FASHION Trend-setters were spotlighted in 2002

Highs and lows of year in fashion are worth reviewing.
By LESLEY KENNEDY
SCRIPPS HOWARD
The year 2002 was jam-packed with trend-setting highs and let's-hope-that-we never-see-them-again lows.
We winced as a new breed of movie star -- the incredibly shrinking actress -- began to disappear before our eyes. But we smiled as we saw women with curves featured on the big screen, the small screen and on stage.
We donned our dad's ties, a la punk-pop priestess Avril Lavigne. We dyed our hair bright pink a la breakout star Kelly Osbourne. We kept our straightening irons on hot a la Chelsea Clinton.
We decided it was still hip to stick with the military look. We wore stiletto heels with pointy toes, though round toes also were chic. We opted for frilly romantic blouses and jumped on the prairie look bandwagon. We chose chunky, cozy sweaters and super-long scarves.
Whether we liked them or not, we kept our eyes on the fashion trends, and while some have already flown off the style radar.
Here's a look back at the way we wore.
Fond farewells
The fashion world saw the retirement and deaths of some of its greatest achievers.
"I have lived for my profession and through my profession," said Yves Saint Laurent on his retirement after nearly 50 years in the fashion business in January. "I want to thank you all for having been faithful to my shows, for having supported, understood and loved me. I will not forget you."
Oscar de la Renta took his final bow on the Balmain couture runway in July.
Legendary designer Bill Blass passed away June 12. The Indiana native dressed celebrities from first ladies to movie stars to socialites.
Kevyn Aucoin, a much-admired and adored celebrity makeup artist, passed away May 7.
Berets and hats
The Roots beret -- worn by U.S. athletes at the Opening Ceremonies -- became the hottest item of the games. Shoppers lined up at the crack of dawn for a chance to buy one.
Heads were covered in hats, from berets and newsboys to floppy wide-brims and Kangols. Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Christina Aguilera and Gwyneth Paltrow helped lead the charge.
New looks
Chelsea Clinton stunned the paparazzi with her straight hair and heavy eye makeup as she sat front and center with Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna at the spring/summer Versace show.
Meanwhile, CNN commentator Greta Van Susteren set off a bit of a media circus herself when she appeared on TV with a new eye job.
Major losers
How low can we go seemed to be the question on several celebrities' lips.
Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld dropped 96 pounds on a tailor-made diet and we grimaced as actresses such as Brittany Murphy, Christina Ricci, Jennifer Connelly and Renee Zellweger got frighteningly thin before our eyes.
However, to the delight of many non-model/actresses, bigger proved to be better. Films ("My Big, Fat Greek Wedding," "Real Women Have Curves"), TV shows ("Anna Nicole," "Less Than Perfect") and Broadway hits ("Hairspray"), along with a new plus-size magazine, Grace, and plus-size Emme dolls, all saw success in the entertainment industry
Our favorites
Halle Berry's Oscar dress, an extraordinary number by Elie Saab, was as memorable as her best actress speech.
Kim Cattrall's apricot Eric Gaskin's matte jersey dress was a Golden Globes winner.
Debra Messing scored time and time again -- in an Oscar de la Renta ballgown at the Golden Globes, in a lace-front Michael Kors black dress at the Emmys, in white Alexander McQueen at the VH1/Vogue awards.
The hair was all wrong, but Jennifer Lopez looked lovely in her pink Atelier Versace dress at the Oscars.
Reese Witherspoon was the height of glamour in a black cap-sleeved Valentino Oscar gown.
Jennifer Aniston won her first Emmy and looked stunning at the ceremony in Christian Dior.
Calista Flockhart looked just right in an orange strapless Flamenco gown by Oscar de la Renta at the Golden Globes.
"Sex and the City" co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, in a white Narciso Rodriguez empire-waist frock at her TV show's premiere, and Cynthia Nixon, in Chaiken at the Emmys, showed pregnancy is sexy.
When doesn't Nicole Kidman look stunning? Her pink Chanel Haute Couture Oscar gown had us singing her praises, while a black lace-up dress by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche was beautiful at the Golden Globes.
We loved Kate Winslet in her red Ben de Lisi Oscar gown with a delicate one-shoulder flower strap.
Oprah Winfrey wowed the audience in her corseted Bradley Bayou Emmy gown.
Best dressed
The year's major award show gowns certainly had their fair share of frocks that had us cringing (Gwyenth's goth number with the see-through top, Sela Ward's red bow-tie fiasco, Jennifer Connelly's phlegm-colored dress).
But for the most part, Hollywood saw a return to old-school elegance and its leading ladies stepped up to the fashion plate and hit it out of the park.