Itching to leave 2009 behind and start over in 2010? Why start from scratch? Here are ten trends we showcased in 2009 that cross over to spring/summer 2010 to help you decide what to keep and what to throw away in the New Year.

CUT IT OUT
In our March 2009 issue, headlined by multi-hyphenate Teresa Herrera, the most smoldering way to flaunt summer skin was through cutouts, especially on swimwear. Summer 2010 swimwear is big on these peek-a-boo holes, too, the better to highlight the asymmetrical appeal of the season’s swimwear trend. If you dare to bare and not only on the beach, seek inspiration from Max Axria’s spring/summer 2010 dresses with cutouts on their sexy-made-sexier backs. Better yet, master holding your breath in Frida Gianini’s red carpet-worthy dresses for Gucci with cutouts on the waist, that is, of course, if you have hours worth of hard work in the gym to show off.

LEATHER LOVE
In November 2009, our cover girl Erich Gonzales rode the girl-in-leather, biker chic trend and apparently into spring 2010, where leather is still in, albeit in its super-fine incarnation. Philip Lim has them in tees. For Nicholas Ghesquiere at Givenchy, leather is treated like silk, draped on an asymmetrical dress. For Phoebe Philo’s debut collection for Celine, it’s an elegant capelet in nude. Stefano Pilati likes it traditional in, say, a black pencil skirt at Yves Saint-Laurent. And it’s the warrior princess, feisty and edgy, with a touch of S&M, for Christopher Decarnin at Balmain.

THE BRAZEN SHOULDER
It was forecast heavily on the fall/winter 2009-2010 runways and worn by teen model Irish Ong on the cover of our October 2009 issue, but the exaggerated shoulder has not made a statement that is bold enough. So here it is, another trend to watch in spring/summer 2010, yet again. Heralded by the likes of Sonia Rykiel, Alexandre Herchcovitch, BCBG Max Azria, Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte, Givenchy, Lanvin, and even Victoria Beckham, you can wear the sharp, structured, strong shoulder anywhere between gently puffed and exaggerated to the extremes like those horn-shouldered jackets by Todd Lynn.

This article has been edited for this website. Get the complete story and photographs in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Sense&Style.