Your mom probably wore one when she played tennis. Or the kid that got made fun of during summer camp. And Eminem was pretty into wearing one backwards in 2001.

That’s right, the visor. There are two basic versions: the sporty, and the beachy.

We’ve seen the sporty one cropping up ironically on your basic hipster. Michael Kors had the beachy sort all over his Spring 09 runway. Now we’re even seeing avant-garde versions.

We’re definitely steering clear of the sporty because irony usually fades after a few weeks and then it’s just plain ugly. As for the beach, we thought Lara wore a nice one for Michael Kors, and there’s a version at Neiman Marcus that we’d even consider calling elegant. But these two mostly just look like hats so…why not just wear a hat?

Is there an appeal to the visor that we’re completely missing?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why the mullet’s become the hot cut in Hollywood?

I blame Taylor Momsen. She dabbled in mullets late last year. Then Taraji P. Henson inexplicably traded in her chic bob for a neck cape. And now Kristen Stewart? (Yes, we know it’s for a movie, but still.)

Why would anyone with access to the best of the best hair gurus choose to wear a style that’s more redneck than red carpet? And perhaps more importantly, what self-respecting stylist actually thinks this is a good idea for their client? Do they really want to be known as the master of the mullet?

On top of the catastrophe of the haircut itself, it makes any outfit look awkward. Can you imagine Taraji’s mullet topping off that gorgeous white Roberto Cavalli dress she wore to the Oscars? It does the designer a serious disservice because we’re all too busy staring at a loopy hairdo instead of even glancing at the the garment.

Usually when a style takes the celebrity world by storm (the Rachel, the Pob, etc.), it’s because it’s flattering even if you don’t look like a celeb, but I really don’t think there’s anyone, model or celebrity alike, who could pull this look off.

Unless of course I’ve missed the point and it’s supposed to be cool and kitschy? Please tell me it’s not.

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

Can you tell we’re in a very shoe state of mind here at the office today? We can’t stop!

While Abby’s contemplating Birks, I’m feeling a very different shoe: the Adidas’ SLVR 106.

The mesh wedge sneaker has been around for a few months and getting a fair amount of attention. Both Queen Michelle of Kingdom of Style and Elizabeth of White Lightning have written them up. But even these two fashion forward ladies are skeptical in their admiration.

Personally, I love them. They’re fun and a nice combination (I think) of my two different favorite shoe looks - sneakers and heels. The wedge is orange, a color I’m loving right now. And it’s 4 1/2 inches high - perfect for a tiny girl like me. Plus (according to the website) they offer support and as some of us have foot problems, support with a heel could be a major plus.

Ed note from Abby: I fear looking like Victoria Beckham throwing out the first pitch of that Dodgers’ game on her show. But I fully support Amanda giving these a go.

For me, Queen Michelle put it best: “it’s OK to not be pretty, dammit!” Pretty can be boring, and safe, and these are, if nothing else, interesting.

So what say you?

—AMANDA JEAN BOYLE

The last time I wore bike shorts, I was ten and they were neon green and purple paired with a clashing bikini top.

I have a pretty vivid memory of catching crabs in the San Francisco marina and throwing sand on a boy - so maybe I’m having this reaction to their resurgence because it’s the first time I have to say, “Well, if I wore it once, I probably can’t wear it again.”

But I cannot believe how many pairs of spandex bike shorts I saw this weekend. Despite grumbling hints of their return—they popped up on runways and in a few editorials—it’s one of those trends you really have to see in person to believe.

It stopped raining long enough for everyone to break out the spring outfits they’ve been dying to wear and for so many that meant either a baggy band shirt with shiny spandex shorts, super-short floral dress with shiny spandex shorts and in one case - near the baseball fields in Central Park - a crop top over shiny spandex shorts.

But even if everyone from Alex Wang to Dov Charney tell you they’re the coolest thing around, are you actually going to wear them?

I think I spent an entire month watching over-the-knee boots march down runways.

From Rodarte in New York, to Pam HoggLondon in and Louis Vuitton in Paris - and about a million in between - they were everywhere, but aside from Lauren Santo Domingo’s turn in custom-made Brian Atwoods, we’d placed stretchy leather up to one’s butt cheeks in the runway-only category, along with everything sheer from SS09.

I was wrong, of course. Byrdie Bell broke hers out for a party a couple of weeks ago and as fall merchandise creeps its way into stores, we’re preparing for an onslaught. Stuart Weitzman’s square-toed versions, in both suede and leather, hit Shopbop this week and StyleFile is even contemplating thigh high clogs.

