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Sex and the City 2 must’ve gotten the sharpest snipes from critics, from its lightweight storyline, shameless materialism, and unapologetic shallowness, down to being anti-Muslim, despite these reviews fans are still flocking to SATC2 for its fashion and style wisdom.

The movie which brought gladiator sandals to the spotlight is featuring some of the newest fashion flavors this year through Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. Here, we spot what’s happening style-wise in the movie.

The hats are back!

Since the beginning of time, people have been wearing head coverings to protect themselves from the elements. But in the movie, aside from bags and shoes, hats have become a staple accessory (not just a covering) in completing an outfit.  In the middle of the dessert, the girls were wearing a turban, a sun hat, a cap with ear flaps and a cowboy hat, which matches well with their outfits.

In an interview conducted by Elle, Patricia Fields, stylist of SACT2, says that she was able to use hats freely for the first time, without having t justify them. The movie’s locale demanded the use of hats because people wear hats to cover their heads.

How to make this work for you

Commonly, we get shy wearing this, unless it’s just a baseball cap, but to make hats work for you, you need to understand a few things first.

• Understand your face shape; some hats do not go well with certain shapes. Look out for hats that make your features stand out.
• Don’t overdo it. Avoid flashy hats or those that come with chin fasteners; choose a hat that matches your style.
• Understand your body size; if you’re a small girl, avoid wearing a very large hat with wide brim. You don’t want to appear like a Speedy Gonzales, right?

Maxi dress is still flowing

This time, the girls were spotted wearing exotic print maxi dresses to match with the holiday season.  In a scene wherein the girls were having lunch ala-Arabian style, they were wearing long, jewel-toned maxi dresses with glitzy embellishments along the neckline, this observation makes me want to go out and wear a maxi dress while shopping.

How to make this work for you

According to fashion expert Lynne McCrossan, maxi dress with bold prints, such as tiger or zebra and with lots of flowing chiffon are the season’s latest trend.  She adds that anyone can pull this pattern off at any age.  Aside from prints that roar, here are basic tips to consider.

• Since maxi dresses are oftentimes billowy, choose one that’s fitted around the waste for a pulled together look.
• To create an illusion of tallness, choose a long dress that drops right after your ankle area; hemlines that go way beyond that line will make the dress less flowy.
• Don’t forget to wear jewelry and keep your hair and makeup simple.
• If you’re not an exotic print-crazy person you can still opt for bold colors such as aqua, blue, fuchsia and yellow.

Jumpsuits are everywhere

Jumpsuits are all over this movie.  Honed in fabrics like silk, knit and linen, it’s one way to keep cool and maintain style while traveling. In the movie, harem-style jumpsuit, which is gathered at the ankle and has the infamous MC Hammer drop style, was featured. It’s not a look that everyone can sport but its comfort and flexibility makes it an appealing piece.

How to make this work for you

Adorable as they are, jumpsuits when worn incorrectly can be as unforgiving as an adult wearing pampers.

• Find balance between slouchy and fitted. Choose jumpsuits with fabrics that streamline your body contour.
• Opt for solid colors; a jumpsuit with very detailed prints will look ugly when worn all over.
• Dismiss the straps; your lower half’s already covered, leave some skin!
• Avoid ruffles and pockets because they’ll add bulk to the wrong places.
• If you’re a petite girl, opt for a shorter playsuit instead.

Shoulder pads anyone?

Just like the flower brooch, the shoulder pad showed up like a sore thumb when Samantha wore humongous metal spikes over a red-hot dress to karaoke.  Last year, shoulder pads have been making inroads in the runway, creating a tough exterior amidst recession.

Of course, unlike its 80’s sister, today’s shoulder pads are not just foam but are now made of different materials. Inspired by a knight’s armor, multi-chain metal shoulder pads can be worn over jackets or even on bare skin.  These however look heavy, so make sure you work out those shoulders before putting it on.

How to make this work for you

It’s definitely an interesting concept, but wearing shoulder pads can be very tricky. Here some tips to consider when choosing shoulder pads to amplify your power suit.

• Avoid shoulder pads that make you appear that you’re wearing one. The key is to make the shoulders pronounced, not up like a football player.
• Go for shoulder pats that match your skin color, not the outfit you’re wearing.
• Have your shoulder pads fitted.  Most shoulder pads that come with clothing are not fitted to your size and can be hard to wear.

There are still a lot of trends to fish out from the movie and these trends will definitely be going ‘in and out’ of fashion.  But there is one secret that will take you for the long haul --- the greatest trend I’ve learned came straight from the movie’s costume designer who took inspiration from the holiday trip to Abu Dhabi. “Don’t think about fashion in terms of trends, because if you do you will always be behind the eight ball of trying to keep up with the time. When it’s original and creative it becomes timeless,” quipped Fields.

All photos from www.sexandthecitymovie.com