Designers jump in the fray with fringes

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
We're all feeling a little frayed around the edges these days, considering everything that's going on in the world.
And we know that fashion tends to reflect the common cultural psyche. But who expected designers to be so literal with frayed edges on their pricey clothes?
Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld is one of the leaders. His spring collection was packed with tweed skirts and plaid jackets that look as if they have come too close to the shredding machine. And the more exploratory Parisian designer Juna Watanabe went to a fringed extreme.
Bill Cunningham, New York Times fashion photographer, says the inspiration goes as far back as 20 years and the rise of edgy Japanese designers. Now you can see refined versions in the stores.
It's funny how times change. Frayed edges used to mean your clothes were old and worn. Now it's a step to the best-dressed list.