The end of 2008 is upon us and it’s a great time to look back across the year and examine some of the incredible fashions we adopted – and count the errors of our ways.  Trend and style is ever-changing, though many of the items that follow never should have been considered for public approval in the first place.

Here we go, in no particular order:

1. Animal Print

Unless, of course, you actually want to look like a cougar.

2. Metallic Robot Gloves

Thanks for introducing this monstrosity to us, Beyonce.  Maybe now you can knock some sense into yourself with that steel fist?

3. Overtly Conspicuous Accessories

Brightly coloured stockings sometimes work on a runway, but if you plan to be gallivanting about in public you had better be 5.

You’re not fooling anyone with clear bra straps.  In fact, when the light hits these “invisible” straps just right, you can actually see the reflection from space.

Ornate headwear.  Hats are ok, but anything with feathers/flowers/bulbous bits that requires 20 pins to keep in place, you can probably do without.

Shoelace headbands a la American Apparel hipster kids.

4. Nefarious Shoes

Cargo heels that come with a ‘handy’ built-in pocket on the strap are NOT convenient.

Architectural shoes that may reach heights of 7″ are impossible to walk in, and watching models fall all over runways wearing them didn’t do much to whet my buying urges.

Anything with large bows.

99.99% of wedges.

And forget about extreme gladiator sandals that rise to the knee – at the very least, consider the potential for disastrous tan lines!

5. Plaid pants

Ahh…popularized in the 1970′s, and re-appropriated by grunge kids in the 90′s.  Leave plaid pants in your youth with that ratty old chain wallet you wore with them.

If you need plaid in your life, I wholeheartedly suggest you invest north of the waistline; a button-down shirt, fitted equestrian blazer, or tunic are all acceptable alternatives.

See the NowPublic.com story for tons of hilarious photos and video.