Can You Guess Dolly Parton's Biggest Fashion Regret?

Dolly Parton is known for her sequin-flavored fashion taste, but the country singer never takes her style too seriously. After all, the witty star once famously said: "You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!"

Even with her laid-back attitude, though, Parton's not immune to fashion regrets. Recently, the icon sat down with People and spilled all about her most memorable wardrobe malfunctions.

"My last fashion disaster — that happens all the time, because I'm always wearing clothes too tight," Parton revealed. "I buy them small, and then I have them taken in, usually." But when forced to to choose a single biggest disaster, Parton honed in on a dress she wore to the 1978 Country Music Association Awards.

"My whole dress popped right up through the middle, just about the time I was going up for an award," she shared. "I had to borrow a coat, or somebody's shawl, to hold over me. Remember that, back years ago?"

Dolly has spoken about the 1978 incident before, telling People last year: “I remember thinking this is such a beautiful dress, but the fabric is so delicate! I thought, 'Man, as tight as I wear my clothes…' — and I was a little hefty then anyway! – I thought 'I hope this all holds together! When they called my name, I felt something creeping up my stomach and I thought, 'Oh My God — my dress is coming apart!' And I thought 'What am I gonna do?'" Luckily, Kenny Rogers' ex-wife Marianne Rogers came to the rescue, lending Dolly her fur stole.

The country icon 'fessed up to the incident when she took the mic that evening, telling the crowd: "I had this dress made in case I won and about five minutes ago, I was hoping I wouldn't win because I busted the front out of it!” she said at the time, adding to raucous laughter from the crowd, “But my daddy says that's what I got for putting 50 pounds of mud in a five pound bag!'”

For the record, we can't recall any incidents in which Dolly was less than total perfection. And at the moment, her appearance at the 2017 Emmy Awards with 9 to 5 castmates Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin is pretty much our favorite thing. But Dolly, listen: if you ever need to borrow a coat again, call us.

Getting the scoop on fall fashion can be fun and unique experience

Every year I try to get to an event or two during Philly Fashion Week (PFW), just to be a part of the excitement and see what Philly's designers are presenting to the fashion world. Let's face it, PFW is not just plain old fun, but rather, it's more of an experience! Philly's Fashion Week isn't stuffy and serious, only for the swanky rich, famous and connected, like New York's Fashion Week or L.A.'s, or Paris' or London's shows appear to be. Truthfully, I have never attended all of those international shows, so I am only guessing what they are like, based on the movies and news clips that I've seen. But I have been to PFW more than once, and everyone who wants to go or has the interest is invited to join in the fun and glamorous pizazz of this weeklong, full-of-life party for Philly-area 'phashionistas.'

Although there were many fashion shows and events during the week-long PFW (Sept. 18-23), including a show at Macy's in Center City and an afternoon children's fashion show, I could only attend one event this year. I chose the Friday night Runway I show located at Dilworth Park, right smack in front of City Hall. This year's venue was a breathtaking scene with the fountains and lights at night. The event looked just like something one would see at New York Fashion Week, with tents, lights, a long runway for models wearing the city's hottest fashions, a PFW backdrop for photo taking, photographers milling around with expensive cameras with long lenses and attendees glammed up in outfits that you'd only see, well, at a Fashion Week. There was even a trunk show following the runway extravaganza.

Some of the outfits off-stage, worn by those in attendance, were just as all-out, over-the-top and eye-catching as the outfits worn by models in the show. In fact, half of my amusement that night was checking out the outfits that people chose to wear to the show — the high boots, flowing overcoats, high heels higher and more exotic than I had ever seen before in person, unique hats, and all kinds of other ensembles that screamed, "Look at me, look at me,” so that is what I did throughout the night. I looked at them — one extreme outfit after the next. The operative word of the night was "glam,” and I really enjoyed seeing guys and ladies dressed to the nines for the evening of fun and fashion.

The designers that showcased their work during the Runway I show were; Love Cili, J. Pratt, Victoria Wright Designs, Ke' Collection, Mariah Lynn Designs, Shahedah Textiles, Tertu Designs, Burning Guitars, Shrutis Designs, Steel Pony, Clarence Clottey London, and Laura Gomez, Dominique Albertini and Amira Myers from the Moore College of Art.

Most of the outfits on the catwalk were way over the top. In other words, I can't picture too many average people who would wear them out in public, although I don't want to generalize. There were definitely many that would look stylish, flattering and smart on the under-35 population. I attended the fashion show with my two daughters, so every other outfit or so, I would have to lean in to ask what these younger-than-me ladies thought of a piece on stage. I did this to confirm that it wasn't just my age preventing me from fully understanding the beauty of certain pieces.

In all honesty, some of these designers presented hats that had to be 2 feet tall, women's shirts that were completely see-through, dresses that looked like sewn-together shredded rags, men's jumpsuits that were brightly colored and patterned (Thinking as hard as I could, I could not come up with a single guy that I know who would wear one), and a men's outfit that consisted of two blankets sewn together. I felt stupid as I watched the room erupt into a standing ovation and applause, because I just didn't get how the blanket outfit worn on top of a pulled-around-the-face hoodie was a fashion statement. This is the night that I learned a valuable lesson.

