Tax cuts and gas prices aren’t the only types of trends that trickle down.The infamous theory can also be applied to fashion.Southerners don’t catch on to the latest styles as quickly as those Yankees do.This may be because people in fashion-forward cities, like New York and Los Angeles, are closer to the source, according to Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.”By the time we cave people catch wind of a new trend, it’s long gone, and we find ourselves trapped in a fashion time warp.Before we know it, we’re watching Stacy and Clinton ripping our oversized boyfriend sweaters to shreds and chucking our favorite pair of baby blue Uggs in a trash can on “What Not to Wear.”But that’s not half as heartbreaking as seeing girls strutting around like Elvis in gold lamé liquid leggings.Louisiana recently took Mississippi’s title as the most obese state in the nation. That should heed warning to all the ladies out there considering picking up a pair.I’m not saying I haven’t thought about surrendering to the leggings.I thought I could morph into my middle school self and fit into them. But then I got knocked back into reality by the image of me looking melted and poured into a pair and realized my legs would be like two unsuspecting fingers in a Chinese finger trap.Leggings aren’t the only type of legwear getting a new look.Apparently, the textured Technicolor tights aren’t up to par because the trendiest way to wear them now is to rip them.I just don’t see how dressing like ladies of the night who just got gangbanged in a dark alleyway is fashionable or even remotely attractive.So let’s pray that by early spring, liquid leggings and ripped tights will be out because that means us simple, fashion-backward folk down here will stop wearing them by Christmas.Not to beat a dead horse here, but I can’t not mention Uggs.I curse the day in 2004 when Kate Hudson pranced around L.A. in those sheep-herding shoes with her jean miniskirt.It’s 2009, and for some reason, that look is still alive and well down here.But it’s not all our fault.If we were to have donned a pair of fur-lined boots that slightly resembled horse hooves as soon as they hit the scene, we would have been laughed at by our ribbon belt-wearing peers.Those boots weren’t made for subtropical weather.But, it’s OK to wear those snow-bound boots when you’re taking that walk of shame back to the dorms. They sure as hell will keep your tootsies warm at 7 a.m.       But if people think Ugg boots are bad, just wait until they see what’s about to start parading around town because apparently these outfits aren’t just for custodians and scuba divers anymore.The ’80s-style jumpsuit came back from the dead during the spring/summer 2008 runway shows, according to Marie Claire magazine.And you know what that means — the South will be getting a little taste by the time 2010 rolls around.But as many fashion crimes as we commit down here, we aren’t entirely to blame for our fashion faux pas.When one issue of In Style tells us platforms are in while Vogue has a pair of chunky “Clueless”-inspired platforms encircled by a red “no sign” on its cover, of course we’re going to be confused.One day, Heidi Klum sports Goth nails. And the next, they’re out.It really isn’t our fault we’re late boarding the fashion train.But as far as the jumpsuits go, let’s just hope the recession hits us first. At least we’re somewhat prepared for that.—-Contact Drew Belle Zerby at [email protected]