I remember the first time I wore almost knee-high leather boots to my suburban Catholic high school and gave everyone a heart attack. Even if this is New York City circa now, I imagine a similar, if not more dangerous reaction with those six extra inches of leather. I love the idea, am obsessed with the look, but I’m pretty sure I’d look like a hooker regardless of what I wear on the rest of my body.

Abby, however, can’t wait to rock a pair. Thoughts?

This is a picture of Drew Barrymore at one of last night’s Prop 8 rallies in California, but we’ve noticed that she’s been sporting these blue swipes for a couple of weeks now.

The last time we wore blue eyeshadow was to Henry Holland’s after party - a completely appropriate and reasonable occasion - but Drew’s pop of neon is making us want to add color to our summer makeup routine. (A routine that usually consists simply of no makeup.)

We’re a bit afraid of coming off alien-like, however. The idea looks awesome in the pictures we’ve seen shot from a distance, though up close it looks like a child tried to circle her eyes in crayon, or sidewalk chalk.

Have you tried this? Will you try it? Tips, please.

I watched last week’s episode of The Fashion Show (slightly annoying, but will suffice until Project Runway’s triumphant return) over the weekend and I was stopped cold by Lidia’s unfortunate red eyeshadow.

Red shadow’s been done well both editorially and on the runway - Nars’ Diane Kendal did a fantastic reddish-brown smoky eye for Thakoon’s AW09 show - but we’ve never seen it work well in real life. I think it would require a darker skin tone because on Lidia’s pale face it came off looking more rash-like than avant-garde.

Recently, a few notable brands have launched shadows in the grenadine color family and I am seriously at a loss to think of who, besides a makeup artist, would actually purchase the hues. I just can’t see this look parading down the streets without causing some worried glances or frantic calls to the CDC.

But maybe I’m just missing something. Is there a successful way to translate this trend from the runway to real life?

—MEGAN MCINTYRE

It seems we keep running into a little problem as we search for cute suits for upcoming Memorial Day trips. Not every designer is making them water-ready.

While some of us here find this concept mildly baffling, I have a confession to make.

I have purchased, and wear, one of said (non) bathing suits. It is reserved strictly for the sun deck. I’m even scared to go near a too-full cocktail in the thing.

I realize that it’s not necessarily practical to shell out hundreds of dollars on a swimsuit that you can’t use for… swimming.

But maybe it’s different if there’s no way in hell you ever plan on immersing yourself in water, or you have an extra $750 to blow on this Herve Leger “sunsuit”?

We’re suddenly overwhelmed with the presence of slashed leggings.

They’re on the What’s New page at Shopbop, in the windows at American Apparel, at BBQs in Brooklyn and even uptown. We’re not really sure where they came from - a strange hybrid of the ripped jean trend, spring’s cut-outs and the not-going-anywhere love of leggings?

Our first question is, even if you’re skinny, doesn’t fat, or at least skin squeeze out of the spandex slits? Also, leggings are tight and uncomfortable post-40° weather so what time of year are these made for?

And how do the striped holes not rip into one gaping hole on the side of one’s leg? And are they worn as pants or under dresses?

So tell us, if you don’t answer to name Little J, are you wearing these?

It’s prom time.

Stores are full of floor length tafetta, there are stretch limos in Times Square and teen based TV shows are heading toward their high school gym.

Which of course makes us think about our prom. I spent three weeks searching for the fifteen pound, multi-colored, wannabe Britney Spears costume that will haunt me forever. Abby wore a hot pink sequined number with matching press-on nails, custom dyed shoes and sparkly hose (Ed Note: The year was 1993. I swear it was cool, not tragic then). Britt wore a short black Audrey Hepburn-esque dress with tulle petticoats - clearly the smartest of us three.

There’s a slim chance I’d wear mine, if it turned into a mini and had a leather jacket over it. Abby will don hers as soon as she gets invited to an-original-90210-90’s-prom-themed party and Britt did re-wear hers to a formal in college.

The question eventually becomes, can you still fit into it? But prom is such a major moment and the dress is kind of the whole point. So whether it was ten months or ten years ago, will you ever wear it again?

— CARSON GRIFFITH

When Vivienne Westwood sent a model down her SS09 runway in those Union Jack shorts, we felt like we needed fancy boxers.

