The Trendlet: Trophy skirts

I love a plain pencil skirt as much as the next curvy chick. But such a basic bottom makes that fitted blazer, chunky sweater, or midriff top do all the glam work.

Change things up by adding a few slits here, a little fringe there, and designers this fall have elevated the simple separate to trophy status.  

Trophy skirts are anything with a little extra zing - fringe, slits, high-low silhouettes, geometric shapes.

The fall 2014 runways. Phoebe Philo gave the almost-dowdy A-lines in her coveted Céline collection Angelina Jolie-worthy slits. Michael Kors added lots of fringe to his. And Alice + Olivia made ball-gown skirts into everyday basics by giving them a high-low silhouette - a good look with a blazer or cropped top.

Gals-about-town Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, of course. Singer Ariana Grande fancies a wraparound skirt in above-the-knee skater style. And actress Diane Kruger likes geometric trophy skirts with folds that look like an origami sculpture. It's for the woman who works hard all day and likes to play a little (OK, a lot) in her off hours.

Sure, because there are so many to choose from. My faves are the two-toned, mixed-media versions, so I'm on the lookout for one that blends a winter floral with a dark denim or stretchy suede. I like ones with the skinny accordion pleats too, but never a mini with a big bow below the waistline. Hello, hips!

Yes. It's a great way to add pizzazz to your wardrobe. If you're long and lean, try one that mixes pleats or features the high-low silhouette. If you're shorter, go mid-calf length. And you won't go wrong if you pair with a shrunken blazer.