2009 is closing out the first ten years of this millennium and I’m still wondering about the defining look of this decade. The 90s were definitely grunge, the 80s were over-the-top, and the 70s were feathered hair with obscenely tight pants. And the 60s were, well, high.

But this decade I can’t quite figure out.

Is it simply a blend of everything that has come before?
This decade has seen designers and editors try to revive bell-bottoms, high-waist pants, hippie dresses (renamed maxi dresses), and the empire waist just to name a few. Now we are seeing the 80s comeback for this fall. We are also seeing the 20s and 40s revived.

Or is it the decade of anything goes?
We blend biker boots with frilly skirts or leather with lace or over-sized jackets with cigarette pants. We mix our prints and have no fear of colors. We mix thrift shop and expensive pieces. And we definitely mix our decades.

Looking through my closet, it occurs to me: maybe the answer is Shoes and Bags. The decade of Decedent Accessories.

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