Then Teen Vogue featured ruched cotton shorts in a March editorial. They came in striped blues and reds, like bloomers, but with nothing over them. The credits listed Brooks Brothers so we went to the store and scoured the site until we realized the models were just wearing men’s boxers probably sewn by a handy Conde intern.

And today we saw these Current/Elliot shorts on Shopbop - basically fancy boxers even if they’re called “distressed denim.”

But we found a pair of pre-sewed-to-look-like-bloomers this weekend and no matter what we tried them on with - silk tank, plaid button down, white t-shirt - they still just looked like boxers. And while we’ll wear pretty much anything at least once and we obviously work in an office lacking any sort of dress-code, the idea of going out in men’s underwear just feels awkward, no?

Last week, Lissy Trullie wore Alexander Wang’s blue and black leather motorcycle jacket on stage at Union Hall.

Yesterday, a girl lingered outside Cafe Gitane on Mott in hers. Two blocks later (seriously), I saw three girls walking down the street, two of whom were wearing the jacket.

Once, a roommate and I had the same cape. It was about as conspicuous as Alex’s jacket - a) it was a cape b) it was white, black and red plaid and c) it had big gold buttons. But she worked uptown and I worked downtown and neither of us wore it while together.

I’m not sure how much I would have to be obsessed with something to actually walk down the street with someone else wearing the same thing. I’m not talking, of course, about jeans or a t-shirt, but about such a signature piece. Especially if its price tag is upwards of $1000, because I will wear it every single day.

But if you’re both into fashion and you both fall in love with the same thing, what happens? Do you buy one and share, do you buy two and call each other to schedule everyday, do you rotate seasons or do you just say fuck it and walk through Soho in the same outfit?

With April comes the proximity of June, which, yes, means we’re officially in wedding season.

So while discussing attire options for an upcoming betrothal this morning, a debate raged: Is it ok to wear white to somebody else’s wedding?

On the one hand, you can usually assume the bride will wear white, and showing up in her signature color is a little like showing up to somebody else’s birthday party in a tiara.

But consider this: Plenty of girls are no longer sticking to just white, so if you know the bride’s hitting the aisle in, say, blue, does it matter if you don the shade of innocence yourself? And what if your white dress is short anyway? It’s not like you’ll be mistaken for the girl wearing the veil.

So, an antiquated rule that’s sorely unfair to your stash of perfect little summer dresses that happen to be white? Or a move that shows little respect for your friend/relative/acquaintance and also bans you from any of the red wine?

Discuss!

—CARSON GRIFFITH

I am a big fan of short.

Come Spring/Summer, my dresses/skirts/shorts are as short as they can possibly be without causing a scandal. But even I’m thinking twice about the recent crop of pants-less pants.

Stella’s Spring 09 runway kicked off the trend (actually, Vlada did at SS08 McQueen). Her little suits and rompers are my dream version of office-wear (if my legs looked anything like Natasha Poly’s). Then, the pink and orange Marc by Marc romper sold out on Net-a-Porter within a day, even though it doesn’t have legs - just elastic bands and about a half-inch inseam. And last weekend, I seriously contemplated trying on these hot-pants at Urban, in navy blue, until I realized I’d really started to lose it. I have lacy boy shorts that cover more of my bottom.

— Sidenote: The office thinks I should note that I did once wear pink sequin hotpants in public for an entire night. But it was for a roller skating party and therefore I deem it irrelevant. —

But there’s a pretty consistent fashion trickle down. Starts with the runways - Stella, McQueen, Wang. Then hits the celebrities - Lady Gaga and Katie Perry ditched their trousers long ago. Then the high street - Urban, Topshop. And in no time at all, everyone from Reese Witherspoon to Williamsburg residents are running errands with their ass hanging out.

But will you?

Would you wear faux-denim legging jean things?

To clarify, those would be leggings screen printed to look like jeans with pockets, buttons, seams and sometimes even different washes and wrinkles for an authentic touch.

But seriously, we were at the Rock & Republic showroom this morning, which you already know, and one of the mannequins was wearing the leggings (we think they’re the same ones at left) from their Spring 09 collection, and from far away they actually looked like jeans. She even had her shirt tucked in.

And yes, we know she’s a mannequin - but we actually saw a couple of girls in Paris wearing them, too. Usually layered under t-shirts and cardigans with booties - but we’d always do a double take and think, “Really? Trompe l’oeil denim?”

