2009 comebacks: Thick shoes, fringe hairstyles and Uggs

Nowhere is the past more prologue than in the fashion industry, and again in 2009 the past-popular returns with updated details to make them appear fresh. Three noteworthy trends for the coming year are the resurrection of platform and thick shoes, fringe hairstyles, and the oh-so-comfortable Ugg line of boots.

The platform shoe, the scourge of the disco era and the friend of the altitudinally-challenged, is making a tottering return to fashion in several incarnations. Adding platforms to heels will make for a dizzying challenge for dressy occasions, while breezy summer ensembles will be set off with tall sandals and other open-toed styles.

For the counterculture, another thick shoe is on the rebound, the Doc Marten, in many colors and fashions that one wouldn't associate with this brand. According to FabSugar, the company's introduction of kimono-print models has brought the clunky shoe once worn only by those with foot problems back into the wardrobe of trendsetters such as Johnny Depp.

The ascendancy of fringe hairstyles is particularly good news for those women with long faces or those entering the prime of their lives, as the side-swept fringes with bangs can hide evidence of those 'experience lines' and draw attention to the wisdom in their eyes. Those wishing a more edgy look can play with chopped, disconnected or shattered fringes to add interest and vitality to the cut.

Ugg shoes, made in Australia, became famous for its sheepskin-lined leather boots, a girl's best friend on a cold winter day. The company has since expanded into other fashion accessories including purses, as well as outerwear, while still building on its core business of footwear. As Ugg celebrates its 30th anniversary, look for the sheepskin style to once again grace the calves of the footloose and fashion-free.