There's a fine line between good taste and bad; some designers even flaunt tacky taste and make it look luscious (Versace has made a killing off plopping gaudy gold medallions on stuff). But in 2005, tacky reigned in fashion. Bags and shoes sported garish metallic colors, floor-dragging prairie skirts took over the summer and women everywhere thought that cowboy boots and bare legs looked cute (um, no.) Trends aside, fashion also experienced five key tacky moments in 2005.
1. Scrawny Chic
You hate to blame just one person for the stick-thin figures in fashion, but this year's most publicized transformations -- Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie -- are attributed to stylist-to-the-stars Rachel Zoe. Nicole and Lindsay's impossibly skinny arms, blonde hair and heavily made up eyes are echoes of Rachel's own look (which is fine for her at 33, not so attractive on the youngsters). Nicole's new look is much more polished, but the insanely thin figures scream "eating disorder."
2. Hanging Kate Moss Out to Dry (Out)
When Kate Moss was caught on tape doing drugs and had modeling contracts cancelled, some companies said they were "shocked." As if we believed they had hired Kate Moss for her wholesome image! Her resume: started modeling at 14, spawned the '90s "heroin chic" look , boyfriend died of a heroin overdose, models butt-naked in fashion glossies, dates admitted druggie Pete Doherty. Post-rehab, Kate's back with big modeling contracts; the whole scandal just enhanced her tarnished-luxe image.
3. Celebrity "Designer" Label Overkill
This is the third year we've knocked the profusion of celebrity labels. But how much more random is the whole thing going to get? Jessica Simpson -- who made Daisy Dukes famous again -- peddled namesake plus-size stretch jeans and Jessica Alba -- who doesn't even have any kids -- announced her intent to launch a kids' wear line. Two celebs are exempt from criticism: Gwen Stefani and her excellent L.A.M.B. line and Bono's new Edun line for its attempt to combine social activism and fashion.
4. Brad & Angelina's "W" Shoot
Stylistically, the "W" magazine "Domestic Bliss" shoot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie depicted as a 1963 family, was beautiful and sexy. The icky part is that the cozy spread appeared in July, just a few months after Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston separated; at the time Brangelina was still denying the relationship to the public.
5. Condi Rice Boot Shopping During Katrina Crisis
Most workers have the good sense to discreetly shop online when there's work to be done, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly spent critical hours during the Katrina mess boutique shopping in New York. Granted, the boot-loving politico was on vacation and her job description does focus on international incidents. But most of us civilians were glued to TVs and the Internet for updates on Katrina victims and a top U.S. official finds time to shop? Tacky.
