WWW.31PHILLIPLIM.COM Shown are 3.1 Phillip Lim's bib blouse and Kennedy dress fromhis fall 2007 collection, with room for a belly, or not.

Style trend is no license to ask, ‘Are you fat?’

Don't bother asking, "Do I look fat?"

Increasingly, the answer is, "Yeah, you do."

The trend for the past few seasons and heading into fall is fullness. The return of empire waistlines, which make room for an ample belly, set off a round of "Are you hapai?" questioning among the socially inept.

The waistlines are disappearing, with fall dresses blossoming into full-blown tents and cocoons with room for two or more. They're like shorty muus, without the aloha prints.

You might ask why anyone would buy a dress that adds pounds to a figure, but that's easy. Whenever a new silhouette appears, it makes the old look passé, though it wouldn't take over if it weren't so darn cute. New designs by 3.1 Phillip Lim and Mint are positively angelic.

But I bring this up not as a matter of style, but etiquette.

As one who has been among those on the receiving end of the question "Are you pregnant?" this creates the uncomfortable situation of a no answer, implying, "Oh, you just look fat."

(I can only surmise this person was confusing me with another high-profile fashion editor in town who is actually pregnant.)

I have to say this questioning must stop, to be raised only by BFs and immediate family. If you really must know, be discreet. Keep mum in front of the person and ask her friends instead.