By Emily Kopec

Make a resolution not to make a resolution this year. (Don’t worry, you’ll get around to working on that nasty procrastination habit later). Instead, ring in the New Year ~ make that the new decade! ~ the pressure-free and fully fabulous way by resolving to update your look with one, two or all three of these courageous fashion trends that seriously push the envelope. Warning: these looks are not for the meek of heart. I’ll toast to that with some bubbly!

Ripped to Shreds

We’ve graduated from the neatly done, Abercrombie rip (yawn) and moved onto the, “Dude, did Edward Scissorhands get ahold of your jeans?” look. It may not be pretty per se, but it sure is badass and sexy. Trendsetters like Rachel Bilson and Victoria Beckham are among the celebs strutting their stuff in revealing torn-up denim. To be clear, these are not the heavy-metal acid-washed jeans from the 80s, nor are they the loose, grungy jeans of the 90s. These are fitted, hot- as-hell jeans and denim shorts (which can be worn with tights) that have no-apologies gigantic holes, shredding galore, and random, mismatched tears and/or abrasions. Unless you’re showing cheek, it’s not too much.

Military Maven

The sexiest thing about military wear is that it’s androgynous. Girls and boys alike can embrace this trend and give off the same steamy vibe. The most striking way to hit up this trend is with a Michael Jackson-esque military jacket with lots of buttons and gadgets to give it an authentic flair. Among the top material choices are wool, cotton blends, leather, and even denim (like Rihanna’s coveted Balmain military jacket). Look for a sharply tailored silhouette that looks like you mean business. Bonus points for unexpected elements like bold silver piping, oversized zippers, fancy toggle closures, strong shoulders, baroque-style prints and metallic and sequin details that keep the look fashion-forward and luxurious. Beaded glove not required.

Over-the-Knee Boots

Once reserved for hookers and hos, thigh-high boots have gone mainstream and are on the prowl at local coffeehouses and libraries across the nation (okay…maybe not so much libraries). Yes, ladies, as witnessed in 2009’s fringed, spiky, and cutout booties (which, btw, are still going strong), boots in 2010 are also anything but conservative. How to wear ‘em? Allow these skyscraping puppies to elongate your body by matching their color to the color of your tights or tucked-in skinny jeans so there’s one solid line with no breaks. Tip: Dark colors work best. Keep the long n’ lean look going by wearing a tunic in a similar color. Add a long necklace or a few understated accessories and you’ll look pulled together and classy, not trashy. Speaking of trashy, to avoid the “Come eff me” look long associated with thigh-high boots, stay far away from one and one material only: Patent leather. Heel-wise, anything goes except a thin, high stiletto. Nothing attracts “I wonder how much she charges” glances more than a pair of patent leather, stiletto thigh-highs. Gulp.