Spring Fashion: Ruffle Mania!

--By Kim Moshtaghi

Ruffle Wrap Dress
$59.99 (was $130-- save 54%!)
Available at: bananarepublic.com

Ruffles isn’t just a potato chip brand anymore—ruffles mean fashion. Ruffles are all over New York Fashion Week 2009, but this trend hasn’t left since fall 2008. So, before you go putting away last season’s stuff-- think again. The ruffle trend is here to stay in a more powerful flirtatious way. This trend, which is simply made by cinched material, is adding a lot of spunk to clothing and accessories. I have always liked this reoccurring trend because of how easily it transforms a white crisp shirt to a powerful, fashionable shirt with attitude. With variations ranging from small to big ruffles, there is a ruffle piece for everybody! I have found this season’s best ruffle pieces to share with you.

Although, having seen some sneak peeks of what’s to come, I can say that there are many fashion trends reoccurring for spring, but right now is really all about the 3 B’s: Bigger, Bolder and Brighter. Ruffles have gotten bolder and less symmetrical just following the natural fashion trend. Remember, this season there is no rules! I have noticed less predictability in shapes, lines, cuts and accessories. But, one thing is for sure, you can’t flaunt this season’s clothing with a meek attitude. There is nothing shy about spring 2009, so gear up for a confidence boost and some sexy fun clothes. Be careful not to be overwhelmed by this season’s boldness. Choose clothing that you can define, letting your inner sassy side gleam, instead of allowing the outfit to drown you, making you look like a Hollywood wannabe. But, I don’t doubt Stiletto Jungle readers for a second. Gear up ladies, here we go…

Exotic Ruffle Leather Clutch
$159.00
Available at: bebe.com

The first ruffle fashion sensation is from Banana Republic. This Ruffle Wrap Dress has got it all: a vibrant color and small amount of ruffles around the collar. This Reddish-Orange dress is a wrap dress with full inspiration from the spring 2009 runways. The mostly silk dress is flirtatious, and allows for movement for any occasion. This dress is geared towards people who are embracing the ruffle trend… or not so much. The dress is bright, but the ruffles are limited to around the collar and are conservative. I would say this is a great dress for many occasions. It’s charming, feminine and comes equipped with a personal cloud of vibrant confidence when wearing it. Miracles are always nice to purchase because they’re so hard to find.

My next ruffle mania pick is a sexy alligator print leather clutch. This Exotic Leather Ruffled Clutch is adorable-- it’s not huge and it’s not overkill! This exotic clutch is roomy enough for the female essentials and it has wide metal hinges, so you can really see what you’ve got in there, making it much more accessible. The soft cascading ruffles give the clutch an extra luxurious shine. This alligator ruffle clutch is very chic and will definitely be an accessory you can use to spice up an outfit, or to make an outfit your own. You make the rules-- just make sure you feel great!

Leifsdottir "Siren" Dress
$248.00
Available at: nordstrom.com

This next ruffle dress is the most flirtatious feminine on the list. The colors on this Leifsdottir 'Siren' Ruffle Dress traditionally represent spring, but they are less bold than the super brights we expect for spring 2009. This dress is great for someone who doesn’t like to wear the brighter colors, and is perfect for dancing the night away. It is a lightweight dress with cascading ruffles around the neck and down the center of the bodice. The waist is cinched with a light blue ribbon. It’s very polished looking and playful at the same time-- love it!

Everyone knows I’m a big fan of Ralph Lauren, so this gorgeous, sophisticated dress shouldn’t be a big surprise. The Lauren by Ralph Lauren “Josue” Ruffle Front Silk Dress is stunning. The ruffles cascade down the trim of the deep-v neckline and work their way down to the front of this shimmering dress. Beware: very hot!

There are so many fun ruffle finds, it’s hard to decide! This Shoshanna Circle Eyelet Dress is absolutely adorable. It’s very girly and fun. This dress is the most casual one I’ve picked. This Eyelet dress is great with the acid yellow color and golden buttons dotting the ruffled placket. It’s also got an inset waist and slim pleated skirt. This dress is not for everyone, but it is a great find for someone who can handle the style, cut and the color.
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Kim Moshtaghi is a contributing writer for Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle. Born in Germany, Kim is currently based in sunny Del Mar, California, where she also serves as Stiletto Jungle's Director of Sales and Promotions. Kim has a communications degree, a third degree black belt, and a totally covetable Gucci handbag collection.