in FASHION

Our second annual Best Of series continues today with a salute to the best fashion trends that hit the runways and the streets in 2009. After yesterday’s Best Of: Fashion 2009 briefly touched on the military jacket trend, we thought a more in-depth look was required. All our picks played an important part on the catwalks of 2009 and some were so hip they look set to continue into 2010.

1. Harem Pants: Slouchy, cropped harem pants were the perfect silhouette to welcome in the spring/summer season of 2009. As seen at Chloe above, the trend could easily be dressed up for an elegant night out on the town. The harem pant, which has a bohemian-luxe feel about it, could also be dressed down – many photographers captured the trend being given an edgy, street makeover.

2. Leather: Leather has always been a timeless trend and a catwalk staple but in 2009, the leather look extended itself to shorts, skirts, pants and more. As seen at Erin Fetherston above, there were no limits when it came to leather – Fetherston’s flared skirt was a perfect example. Celebrities quickly picked up on the craze too: The City’s Whitney Port rocked leather shorts while her co-star Olivia Palermo tried out a pair of leather skinny pants.

3. Leopard Print: One of the many trends that looks set to run through to 2010, the 2009 runways saw a reemergence of leopard as the go-to animal print. Dolce & Gabbana perfected a head-to-toe snow leopard look for their Fall 2009 show. Meanwhile Alexa Chung propelled Topshop’s leopard coat to sell-out status after she wore it to several events.

4. Sharp Shoulders: Although this trend harks its way back to the 80s, the 2009 version of the sharp shoulder is perfectly suited to the strong, modern woman. The powerful silhouette was seen on many pieces, from dresses to knit cardigans; Karl Lagerfeld, above, encapsulated the trend with military-like, metallic embellishments.

5. Thigh High Boots: One of the sexiest trends to spring onto the 2009 catwalks was the thigh high boot. From the wrapped leather boot seen at Rodarte, above, to cut-out versions to suede, the trend was an instant hit. French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld rocked the look for a good portion of 2009, as did celebrities like Byrdie Bell and Erin Wasson.

6. Military Jackets: Already a hit on the catwalks, this trend quickly grew after the death of the military-jacket king, Michael Jackson. Balmain’s version (above) included metallic embellishments and sharp shoulders, basically making it the must-have piece of 2009, although their denim version was not far behind. Beyonce and Victoria Beckham were just some of the celebrities who embraced the look.