Sometimes, I get really frustrated with the fashion trends in North America. I feel like we’re constantly being fed these trends that are only really flattering to a chosen few. This season, for example, we had the dipped hem dress. Can we get real for a moment, but this isn’t exactly a style that was for everyone. If you’re really short, with legs that aren’t exactly fit for a Victoria Secret runway, this is probably a trend that you’re not going to look so hot in. It can potentially make you look shorter than you already are, and if it’s in the wrong material, you can end up looking like some confused fashion nightmare.

Next, we have the peplum. Oh my god, how I adore the peplum, but again, let’s be realistic here. There really wasn’t much available in the way of peplum designs in North America, because retailers were holding it back for whatever reason. But as much love as I would like to give the peplum, this is not a style for everyone, especially if it’s not done correctly. For larger women, it has the potential to make them look bigger than the actually are. You may get that hourglass illusion with the cinching in the waist, but adding that extra piece of material, a piece that sits right above the rear area, it can also be disastrous. But the news isn’t all bad, because it appears that North America is finally catching onto to trend that we can all sink our teeth into, and that’s the ‘Skater’ or Fit n’ Flare dress.

The Fit & Flare design is actually a design that hails from the eighties! It’s a design that was stolen off of the figure skating dresses from the Ice Capades, remember those? Maybe not, maybe you’re too young to remember, and in that case, now I’m really feeling my age! But seriously, that’s where it came from. It was super fitted on top, tight in the waist, and flared on the bottom. The original Ice Capades dresses were obviously quite short, because as a figure skater, you didn’t want anything catching around your legs. Women in the UK have been rocking this dress for the last two years now, so it’s high time that the women in North America catch up, and as usual, Forever 21 has answered the call, they’ve just renamed it to seem different!

The Fit & Flare is probably going to be one of the most transitional pieces that you’ll own in your wardrobe. It’s a super chic summer option when you want to give yourself a little vintage flair, and in the winter months, if you pair it with your favorite pair of tights (or pantyhose) you can easily take your Fit & Flare dress from the office to a night out with the girls. How often can you find a design that is perfectly suited for that administrative assistant job as well as a late lunch with your handsome beau? Sure, there might be a few, but none of them are as fashion forward or chic!

Why do I love it so much? Easy, it can be worn by just about everyone. It comes in a variety of lengths, so for girls that are self conscious about their legs, you can easily wear a fit & flare that sits below the knee. And because of it’s tendency to create that hourglass silhouette, women who are lacking shape, suddenly look like curvy girls! For women that are a bit larger, their waists are made to look smaller. I’m telling you girls, this is the it dress!