Celebrities Are Raiding Grandma's Closet

Fashion trends come. And fashion trends go. Fortunately for most people, certain trends last longer than others. Ordinarily, the young, fit, and fabulous of Hollywood are acknowledged for their sexy clothes. But a startling movement in apparel seems to be on the rise. And some of Hollywood's fast and furious celebs are catching on. There has been a gradual shift from youthful looking attire, to a host of garments that look like they've come directly from Grandma's Yard Sale (no offense to the incredibly stylish grandmas of the world.) Once befitting only to those who taught P.E. in 1985, a new fad has been adopted by the "It' ladies of the entertainment world. Observe...

Old Lady Shoes

Certainly celebrity ladies have not abandoned their Christian Louboutins and Jimmy Choo kicks. But take a closer look at the footwear of the stars, and you'll notice that the peeptoe has made quite an amazing (and long-lasting) comeback. These shoes often seen with stiletto heels, have been all the rage since the latter part of 2005. But look a little closer, and you'll see that these some designers of the peeptoe shoes have lowered the heel, made them into wedges, and converted them into slingbacks. Correct me if I'm wrong. But these shoes first became popular with middle-aged women sometime after The Brady Bunch went off the air. Couple this style with the wide assortment of ballet flats, and you've got quite an interesting trend on your hands.

Huge "Granny" Glasses

Another fad which might be dying down just a little, is the pair of super-huge sunglasses. Celebrities like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton have made these shades rather popular. On some faces, the style can be adequately pulled off. But on smaller framed ladies like Nicole Richie, the look ends up resembling something rather old-fashioned. With a few dowdy accessories added on for good measure, the ensemble takes on a very school-marmish air.

Ponchos & Shawls

Most ladies owning ponchos, shawls, and pashminas have carefully laid these styles to rest. While the occasionally donned shawl will never completely go out of style, it is the coupling of this accessory with other "granny" items that makes this style so stodgy. Fraternal twin millionairess Mary Kate Olsen is especially known for showcasing a variety of cloaked styles. Seen hunkering down over a tall latte and a Marlboro throughout the streets of Manhattan, Mary Kate often looks as if she could fly away using the expanse of material swathing her shoulders. The right material can turn an outfit from cheap to chic. But overdone, this accessory can do more fashion damage than fashion-good.

Big Bags

Several years ago, tiny purses and moderately sized handbags were wildly popular. Now, the shift has been made to big bags...the bigger the better. Tabloid rags and paparazzi photos show dozens of stylish celebrities toting what appear to be mini-suitcases on their shoulders. These bags typically cost about one-month's rent or more. And they should, since they're large enough to accommodate a small child (not that you'd use the bag for this purpose, mind you.) At any rate, stars like Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria are known for their proclivity for carrying big bags. Fortunately, these purses are stylish enough that the look can be pulled off fairly easily. But it seems that only a short time ago, if a lady carried a pocketbook larger than one's own head, she undoubtedly had to field more than one comment about looking like a "Bag Lady."

"Mom" Jeans

No television show could better describe what "Mom Jeans" are than Saturday Night Live. One of their commercial parody DVDs features the original SNL "advertisement" for "Mom Jeans." These jeans typically have high waist bands, and are/were very popular with soccer moms and housewives, since they provide full coverage for a woman's mid-section. Presumably, these jeans are fashionable with "Moms" because they're comfortable and allow for ease of movement. The problem with these jeans is that they shield a lady's natural curves in favor of a stuffed, matronly look. And unfortunately, this fad has caught on with certain celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson. There are a few varieties of high-waisted pant; but all resemble "Mom Jeans."