TIP SHEET

Drainpipe jeans may sound like something a plumber would wear. In fact, they're London's hot fashion item for spring and summer. Inspired by tight jeans worn by punkers in the early 1980s, drainpipes fit snugly from thigh to ankle. Kate Moss and her posse have been pulling on Sass and Bide's Frayed Misfits ($245; sassandbide.com for stores), while Keira Knightley is said to prefer Earl Jeans' 88 Straight Fit Jean (from $140; (www.earljean.com for stores). Warns British Glamour's Vanessa Gillingham, it helps to be long and lean to wear them: "These jeans are not for pear-shaped people, unless you pair them with a minidress to hide your hips." Point taken. We'll just wait for the "water main" version.

--Ginanne Brownell

© 2005