I won’t be dressing up for Halloween this year — as a first-time parent, I’m more interested in watching the infant monkeys, ladybugs and penguins that will be populating our party. But if I were, I think I would go for a costume with some retro allure that would recapture a little of the magic of playing dress-up.

Which immediately rules out any adult Halloween costumes that include the word “sexy” in front of an otherwise respectable profession — so no naughty nurses, librarians or referees.

I love the idea of a gorgeous period costume….what a great way to try on the styles of a previous era. We’re seeing a lot of influences from the past in this year’s trends, so why not invest in a piece that will do double duty? You could go for a full-on flapper costume:

Or just splurge on one of this season’s dresses inspired by the roaring 20s. Add some pearls and a pair of Mary Janes for Halloween…and wear it again with modern accessories on a date or a night on the town!

Likewise, the 80s are making a fashion comeback. You could get decked out in an 80s costume worthy of Krystal Carrington:

Or you could take inspiration from that decade’s strong shoulders and neon brights to put together a wear-anytime look. How about a jacket or top with padded shoulders? Pair it with costume jewels, a bright blouse, a pencil skirt and a Joan Collins updo for All-Hollows Eve, then work the versatile piece into your regular fall and winter rotation.

What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

This week, I’m ceding control to a guest writer and one of our favorite StyleFeeders, John Palfrey. John is a trusted advisor to the company, as well as a very active StyleFeeder who also happens to have great taste. So rather than guess what the stylish men in our life are craving for Father’s Day (coming up fast on June 21, 2009), let’s ask one! Take it away, John!

For the sporty dad

We always need a new pair of running shoes, but it can be dicey to choose the right pair and the right fit. Tennis shirts are safer. A light jacket is a versatile pick. And Nike’s golf gear is rarely looked at askance on Father’s Day by the sporty dad.

For the classic dad

Dads who have to grind out a 9-to-5 in a suit-bound environment often appreciate a wardrobe pick-me-up. Think of a nice new suit, an Armani tie, new Cole Haan kicks, or some stainless steel cufflinks. You can never have too many.

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I’m loving two current trends: brightly-colored heels (think demure, ladylike peep toes or pumps in orange, yellow or lime green patent leather) and crazy booties and sandals with sky-high heels or creative cutouts. I love a good pop of color on the foot, and I admire an out-there heel…but I don’t know if I’m ballsy enough to combine the two trends.

Lately, I’ve been seen lots of fuchsia and purple-colored confections show up on my Watchlist, so obviously someone out there is loving the combo. But are they actually wearing them? I want to hear from you fashion-forward ladies….would you sport these stunners? And if so, what are you pairing them with?

I’ve always loved the kimono silhouette. It’s hard to go wrong with comfortable, dramatic sleeves, a nipped-in waist, and a universally flattering length…kimonos look good on just about everyone. Flutter-sleeved tops are a subtle interpretation of the kimono sleeve, and I’ve been a fan of that trend as well, but I’m glad to see more dramatic kimono silhouettes coming back for spring.

There’s a variety of ways to wear the kimono, depending on your body type. The top and dress below are more traditional interpretations, and would be flattering on almost anyone.

I particularly love the silk top by Single on the left. The color/pattern combo is a little out there, but I think I would wear this throughout the summer with jeans, wedges and a set of bangles. It puts me in a Saturday-afternoon-shopping-with-the-girls state of mind.

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Prints are everywhere for spring. No matter what your style, there’s something for everyone, even if your wardrobe revolves around basic neutrals.

Luckily, you’re not restricted to buying just one patterned piece, but I’m curious…If you could only buy one printed item for spring, what would it be?

A fabulous floral?

A wearable watercolor?

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We’ll be taking a few days off around here, but will be back next week with more of our favorite apparel, gadget and home decor ideas.

Whatever you celebrate, we wish you a very happy holiday season, and lots of good gifts both given and received. Please drop by and tell us about your favorite present, and we’ll compare notes on the loot!

We’re proud to say that StyleFeeder is very close to having a million registered users. We think it’s only fitting to reward one of our loyal members who helped us grow to this point, with what else, a shopping spree (courtesy of our good friends at Bluefly)!

Help us cross that millionth user threshold by telling all your shopping-obsessed friends why they should join StyleFeeder (it’s a great way to track and share your finds and get inspired by other fashionistas, natch). Even your peeps who hate to shop will love the site…because StyleFeeder gets to know your tastes, we can make recommendations that make shopping faster, easier and more fun. Even search results are returned in your predicted order of preference!

So take a minute, send an invite to your friends, and if you’re the lucky winner who refers our millionth user, your toughest decision will be what designer dress and shoes you’re going to spend 500 clams on! Click here for official rules.

I was glad to find that I wasn’t the only one puzzled by the idea of dropped-crotch leggings. But ever since I wrote that post, I’ve started to be alert to their presence. StyleFeeder oona claims she’s seen them all over Italy, and apparently, they are now hitting the streets of Moscow, per The Sartorialist:

So what do we think? Like them any better on real people?

On a separate but related note, I was cruising around at Brown’s Fashion and stumbled upon designer Pam Hogg’s latest collection. You can purchase her superhero-esque collection as separates (leggings and T’s), but I’m digging this jumpsuit more:

Having grown up believing Wonder Woman was a feminist icon, I can appreciate Hogg’s inspiration. But in this economy, is anyone going to shell out more than 500 pounds to look like a glam Power Ranger?

Every once in awhile, something pops up on StyleFeeder that makes our staff stop and comment “I really didn’t know there was a market for that”.

This is one of those times:

We were especially surprised to find these so-called “crotch drop leggings” on Karmaloop, which we generally respect as a fun fashion source.

So maybe we’re missing something here…are there occasions when dropped crotch leggings are appropriate attire?

Perhaps, for Halloween, you’re looking to dress as an 80s version of Mr. Tumnus from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe?

Pregnant and worried about not making it to the hospital in time?

I’m totally serious here, I need to know.

Regular readers of The Tastemaker Diaries are well aware of my obsessive hatred of scarves. My scorn has risen to a new level with the rise of this season’s version, the so-called scarflette.

My friend Beth drew my attention to this new trend. How could I resist opening an email with the title “Is this the new dickey?” And yes, I believe the insidious scarflette is indeed the latest incarnation of “a false shirt-front – originally known as a detachable bosom”. Check out some examples:

Why do I hate these so much, you ask? Let me count the ways:

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