Wide patent leather belts, leggings, vests, short shorts - all these were fashionistas "guilty pleasures" in the last few seasons. Too bad we had to get their flashback last night, on Nicky Hilton's Nicholai runway shown at L.A. fashion week...

Way too soon! These trends need to wait at least another decade for their comeback! Not to mention Balenciaga's riding hats which were so fresh in my memory from Fall 2006 RTW, that required only a minute of search on style.com. 

On the positive side I'm glad to see Nicky's improvement since her last collection. She made a smart move and left New York fashion week in favor of L.A. The celebrity mecca will be much more favorable to a hard working socialite that was smart enough to take few fashion school classes and put her label on clothes she herself would wear. That seems to be the "IT" trend these days.

Like in Lauren Conrad's case, I don't think both these collections can stand on their own. They are pure brand extensions of their creators, and shouldn't be judged by fashion standards, but by their commercial value. And here Nicky Hilton could teach us a lesson or two.

Images courtesy of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week