iCandy

Plastic clothing suddenly reached new heights of cool after Kate Moss swaggered around Glastonbury in a pair of skintight pleather (plastic leather) leggings. For those who say that Moss can wear a plastic bag and still look great, this is the closest she's come to actually doing it.

But that doesn't mean you have to look like her to get this look right because there are lots of other hip plastic clothing options to play around with.

When I say plastic, I am not referring to actual plastic. If the material is exactly the same as your grocery shopping or garbage bags, then you should avoid it. Look instead for materials such as cotton or linen that have been coated with either a layer of latex or treated with a plastic wash to get the look right.

To avoid looking like a dominatrix, pick cuts of clothing that are slightly more androgynous or oversized. Make sure that the piece is tailored or you will look like you're wearing a garbage bag. Stay away from anything skintight (leggings are an exception), low-cut or short as well as anything that resembles a corset.

Take a cue from Michelle and Victoria. Michelle (right) is wearing a trapeze-shaped tank dress made from a thin, plastic-coated cotton material. The inky black of the dress makes it fiercely rock 'n' roll yet the looser cut of the piece keeps her looking demure.

Victoria (left) has opted for bright red latex jumpsuit that she's unzipped and worn with the top tied around her waist. The bright colour and stripes add a nice sporty element to the look.

If you wear leggings, make sure the rest of your pieces are loose. Latex leggings look great when paired with an oversized tee, tank, cardigan or dress. Just make sure your bottom is covered and the other pieces do not have a sheen to them. With this type of look, it's good to play with contrasting textures so it doesn't look too one-dimensional.

Stumped about where to shop for this look? American Apparel (americanapparel.net) has really cool latex leggings in solid colours or with a bit of a shimmer as well pieces such as lame jackets, ultra-light nylon wind-breakers and parachute-material dresses at a reasonable price.

If money is no object, Marni (Shop 214, The Landmark, Central, tel: 2845 7632) has some of the coolest pieces around. For those who just want to sample the trend, check out Pedder Red, where I found some really cool handheld shopping bags made from a heavy-duty rubber.