Neon nostalgia

Touit! Touit! Blow your whistles ladies: the fresh, new trend-de-jour is all about acid. No, I'm not talking about acid peels, I mean bright, acid colours. You know, the stuff you wore to raves in the nineties, the uniform and essential wear of the first and original e-era.

Illegal

Before electronic mail, another e-phenomenon swept through Europe. The mood was happy-clappy mixed with unity, optimism and a profound sense of brother-sisterhood.

And, almost like a reflex, the fashion in this period moved away from dreary, drab colours towards fluorescent greens, blues, yellows and pinks.

Undoubtedly, the excessive use of certain illegal substances prevalent at this time contributed heavily to many phosphoric nineties trends.

Fast forward

Eventually, as the highs turned to lows and the effects wore off, the colours also came back down to earth.
Fast-forward a decade later and it's rave nation all over again. Thankfully by now we're all well aware of the dangers of nineties it-drug, Ecstasy, but that doesn't mean we can't reach such euphoric fashion highs in 2007.

So, whistles at the ready and I'll take you through it.

Go nude

For makeup, hot new beauty trends feature pink lipsticks (especially by Mac, Lancome and Chanel) worked with lime green eye-shadow on the lower eyelid only and heavy black eyeliner for the upper lid giving stronger definition (check out Shiseido's new eye colour palettes).

Forget about heavy, airbrushed foundation — just go bare. Thoroughly cleanse your skin (get a spring-clean facial and show your true colours with a clear complexion) and you'll be ready to go nude.

No fuss, just naturally radiant, dewy skin intertwined with touches of acerbic limes and bubblegum pink.

Tee shirts

Hair should be scraped back in a high ponytail to accentuate your features and show off your glowing skin.

Choose accessories in neon colours if you're not brave enough to wear green eye-shadow or yellow tights. Try thick bangles, chunky beads and over-sized plastic rings in fluorescent colours with simple, white apparel.

The ultimate must-have piece in this trend is … drum roll, please… a tee shirt. But not just any old tee. The new season's top is tailored, taut and totally cool.

The kings of the tee shirts, designers C+C California — hailing from the west coast of America, aka the home of tees, have them in every colour (yes, even in acid green) and all kinds of exciting cuts and styles. Simply add your favourite pair of jeans or a pair of funky coloured leggings.

Desert storm

It's going to be a hot summer in the UAE but this bright, new trend is bound to penetrate the region's perpetual, patent blue skies and break forth into storms of acid rain.

Style focus: What's your cup of 'tee'?

Tee shirts (or T-shirts) were originally worn as undershirts. This still occurs, but tee shirts are now usually worn alone. They have also become a way for self-expression and advertising, with any imaginable combination of words, art and even photographs on display.

Since the late 1980s and especially the 1990s, tee shirts with prominent designer-name logos have been popular.

Brand Focus: Sugar Kane

Designer Christopher Kane made a truly dynamic debut last season with his first own label collection. Expectations had been impossibly high of this 24-year-old Scottish designer but he did not disappoint.

Kane, like Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon and Stella McCartney, was the star graduate of his year at London's Central Saint Martin's College, winning both a distinction and the prestigious Harrods Design Award. Shortly after, he was named New Scottish Designer of the Year. Donatella Versace sponsored his MA collection and he has worked as a consultant for Versace ever since.

Kane's spring/summer 2007 collection features super short, body conscious dresses sculpted from elastic strips or panels of lace, knit and beading.

Every figure gripping number was embellished with bold zips, brass rings, ruffles, sparkle or sheer pleated chiffon over-skirts. His colours were vibrant oranges, limes and turquoise or unusual mixes of shades like taupe, lilac and yellow.

Soon to be stocked in the UAE? Watch this space…

A '90s Icon

Queen Latifah (below, born Dana Elaine Owens, March 18, 1970) is a Grammy-winning American rapper/singer and Academy Award-nominated actress.

The US star is a spokesperson for Cover Girl cosmetics.

Latifah has also developed her own line of cosmetics for women with warmer skin tones called the Covergirl Queen Collection and Curvation, underwear for ladies with fuller figures.

From 1993 to 1998, Latifah had a starring role on the popular US sitcom Living Single.

The voluptuous beauty began her film career in a supporting role in the 1991 films House Party 2, Juice, and Jungle Fever, and Set It Off in 1996.

Most recently she starred in Chicago, Bringing Down the House and Last Holiday.