Fashion Trends 2006

This story ought to be short -- very, very short -- because that's what fashion was all about in 2006. From the heights of haute couture to some lows on the red carpet, legs were on display everywhere, usually encased in tights. Sometimes the effect was fabulous. Sometimes, not so much. At left, a model appears in the Pucci ready-to-wear show in Milan on Feb. 21, 2006.

A Very, Very Short Story

Jennifer Aniston looks terrific in an all-black outfit with trendy tights at the premiere screening of FX Network's "Dirt" on Dec. 9, 2006 in Los Angeles.

A Very, Very Short Story

Hilary Duff put together a great casual outfit with leggings for an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live on June 26, 2006, in New York City.

A Very, Very Short Story

When is a miniskirt too minimal? When it looks like you lost the front half of your gown on the way to the photo shoot. Gorgeous but underdressed Kimora Lee Simmons poses in the press room at the Soul Train Music Awards on March 4, 2006, in Pasadena, Calif.

A Very, Very Short Story

Even British celebrities succumbed to the look-at-me-no-pants look. Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, a contestant in the U.K. version of "Big Brother," vamps backstage at the MOBO Awards 2006 at Royal Albert Hall on Sept. 20, 2006, in London.

The Size Zero Debate

The year 2006 also saw a public flurry of concern over the fashion industry's glamorization of ultra-thin models and celebrities. Some insiders even vowed to ban the skinny minnies from the runway. Most shrugged it off. Here, a model practices her walk before the Unconditional show in London on Sept. 19, 2006.

Who's Zoomin' Who?

Exactly where is a woman supposed to wear this? And does she get a whole outfit for the price? In 2006, some big-name designers in established fashion capitals continued to push the boundaries of gullibility among their well-heeled but maybe not so bright clients. Here, a model reeks of insouciance and cigarette smoke at the Gaultier show in Paris on Jan. 25, 2006.

Who's Zoomin' Who?

Every fashionista knows that Vivienne Westwood is a design legend whose work is already in major museums. But her stuff is ugly, OK? Here, a model walks the runway in a Westwood outfit at the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival on April 26, 2006, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Who's Zoomin' Who?

This must be why they call it the rag trade. A model walks the runway at the Heatherette Spring 2007 fashion show in New York City on Sept. 12, 2006.

Who's Still The King?

Not every big-name designer is in it for the laughs. Bill Blass is among those still making beautiful clothes. At left, a model in purple walks the runway at the Bill Blass Spring 2007 fashion show in New York on Sept. 12, 2006.

Fresh Faces

Many of fashion's biggest events put a spotlight on a younger generation that's poised to emerge beyond 2006. In Los Angeles, a model wears a dress from the Katy Rodriguez Spring 2007 collection at Gen Art's "Fresh Faces in Fashion" event Oct. 13, 2006.

Fresh Places

While some of the biggest names in fashion were fiddling, designers in emerging fashion capitals around the world were burning with creative energy. At a show in Cape Town, South Africa, models wore creations by Tanzanian designer Mustafa Hassanali on July 12, 2006.

Fresh Places

Many of the prettiest fashions of 2006 came with a touch of local flavor. Here, a model poses during the 14th China International Fashion Week in Beijing on March 26, 2006. China is becoming a new market for high-end fashion.

Fresh Places

Actress Dipannita Sharma walks the runway for designer Surily Goel at the "Celebration of Indian Fashion & Film" on Oct. 10, 2006, in Melbourne, Australia.

Fresh Places

In Kuala Lumpur, a model walks the runway in an outfit by Kapas Couture during the Islamic Fashion Festival on Nov. 25, 2006. The event showcased Islamic-inspired creations by designers from Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Fresh Places

In Beirut, Lebanon, models walk the runway in gowns from Egyptian designer Hani al-Biheri's Spring/Summer 2007 collection during the "Lux Fashion World" event for Arab designers on Nov. 8, 2006.

Fresh Places

In Mexico City, a model walks the runway in a dress by designers Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalin during Fashion Week Mexico on Oct. 25, 2006.