Super tight super comfortable jeans sound like a no-brainer, but they also sound a touch too LiLo.

So, would you?

Horses have hooves for a reason. We do not. But if Martin Margiela has anything to do with it, that may change. Ok, not literally - he’s not planning on changing our anatomy, but his Tabi shoes and boots, at left, have a split between the big toe and the rest of the foot, making the wearer look a bit too equine to be seen outside of the Kentucky Derby.

The shoe, which has been spotted in multiple styles on SJP lately, is supposed to be modeled after the traditional Japanese tabi shoes, but we can’t help but think of the toe-socks that were all the rage in middle school.

If you’re interested in trying the ancient look, you’ll have a lot to choose from: Margiela made the style in flats, pumps, and boots, starting at $775.

But honestly, we don’t quite get it. Is it purely for looks? For fun? Is there an orthopedic function at work? Or is Margiela just horsing around (hah!) and getting the best of Hollywood’s wallet?

—CARSON GRIFFITH

While we’ve always like the idea of capes, their structure has always been a little baffling. Even Britt, who wears hers no matter what her roommates say, finds the awkwardness of where to put your arms (no sleeves? Pseudo sleeves?) and temperature gauging for outside wear (50 degrees? Less? More?) to be a deterrent from sporting the witch-like frock.

But we think it’s about time for us to get over our fear if the Fall runways are any indication of what’s to come (and aren’t they always?). From Marc Jacobs’ bright yellow belted version, to Thakoon’s militaristic button down, we think it could be the right time to have some fun with our outerwear.

It might a good idea to start with something a little less intimidating, like Paul Smith’s simpler version. Or you could go all out and embrace the cape for what it is - a stylized version of the blanket, or, the original Snuggie - and throw it on top of your otherwise normal outfit with aplomb.

So, would you wear a cape? Or is this a look better left to Count Dracula impersonators?

— CARSON GRIFFITH

One of the best things about being in London is seeing what everyone in New York will be wearing in six months.

Sure enough, peplums were already in the window of every high street store, everyone’s rocking Alice Dellal-like grungy booties, and there were an inordinate amount of super stylish fashion show-going girls with a perfectly plaited braid wrapped around their long wavy hair.

Each time we saw one of them we’d wonder, how’d she braid that so perfectly? How is it staying in place just so? Until finally, when we had thirty minutes to spend in Topshop on the very last day, we saw a wall stocked with fake braid headbands and felt like an ass for not realizing they were fake three days before.

We’ll blame it on exhaustion, being far away and blurred fashion vision at this point - but for all the railing we’d do in an argument against fake hair, we couldn’t even tell the difference.

Which makes us wonder, would you wear a fake braid on your head? Because all the cool girls are doing it.

During a high school field trip some years ago, I noticed that one of my classmates had two different sneakers on. As in, her left sneaker was from one pair, and her right from another. When I asked her about it she looked down, laughed, and said she’d overslept and literally gotten dressed in the dark and didn’t notice, and maybe wouldn’t have, until I asked her about it.

I hadn’t seen anyone else pull the two sneaker move until I saw this picture of Chris Benz from the He’s Just Not That Into You premiere.

A part of me really likes this idea - on the right person, it’s kind of funny, like a nod to junior high fashion antics. But on the wrong person (read: almost everyone, and definitely me), it would look a little like a move made to fit in with the art kids (read: juvenile).

It works on Chris, but Chris is also a tall, thin, cute boy, and it did work on Carrie in that LA episode where she wears different colored Louboutins, but the shades were complementary and designed to be so - plus, it’s TV.

So would you ever try wearing two different shoes at the same time? Or is this a sartorial switch that should only happen by accident?

This morning, while perusing the Net-a-Porter sale’s Newest Reductions, I noticed a simple bandeau one-piece that would be perfect for Florida family events. But upon further inspection, I saw that my cute suit blared the name “Chloe” right from where the ass cheeks usually go.

Now, you probably have a good idea as to how I feel about huge logos anyway, but words on my ass? I hadn’t given this much thought since the first time I was assaulted by someone’s terry-clothed butt cheeks informing me of their Juicy-ness between classes. Needless to say, I did not think this was something in which Chloe partook.

So am I just being a prude? (Britt says words on the butt-area of clothes wouldn’t stop her as long as they were small enough / she loved the individual item enough.)

Or do words on people’s asses scream “I’m trying to look hot for dodge ball” to you as much as they do to me?