A student asked me a few questions about fashion for Spring 2008. I am posting them here as well. Let us discuss!

Q. What are some of the upcoming Spring 2008 styles and trends?

A. High fashion will stay pretty deconstructionist. As for us regular folks, we will continue to shuffle hither and yon selecting from a mish-mash of styles, colors, and inspirations. A big thing will continue to be homegrown fashion. Crafting and embellishment is where it's at; so many people are watching "Project Runway" and thinking, "I can do that myself." People are making their own clothes to make statements, to have their very own creations, and because it's become so easily accessible. And that's the most exciting thing, to me.

Q. What do you think the prominent colors will be?

A. We're going to shift into spicy natural colors. Metallics are fun for the winter, but we're going to see more taupe, sandstone, a muted (not acid) lime green, mint green, chocolate browns, muted pinks, etc. in our accessories and patterns. Plum will stick around but it's going to lighten up a lot. I hope grey is gone. It seems to spring up like a flash in the pan every eight years or so ... ditto silver. Springtime, of course, brings lots of pastels, but we'll see jewel colors carried over into early spring/summer '08.

Q. Is texture going to be popular? If so, what will be?

A. Texture is always popular, it's just a matter of how prominent the texture is featured. By the very nature of the fabric used for Spring, it's not as tactile a season as one of heavy tweeds and thick woolens. Cotton is going to make a comeback. This spring will have plenty of sheer, too. My question is, how raw-edged will it be?

Q. Is there a certain "look" that is predicted to be popular? (Boyish style, bohemian...?)

A. Bohemian is pretty much gone with the popular ousting of Rachel Zoe as celebrity stylist (you don't diss Anna Wintour in print and get away with it). The '60s-inspired jackets, pencil skirts, classic high-heel pumps, will likely stick around for another year, with slight modifications, maybe more of an '80s twist. Old-school glamor was predicted for Fall 2007, and people dig that enough to keep it around. I only hope this means less slobbiness, less Juicy Couture sweatpants wearing and a death knell sounded for UGG boots.

Q. Who would you suggest as some of the top designers to look for this spring and why?

A. I can't say who will be a top designer other than the usual suspects. One guarantee is that celebrities will continue to start their own fashion lines for lower markets (think of Sarah Jessica Parker's "Bitten" at Steve & Barry's or Todd Oldham going to work for Old Navy). Also, high-end designers will continue to introduce down-label lines (like Michael by Michael Kors).

Q. Do you think there will be a "must have" accessory?

A. Yes. I think there will be.