[mason-dixon]

A little off-topic... Learned to sew in the 1960s, when there was emphasis on setting zippers in plackets, so they were less noticeable. I do not understand the current fashion of the large-gauge industrial zipper with contrasting tapes down the back of dresses. Can someone explain this?

[Albion Wilde]

Just a fad, IMO. Several designers just started using zippers as decorative elements. One was Jeffrey Sebelia, a sort of punk rocker kind of guy who won one of the early seasons of Project Runway -- he would open the zipper and use the metal teeth along the edge of a lapel, or something like that. Here is his winning line up at the Bryant Park fashion show:

Another designer who began using the zipper down the back is Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). She is super petite, so that style looks good on people like her, but it's stupid on anyone with "fit issues" in the back, when the zipper lumps up here and there. Here is Victoria Beckham with her back zipper design:

Even on her, there's a lump on the back.

[bgill]

OMG, I don’t either! Those big ol’ zippers showing is UGLY! It reminds me of how popular Hawaiian print shirts were back in the 80s because they were sewn wrongside out (the printed side of the fabric was on the inside). Someone makes a major goof but somehow manages to make it into the latest fashion fad.

[RikaStrom]

A fad that needs to go away, I abhor exposed zippers. How is that attractive? Or the deconstructed hem? Now that just plain lazy IMO.