

Though companies like Versace, Prada and Gucci have always created their men's lines to be form-fitting, even tight, other, more conservative companies, like Banana Republic, Aeropostale and Abercrombie will jump on the "metrosexual" bandwagon, tailoring their clothing to hug the bodies of their male clientele.

Similarly, these same companies have begun to create baggier clothing for women, especially pants.

"Baggy cargo pants for girls became pretty hot last year, but they're a must for 2004," said Costangno. Fitted in the rear, but tight around the ankles, these cargos can even become eveningwear when paired with a killer pair of stilettos.

So, to be truly fashionable this spring, cast aside the trucker hats, pop on a fedora and a brightly colored shirt, rock the tighter garbs if you're a guy and the looser pants if you're a girl and you'll be hip to the beat -- for this month, at least.