Pintuck!

We are in love with pintucks.

Pintucks, while not qualifying as an all-out embellishment (see Angela Keslar "fleurshons" -- Project Runway, Season 3), give the hint of detail to a garment. They are not as Sienna Miller-boho as embroidery or as Britney Spears-scary as sequins. They add the perfect element of structure to a garment while retaining softness. Pintucks are lady-like and sophisticated without being old before their time (see Andrea Zuckerman, Beverly Hills 90210, Seasons 1-10). Although somewhat associated with Victorian fashion, pintucks are modern in the sense of 3.1 Philip Lim simple femininity or Chloe downtown cool. Favored applications generally center around sleeve or bib details on tops or dresses. I'm not exactly opposed to the application of pintucks on, say, a skirt or pant, I just rarely see it done correctly. The line between sweet and frumpy is blurry at best.

The Boho-Rocker-Artist-take-a-deep-breath-and-pout look can be amazing (thank you, Angela Montenegro), but please, use caution... think structured and clean. Good luck.