I always wondered why designers had so many outfits in a show that seemed unpractical, ridiculous, outrageous and — do I dare say — often quite hideous. It was at this show that I learned from the experts sitting near me, that fashion designers purposely make these outlandish fashion statements on the runways because they get people to pay attention and talk about them and their collections. They take the risk because they want to entertain, be remembered, stand out from the others and create publicity and noise by their outrageousness, their out-of-the-box, off-the-charts creativity. Designers rarely get noticed by parading hum-drum ensembles on the runway. I had never realized that designers created some of these fashions just to get noticed and get people talking about them, not really for the clothes' street value wearability.

Runway designs are a form of wearable artwork, I was told. The emphasis is supposed to be on beauty and innovation, not functionality. Now I know.

5 reasons plus-size style is in the spotlight

Nearly 70 percent of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or above. So why, then, do these shoppers only make up about 16 percent of total apparel sales, according to market research firm NPD Group?

It comes down to options — particularly, a lack of them in stores that cater to this group. Meanwhile, 78 percent said they'd be willing to spend more on clothing if more designers offered something in these sizes, reports a recent study by plus-size startup Dia & Co, which surveyed 1,500 women who wear a size 14 or up.

At last, the fashion industry may be wising up to this disparity, as well as the money that could be made for brands that address it with more choices for more sizes. At New York Fashion Week this season, plus-size clothing had its strongest showing on the runway in recent memory — or maybe ever. In several cases, fashion for all was celebrated with straight and plus sizes each having their turn in the spotlight.

Here are five ways plus-size style stole the show and the designers who helped make it happen.

1. "A banner season for body diversity": For the first time in New York Fashion Week history, plus-size models walked in 12 shows, with a total of 90 being cast, according to the FashionSpot's biannual Diversity Report. That's up from 26 models last season and 16 last fall. At the February 2016 shows, just four were featured.

2. Sharing the runway: Several noted designers had a mix of straight and plus-size models walk in their shows. Christian Siriano included 10 curvy models in his cast — the most in a show that wasn't entirely full-figured fashions. Chromat, Michael Kors, Prabal Gurung, Tracy Reese, Tome, Eckhaus Latta and Anna Sui were some others who followed suit.

3. Exclusive shows: Two shows at New York Fashion Week were devoted to plus-size style. Canadian brand Addition Elle, whose moto is "style isn't limited by size," unveiled a see now/buy now collection of relaxed bombers, shirt dresses accented with corset belts, striking lace eveningwear and sparkly sheath dresses. Supermodel Ashley Graham also debuted her latest lingerie pieces for the brand. Torrid, which serves sizes 10 to 30, showed off selections for spring, including a mix of edgy looks (black bodycon dresses, dark denim, netted layering pieces, etc.) and playful florals.

4. Speaking up: Lauren Chan, an editor at Glamour magazine and former model represented by Ford, modeled a red halter-style swimsuit with white piping for the swim and sport brand Chromat. But when she was bombarded with body-shaming comments, mostly from men, she said on social media, she didn't shy from the limelight. "My whole body of work as an editor is focused on redefining the social norms about size and on making women feel valued no matter what they look like. Period," she wrote as part of her response on Instagram. Glamour also sounded off with more supportive comments.

5. Conference call: While runway shows unfolded across Manhattan, theCURVYcon conference brought together some of the industry's leading brands, stylists, bloggers, media personalities and more for a body-positive experience, complete with shopping, fitness sessions and panels. Homegrown ModCloth was on site to share its wide selection of styles in a range of sizes.

How cycling shorts became the height of fashion

What are they? Black cycling shorts.

Ah, yes. I think I've seen these. Are they the things I get stuck behind whenever I drive uphill on a sunny Saturday? That's right. Cycling shorts are tight, stretchy leg coverings that stop above the knee and often contain the bottom, thighs and genitals of an obsessive pedaller.

Oh, believe me, I can see exactly what they contain. I have to stare at them for hours while I wait to overtake. My sympathies.
Ride in style: our pick of women's cycling fashion – in pictures
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But it is practical to wear them for a long bike ride, I suppose. Absolutely. They are aerodynamic and allow your legs to move freely while you exercise. And they keep you relatively warm and dry.

I achieve the same effect by placing myself inside some kind of building, such as a house or pub. Each to their own. But, of course, cycling shorts are at the cutting edge of fashion.

No, they're not. Oh yes they are. Black cycling shorts were part of Dior's and Dolce & Gabbana's latest catwalk shows. Both Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have recently been seen wearing them.

While pedalling up Ditchling Beacon? No. While prancing about being famous.

Did they have those padded bottoms? The shorts?

Yes. I don't believe so. These are designer shorts, remember, from labels such as Vatanika. Think of them more as cut-off leggings.

OK. And they don't absolutely have to be black. Naomi Campbell wore white ones at Off-White's catwalk show in Paris.

Can they have brightly coloured sponsors' logos all over them? They cannot.

So what will become fashionable next? Metal clips on the soles of high heels? Weird, creepy goggles? A water bottle strapped to your clutch bag? Puncture repair kits? I doubt it. This trend is more about the skintight silhouette than any great devotion to cycling. It's not as if fashion models and competitive cyclists have much in common, after all.

Apart, of course, from a reputed fondness for leg-shaving? Yes. Apart from that.

Do say: "Bringing together the luxuriant shine of kangaroo leather and the punk aesthetic of detachable metal studs, football boots are the perfect choice to finish any weekend outfit with éclat."

Don't say: "Accessorise with shin pads."